Ideas for the Perfect Summer Party

Clara can help you host the perfect summer party and make it bespoke to your needs. From finding the perfect venue to organising an adventurous event with your team, we’ve got you covered. Read on for the top recommendations for your event.

‍

Venues

We can work with a range of venues that can provide an exciting Summer Party for your team. All the below venues are under £1000 per session, with the minimum spend including catering and drink options.

If you’re looking to take in the summer breeze near the river, we recommend The Golden Hinde in St Mary Overie's Dock. Right next to Borough Market, the Golden Hinge is a full-size reconstruction of the famous Elizabethan galleon where up to 100 of your coworkers can relax over drinks and custom hors d'oeuvres. They also host a series of exciting events such as Folk concerts, escape rooms, and family-oriented activities. Another great option if you’re looking to be near water is The Narrow Boat pub which overlooks Regent’s canal. Their food and drink selection includes seasonal, daily fish specials, Sunday Roasts, brunch and signature gin spritzers. The venue hosts up to 40 seated and 70 standing but also works well for smaller groups.

If you’re looking to stay in Central London, another possibility is the Cathedral View roof garden, designed and landscaped by award-winning garden designer Adam Frost. With views facing Westminster Cathedral, they work with The Clink to offer great BBQ packages. We also highly recommend the Paddington venues The Hyde Garden and Pergola. The Hyde Garden provides a refined dining experience in an intimate boutique setting. Enjoy private outdoor dining in their beautiful garden where you and your team can have Afternoon Tea, breakfast, lunch or dinner. Alternatively, head off to Pergola, a Tulum-inspired beach club where you can warm up on the terrace and dance all night while eating authentic Mexican street food.

‍

‍

We can also work with a range of excellent venues in east London. The Jugged Hare in Finsbury is well-known for its Sunday roasts and spit-roast meats, wild fish and shellfish. Serving both traditional and lesser-known British ingredients alongside boutique wines, this gastro pub prides itself on being “a game-changing drinking and dining spot for the City.” Another space to consider is TT Liquor in Tower Hamlets which features panoramic views of east London and can be booked from the early afternoon well into the late evening. At the moment, their new Kitchen resident is The World Famous Gordos, a pizzeria. With a seated capacity of 80, and a standing capacity of 120, their rooftop garden is weather-proofed so your team can still enjoy the outdoors without fear of London rain and winds.

The Cabana, a Brazilian restaurant with various locations such as Covent Garden, White City, the O2 Arena, and Stratford, can also be a great place to celebrate, and if you have a small team there is no reason to worry: their private hire booking options are available for groups as small as six.

Catering

We believe that there is nothing better than a BBQ on a hot summer day. For this reason, we’ve listed some of the best BBQ caterers in London. The Big Fat Greek BBQ Company offers bespoke packages tailored to suit your requirements and budgets, while Rogerio’s Brazilian Catering supplies classic Brazilian and South American dishes and drinks such as Churrasco and delicious beers and wines. For high-end marinated free-range Hog Roasts, Canapes and BBQ-ed meats, try The Gourmet Hog Roast company or enjoy some Paella from Stand by Chef, who can provide a perfect barbecue for large and small parties within London and the surrounding areas. The London BBQ company creates individually tailored menus to suit your budget, venue and style, catering for any special requirements in food or delivery that your business or guests require. From kosher to halal, and vegan to gluten-free – they ensure your guests' dietary needs are taken care of. If a barbecue is not what you are after, take a look at Humdingers. With a minimum order of 20 per bowl, treat your team to a White Crab Cream Risotto or a Thai Green Summer Curry with Humdingers.

‍

‍

Drinks

If you’re hosting your party at an outdoor venue, consider adding a pop-up bar. JPK Bar Hire specialises in mobile bar hire, casual buffet catering, private chef hire, and mobile catering for festivals and live events in Essex and London. Want to provide your own drinks? The fully licensed events team at The Pop-Up Bar Company can host the bar and work with you to build a bespoke menu for the occasion – you can even create a custom cocktail for the team!

Other options include Tattam’s, a mobile mixology bar, which delivers cocktail, gin and wine experiences starting at £50 per person. Alternatively, try The Cocktail Broker. With various packages available from £10 per person, they offer innovative cocktails such as “Zombie” and “The Vaccine”. If you prefer beer, LDN Craft serves fresh craft beer served on tap directly from a 1992 Rover Mini Cooper.

Events

Explore the city with your team by doing a scavenger hunt with The Big Smoke Events, Eventurous, or In the Hidden City; get in touch with nature at London Wetland Centre; or have a unique farm experience at a City Farm in Hackney or Spitalfields.

If you’re feeling adventurous, take your team on an adventure this summer by going zip-lining with Go Ape. Alternatively, explore the River Thames with GOBOAT or Thames Boat Hire. Outdoor cinemas are also a great activity for the team, so head to Backyard Cinema or Luna Cinema for classics and blockbusters alike.

Remote Events

Your remote team shouldn’t be left out of summer celebrations so we have also compiled a list of some of the best ways to celebrate while working from home.

Bar Brothers, The Cocktail Broker, The Cocktail Service and Mixology offer virtual cocktail masterclasses where the host guides you through each drink while guests attempt to recreate them. If you’d rather have ready-made drinks, another option is reaching out to Donkeystone Brewing, Lilly’s Cider or Brothers Cider to get beers and ciders delivered to your team’s houses.

Picnic hampers are also a great way to spruce up your remote summer party. We recommend Regency Hampers for a luxury experience, Hampers for afternoon tea, alcoholic drinks and cheese, and Bombay Bustle for an authentic taste of fine Mumbai cuisine.

To complete your party, get decoration packs including bunting, cups, and plates through Party Packs.

‍

Sign Up to Clara and benefit from our free party planning & concierge service today.