Everybody has been to that Christmas do.
Long table. Three-course set menu chosen six weeks earlier by someone in operations. Crackers. A DJ playing Slade at a volume that makes conversation impossible, to a dance floor holding two people from accounts and nobody else. Everyone is home by half ten.
We do something else.
What Christmas Looks Like Here
You get a table, food and drinks brought to you, and over 1,000 board games.
That’s the whole difference, and it sounds small until you watch it happen. Twenty minutes into a game, the people who normally stand in separate corners at work events are shouting at each other about whether custard counts as a food. The quiet one from the other team turns out to be terrifyingly good at bluffing. Nobody is looking at their phone.
It works because there’s something to do. Christmas parties fail when the only activity is drinking and small talk, and by nine o’clock both have run out.
Both Venues
Draughts Waterloo is at Arch 16, Leake Street – inside the graffiti tunnel under the station. Railway arches, exposed brick, and a 300-metre wall of constantly changing street art to walk through on your way in. Five minutes from Waterloo, which matters when everyone’s getting home.
Draughts Stratford is at 5 Aquatics Walk, inside Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Bright, spacious, and right in the middle of everything happening in the park over winter.
Both have a full kitchen, a proper bar, and the same library of over 1,000 games.
What to Play
If you want a head start, the games that work best for a Christmas group are the loud ones.
- Herd Mentality asks a question and you score by giving the same answer as everyone else. It causes more genuine argument than anything else we own.
- Wavelength puts one person behind a dial and everyone else trying to read their mind. Two minutes to learn.
- Codenames splits the table into teams and is the one people ask to play again.
- Telestrations is broken telephone with a sketchpad. Somebody’s lighthouse will become a man being electrocuted and the reveal is worth the entire evening.
None of them require anyone to have played a board game before. That’s the point.
We’re Open on Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve
Worth saying loudly, because most places aren’t.
Boxing Day is the day the house gets small. Everyone’s been indoors since Christmas Eve, there’s a specific kind of restlessness setting in, and the options are a walk in the cold or another film. We’re open, and a table with food, drinks and a game on it is a considerably better plan.
New Year’s Eve we’re open too. If the idea of a £90 ticket to stand in a crowded bar until midnight doesn’t appeal, this is the alternative.
Booking
Larger groups and Christmas parties are worth enquiring about directly – there’s a form for each venue on our Christmas page, and we’ll come back to you with what’s possible for your numbers and date.
For smaller groups and general bookings, book a table at draughtslondon.com.
December fills up from mid-November, and the Thursday-to-Saturday slots go first. Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve are worth booking well ahead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Draughts open on Boxing Day?
Yes, both Draughts Waterloo and Draughts Stratford are open on Boxing Day. It’s one of the busiest days of our year, so book ahead.
Is Draughts open on New Year’s Eve?
Yes, both venues are open on New Year’s Eve. Book in advance – it goes quickly.
Can you book Draughts for a Christmas party?
Yes. Both venues take Christmas party bookings, and there are enquiry forms for Waterloo and Stratford on our Christmas page. Tell us your numbers, date and rough budget and we’ll come back with options.
What makes Draughts different from a normal Christmas party venue?
The games. Most Christmas venues give you a set menu and a dance floor. We give you a table, food and drinks brought to you, and over 1,000 board games – which means there’s something to actually do rather than relying on conversation to carry four hours.
How many people can you fit for a Christmas party?
It depends on the venue and the date. Send an enquiry through the Christmas page with your numbers and we’ll tell you what’s possible.
What are the best board games for a Christmas party?
Herd Mentality, Wavelength, Codenames and Telestrations all work brilliantly for groups who haven’t played much before – they teach in a couple of minutes and get a table loud quickly. Our team will recommend something based on your group size and mood.
Where is Draughts Waterloo?
Arch 16, Leake Street, London SE1 7NN – inside the Leake Street graffiti tunnel beneath Waterloo station, around five minutes from the station.
Where is Draughts Stratford?
5 Aquatics Walk, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London E20 2AS. Stratford station is served by the Central, Jubilee and Elizabeth lines plus DLR, Overground and National Rail.
When should I book a Christmas party at Draughts?
As early as you can. December fills from mid-November and Thursday to Saturday evenings go first. Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve should be booked well in advance.
