subject: Doing the Office Night Out Right [print this page] If it's fallen to you to organise the office night out, you've got a bit of a hefty task on your hands - but never fear, even if some things don't quite go the way they're meant to go, the chances are that everything will still come together just fine on the night.
Your first port of call is to come up with some vague plans of what you think would make a great party whilst also thinking of some tentative dates. It's always a good idea to plan parties at least four weeks in advance because the more workers you have, the more chances are that conflicting schedules will arise - which is why it's wise to give everybody plenty of time to pencil the night into their diaries.
Whatever reason you're having a work party, be it Christmas, summer or even just as an excuse to get together and learn about one another outside of office surroundings, there are a few things you can always count on to provide the backdrop to a great night out. If you're thinking about booking a restaurant, if you have a lot of staff members in attendance then you really must book the space well in advance. It may even be a good idea to ask the restaurant if you can book the entire place out for your party. If you have enough people guaranteed to come, the restaurant might agree so space won't really be an issue. While you're planning the dinner, consider that the staff may have different dietary requirements and factor this into your choice. Generally, you can't go wrong with Indian cuisine - who doesn't love a curry? And there are plenty of options for vegetarians, people with allergies and people with religious convictions.
After dinner, it's easy to just head to the pub to continue enjoying yourselves and having a few more drinks, but why not organise something that'll continue to keep the fun flowing? Some good ideas are to organise pub style quizzes that can even take place at the office (if permitted, of course) or a trip to a music or comedy bar to keep the laughs coming in. Again, if there's a big party with you, don't forget to call ahead in advance and make reservations so there's definitely space.
Organising a work night out can be hard, but by planning ahead, getting a good attendance and even using cheap phone calls to get your RSVPs, you can rest assured that a good night out will be had by all.
