Christmas Party Bottle Service in London: Packages and Deposits

Christmas party bottle service in London means booking a club table with bottles for an office party or a group of friends in December. It works much like any other table booking, but the busiest weeks of the year change the terms: minimums can rise on peak nights, more venues sell fixed packages, and more of the money is paid before the night. This guide covers set packages against minimum spend, deposits and prepayment in December, group sizes, what is and is not included, and how to order for a group without the bill drifting.

Christmas Day 2026 falls on Friday 25 December, so the main party nights are the Thursdays and Fridays before it: 3, 4, 10, 11, 17 and 18 December. Those are the dates we are asked for most, and they are the first to go.

How December changes a table booking

On a normal night, a table is sold as a minimum spend. As of October 2026, our club table prices page lists standard floor tables at the main clubs we cover from £600 to £1,000 minimum spend and premium tables from £2,000, with The Box at £3,000 for its top tables. Those are normal-night figures, not December prices.

In party season, three things tend to change:

• Minimums on peak nights. Some venues raise the minimum spend on the busiest December Thursdays and Fridays, or only release the best tables at a higher figure.
• Packages instead of open menus. Some venues offer Christmas packages with a fixed bottle list for a set number of guests, alongside or instead of the usual minimum spend.
• Earlier payment. A deposit that secures a table in March may be replaced by a larger deposit or full prepayment for a December Friday.

Christmas programmes and party packages are rarely published in full. Most are quoted on request for a specific date and group size, so treat any figure you see as a quote for that night rather than a standing price.

Set package or minimum spend for a Christmas party

The two models work the same way in December as at any other time of year; our guide to bottle service packages explains both in detail. What changes for a Christmas party is who is paying and why.

A package suits a company party where the budget has to be approved in advance and nobody wants a surprise invoice in January. A minimum spend suits a group with mixed tastes, or one that wants to start on champagne and move to spirits later. If both are quoted at the same figure, compare what each one actually puts on the table.

Group sizes: one table or several

Every table is quoted for a stated number of guests, and the per-head cost falls as the group grows. Using our normal-night figures as of October 2026, a £1,000 floor table shared by ten people is £100 each, and a £2,000 premium table for the same ten is £200 each, before any service charge.

Office parties are often bigger than one table. The usual options are:

• One larger table quoted for the full headcount, where the venue has one.
• Two or more neighbouring tables, each with its own minimum spend, booked together so the group stays in one area.
• A section or a room, quoted on request, for groups too large for tables. Beyond that, venues talk about exclusive hire, which is priced separately.

Whichever you choose, the number of bottles should follow the number of guests and how much they drink. Our guide to how many bottles you need for a club table sets out a starting point by group size.

Deposits and prepayment in December

The biggest practical difference at Christmas is when you pay. Before you commit, get clear written answers to these questions:

• How much is due now, and when is the balance due? Peak December nights often need a larger deposit or full payment in advance.
• Is it refundable, and until when? Cancellation windows in December are often shorter than at other times of year.
• What happens if numbers fall? A table or package priced for twelve may not be reduced if nine arrive.
• Can the booking be paid by company card or bank transfer, and can the venue issue a receipt in the company name? Finance teams usually need this.
• Who must be present? Many venues ask for the lead booker, or the card holder, to arrive with the group.

Our guide to bottle service deposits and payments covers the usual terms in more detail.

What a Christmas table includes, and what it does not

A table booking normally includes the bottles you order or the package list, mixers, ice and glassware, the reserved table for the agreed time, and table service. Entry for the named group is usually part of the booking if everyone arrives within the agreed window.

What is often extra:

• Service charge. Many London clubs add one on top of the minimum spend or package price. Our explainer on service charge on bottle service shows how it is calculated.
• Anything beyond the list. Extra bottles, shots or brand changes are charged at menu prices.
• Food and dinner. Most club tables are drinks only; dinner beforehand is a separate booking.
• Late arrivals. Guests who arrive after the window may pay entry or be refused.

Ask for the full contents and an all-in figure, service charge included, in writing before you pay.

Budgeting a company party: the £150 per head rule

For a company paying for its staff party, the per-head figure matters for tax as well as the budget. HMRC's guidance on social functions and parties says an annual event such as a Christmas party can be exempt from reporting, tax and National Insurance if it is open to all employees and costs £150 or less per person.

Two details catch people out. HMRC's manual on annual parties says the cost includes VAT, and any transport or accommodation provided, and is divided by everyone who attends, guests included. It also says the £150 is an exemption, not an allowance: go over it and the full cost per head is taxable, not just the excess.

On normal-night figures, a £1,000 floor table for ten guests is £100 a head before service charge and any dinner, while a £2,000 premium table for ten is £200 a head before anything else is added. The rules have conditions, so check the details with your accountant or payroll team before you book.

How to order bottles for a group

A Christmas table runs best with one organiser and a plan agreed before the night:

1. Send the essentials once. Date, headcount, budget per head and what the group drinks. That is enough for a like-for-like quote.
2. Agree the bottle list in advance. Name the bottles and sizes, and ask for them to be served through the night rather than all at once.
3. Set a cap. Ask the host to check with the organiser before the table goes beyond the agreed figure.
4. Collect the money first. If colleagues or friends are paying their share, collect it before you pay the venue.
5. Send the guest names. Entry is usually checked against the list, so send it before the night and keep it up to date.

Booking your Christmas party table

Most of the Christmas party enquiries we handle arrive in October and November, and the Thursdays and Fridays before Christmas are the first dates to fill. If you would like a package and a minimum spend compared for your date and group size, send us a table request or message the team on WhatsApp with your date, numbers and budget, and we will come back with the all-in figure for each option.