Eight Festive Parties To Kick Off Christmas In Brighton

Same old Christmas parties getting you down? Sick of the typical festive work function? Maybe you’re trying to organise something for a group of friends or family? Whatever the reason, there are plenty of options for Christmas parties in Brighton and Hove, and we’ve selected some prime choices to set your yuletide celebrations off to a great start!

Queen’s Hotel 80s-Themed Christmas Parties in Brighton

Neon colours, perms, synth solos, and movies about skiing in Aspen, the 80s were a special decade, and this December the Queen’s Hotel is bringing it back! Get ready to celebrate this festive season in questionable style at this retro-themed Christmas party night.

Expect a night of full-on festive fun backed by a total 80s soundtrack of classic hits and cheesy tunes. Available on the 1^st and 2^nd of December, these nights are a great way to kick off the Christmas period with friends and colleagues at the end of a long working year.

Taking place at the iconic Queen’s Hotel on Brighton seafront, guests are very much encouraged to come wearing their favourite 80s fancy dress with prizes on offer for the best-dressed guests.

So, crimp your hair, dig out your biggest earrings, and don some bold colours for a good chance of winning! Queen’s Hotel will of course be serving food at the event and while they won’t totally bring back 80s classic dishes, they will be adding in some period-specific twists.

Whether you’re old enough to remember the decade first-hand, or just a fan of Stranger Things, there’s no better excuse to experiment with a Movember ‘stache/mullet combination!

Address: Queen’s Hotel, 1-3 Kings Road, Brighton, BN1 1NS

Christmas Cabaret & Dinner at Proud Brighton

Set in the heart of Kemptown at one of the city’s most iconic nightspots, Proud Cabaret Brighton offers world-class cabaret, drag, and burlesque dinner shows. Their bottomless brunch and burlesque performances combined with exceptional food, great service, and some of the best shows in town ensure an evening at Proud Cabaret is a night to remember.

If you’re looking for a festive party with a difference and saucier than jarred cranberries, Proud Cabaret’s Christmas Cabaret Allstars event has you covered! The night will be full of Vegas-style entertainment with great music and show-stopping performances from West End professionals, award-winning acrobats, fire eaters, and side-slitting drag queens.

With a welcome drink on arrival and a 5-course meal, while you enjoy the show, you’ll be merry, fed, and entertained all under one roof. With dates available from the 23rd of November through to the 29th of December, you’re sure to find a date which works for your whole group to get together and celebrate.

Address: Proud Cabaret, 83 St George’s Rd, Kemptown, Brighton, BN2 1EF

Alcotraz – Festive Prison Cocktail Bar

Hidden underneath the surface of Brighton Seafront lies Cell Block One Three, a secret basement home to a speakeasy prison, Alcotraz. One benefit inmates regularly take advantage of is that the proximity to the seafront has facilitated the perfect opportunity to smuggle contraband, especially liquor, in and out of the Penitentiary.

This Christmas, enter an immersive, festive experience in a bar – behind bars. Become part of Brighton’s most elusive correctional facility as you smuggle your own bottle of grog past the warden with the help of notorious bootleggers.

Once you’ve been fitted for an orange jumpsuit and have been led to your cell, your experience will begin. With professional actors playing wardens and crooked guards, and a supply of bespoke drinks made just for you, this American-style prison experience would make for a fun festive night for an adventurous group!

Alcotraz recommends sneaking in a 70cl bottle of contraband to create four different, bespoke cocktails. Non-drinkers are invited to bring along a bottle of their favourite refreshment and the inmates will create sparkling mocktails.

Address: Alcotraz, Cell Block One Three, Kings Road, Brighton, BN1 1NE

Christmas Drag Bingo Parties at the Mercure Hotel in brighton

This year, Mercure Hotel is retaliating against the typical Christmas party by putting on a festive Drag Bingo evening. Happening on the 14th and 21st of December, these nights are all about camp performances, fun & games, and the perfect party vibes for a unique festive celebration like no other.

Led by the drag sensation Chamonix Aspen, this drag bingo experience will involve a few rounds of outrageously fun bingo that will leave you in stitches as well as drumming up a bit of healthy competition between friends, family, and colleagues.

As well as the drinks, marker pens, and the race to a Full House, the Christmas Drag Bingo night will also entertain its guests with brilliant and outrageous cabaret performances to round off the night of fun. Please note that this event is for people who are 18 years and older.

