Let’s be honest: if you’ve been to one Christmas party, you’ve been to them all. Whether you’ve painstakingly coordinated the annual office get-together or tried to plan something fun (and drama-free) for your friends, chances are you’ve done what we’ve all done at some point or another; same awkward mingling over a dinner reservations, same overcooked buffet food, and same “Secret Santa” gift that somehow always ends up being a mug. Sound familiar?
Instead of drowning the years sorrows in an open bar, why not try something your team will actually look forward to, and remember? It’s time to level up the holiday celebrations into something that’s fun and functional – our secret? Lock everyone in a room and give them 60 minutes to get out. This year, it’s time to escape the ordinary – literally.
At Exciting Escapes, our escape rooms offer an hour of chaos, creativity and uncontrollable laughter as your team must work together to solve puzzles, crack codes and escape before the timer runs out. Bringing together festive fun and team building in one neat, Santa-approved package, our unique experiences are immersive, interactive and just structured enough to feel like a win for everyone. Nobody is raving about last year’s beige buffet and that one friend or coworker who took karaoke way too seriously, but they will be talking about how you managed to crack that last five-digit padlock with 10 seconds to spare. Perfect for corporate teams, friendship groups, clubs, societies and more, it’s a way to celebrate the holidays that actually brings people together.
5 Reasons Why We Think an Exciting Escapes Experience Should Be at the Top of Your Party Planning List:
1. Team Building Without the Trust Falls
Gone are the days of forced icebreakers and awkward games; our escape rooms create organic, meaningful collaboration without anybody having to share a single fun fact about themselves. From solving cryptic clues to unlocking secret doors, your group will naturally bond as they work towards a shared goal – without it having to feel like a corporate training day – all while racing against the clock. It’s the kind of team bonding that HR departments can only dream about, but with actual fun involved. Plus, you get the rare joy of watching your usually composed teammate panic in a locked room while your quietest friend or colleague turns out to be a code breaking whiz.
2. Enjoyment for All Group Sizes and Personalities
This isn’t karaoke. It’s not bowling. And it’s definitely not “dinner at that place we always go to.” Whether you’re a corporate giant or a friend group trying to survive this year’s gift exchange, we’ve got the space and set-up to suit. With a capacity of 2-44 players and 13 unique rooms across our Portsmouth and Basingstoke locations, we’re inclusive, accessible and welcoming to all personalities. Big-energy extroverts, reserved thinkers, puzzle lovers, and those just along for the ride – everyone has a role to play. It will leave people saying, “We HAVE to do that again next year”, and as a bonus, nobody has to wear an ugly Christmas jumper or an elf costume… unless they really want to (which we fully support – great post-mission photo opportunities!)
3. Built-In Entertainment (No DJ Required)
Planning a group holiday party often means juggling multiple bookings – venue, food, drinks, music – all while still worrying about people standing around with nothing to do. At Exciting Escapes, the entertainment is the experience. With no previous experience required, just bring your brains, a sense of humour, and an overnight bag… Well, what do you think happens if you don’t escape in time? And if you do want to keep the festivities going, both our branches are located near a great selection of bars and restaurants. From Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth to Duck and Tipple in Basingstoke, you can easily roll the escape room into a full evening, or weekend, out… at least until Monday morning!
4. It’s memorable – like, REALLY memorable
When’s the last time someone brought up last year’s Christmas party fondly? (We’ll wait.) Picture this instead: the special kind of magic that comes from watching your friends or colleagues shouting across an intricately decade-themed spy mission, frantically deciphering riddles and unlocking padlocks as the timer ticks down. We promise, you’ll still be laughing about the collective brain blanks you all had when the next holiday season rolls around. This isn’t just an event – it’s the moments people will remember for years to come.
5. Fun with an extra helping of purpose
Unfortunately, a lot of group events seem to fall into that ‘forced fun’ category. At Exciting Escapes, we break the mould by offering teams natural opportunities for communication, quick thinking and problem-solving without even realising it. For companies, it’s a win-win of boosted morale and valuable skill development, all wrapped up in a festive bow. For friends, it’s a hilarious way to test how well you really know each other.
Whether you’re planning the ultimate company holiday event or just a fun get-together with friends who want to swap dinner for something different, an escape room at Exciting Escapes is the gift that keeps on giving (no pun intended). With team bonding, brain-melting fun, hilarious memories and zero awkward small talk, an escape room holiday party isn’t just different – its better. Fresh, fun, and functional enough that even your boss will approve, we invite you to ditch the party platters, step into the mystery, and make this Christmas your most adventurous one yet.
Our escape rooms get booked up fast during the festive season, especially for larger groups. Tick this off your wish list early to avoid missing out and start looking forward to the holiday party that people will actually thank you for organising.