Address: Mercure Brighton Seafront Hotel, 149 Kings Road, Brighton, BN1 2PP

Christmas Karaoke – Lucky Voice

Situated on Black Lion Street, and practically on the beachfront, Lucky Voice is a staple of Brighton’s nightlife. The venue includes a large cocktail bar in its basement and seven private karaoke rooms which hold in total a hundred singers spread across four floors. The rooms’ sizes vary and range in capacity from 4-30 people. Each room is kitted out with state-of-the-art touchscreen karaoke interfaces and room service to keep your whistle wet.

This festive season, singers can choose from over 11,000 songs and a range of special holiday season playlists to let loose and croon your heart out. Private karaoke rooms are available to book in two-hour slots and make for a great ice-breaker starter or finisher for any Christmas party.

Those in need of some Dutch courage before commencing their best Noddy Holder impression can get a few pre-show drinks in the bar or in an exclusive area. You can even look forward to pulling some shapes on the dance floor with live DJs playing in the main area every weekend.

Address: 8 Black Lion Street, Brighton, BN1 1ND

Christmas Cocktails – Steinbeck and Shaw

Fancy a bit more of a hands-on approach to your tinselled inebriation? Why not head to Steinbeck & Shaw’s mixology masterclass and learn how to create your perfect Christmas cocktail?

Enjoy a prosecco reception to settle in before class, then during your lesson, you’ll be taught how to blend premium mixers with tasty mixers, juicy fruit, and fun garnishes while being shown tips, tricks, and techniques to shaking up the perfect cocktail or mocktail!

Once you’ve mixed, muddled, and shaken your way to beverage perfection, you’ll sample your creations to see if you’ve put your new mixology skills to good use. Steinbeck & Shaw’s bartender hosts will mix the evening up with either a shot train or a round of shot limbo after your cocktail-making has come to an end.

After that, feel free to do a different kind of shaking on the dancefloor with their festive DJ set! Steinbeck & Shaw’s mixology masterclass is a great way to spend a night of festivities with friends and come away from it with a new set of skills, sure to impress at your next dinner party.

Address: West Street, Brighton, BN1 2RE

Christmas Ceramic Decoration Painting – The Crafty Hen

For those looking for an event less alcohol-fuelled and who fancy their hand at a craft or two, why not celebrate the season of Yuletide cheer with a cosy, unique and crafty ceramic Christmas decoration experience with the team from The Crafty Hen? This is a great way to spend quality time with family and friends and come away with a souvenir to remember the day by!

The Crafty Hen is a mobile service that creates sessions which are designed to be fun and creative for people of all abilities. They provide expert tuition, all the necessary materials and equipment and can tailor the day around your group’s requirements. If you feel you don’t have a suitable space to host a session, The Crafty Hen works with several venues that can act as a host to make sure their service is as accessible as possible.

The Christmas ceramic decoration painting session lasts for 2.5 hours, and you will be provided with a variety of ceramic tree ornaments, as well as all the paints and decorations you’ll need to make them look suitably festive and colourful. A little different from a raucous round of Christmas drinks, why not spend an afternoon in your home or office creating a set of decorations that can either hang proudly on your tree or serve as a perfect stocking filler!

Address: venue of your choice

Sofar Sounds – Intimate Brighton Concert

Sofar Sounds is a global music community that connects artists and audiences through live music. They transform unassuming spaces – from rooftops to art galleries – and turn them into captivating and intimate settings for secret live music performances.

Sofar have a history of having their finger on the pulse, and some of the acts that have played a Sofar event in the early stages of their career include Lianne La Havas, Billie Eilish, and Hozier. Each Sofar is intentionally small, creating an immersive experience which brings guests and artists closer. Typically, these events feature three diverse acts with no specific headliner.

Sofar is currently hosting four shows a month across Brighton and Hove, utilising over 20 unique spaces and hundreds of incredible artists. On the 21st of Dec, Sofar will be hosting an event in Hove which is sure to be an unforgettable night. Details are released 36 hours before the event to ticket holders so we can only tell you that the venue will be serving drinks and that you may just find your new favourite artist. Keep your eyes peeled if you’re searching for something to do in Brighton!

Address: unknown location in Hove