Ah, Christmas… The season of mince pies, mulled wine, cheesy films and, of course, wild, wild parties. Whether it’s fallen on you to organise the office Christmas do, or you want to sort an unforgettable get-together for friends and family, these five pointers will get you well on your way to planning an unforgettable night of Christmas cheer.

Christmas at Carousel means more than just a tree and crackers, and going by a theme means our spaces become elaborate theatrical sets, offering guests a uniquely immersive experience. Last year our Downstairs space was transformed into Narnia for four weeks, and from the end of November Mr Tumnus will be stepping aside to make way for Jiminy Cricket when we recreate the higgledy-piggeldy shelves and curios of Geppetto’s workshop.

Keep it simple. Start with a glass of prosecco or a thirst-quenching Christmassy cocktail before moving on to an unlimited beer, wine and soft drinks package. Long queues kill parties…

Sit down meals can be a little formal, so consider canapés and bowl foods instead. Keeping the party on its feet will help keep the energy levels up. Also avoid places offering an overly traditional Christmas dinner… There are definitely more interesting takes on the classics out there, so this year look out for something different.

One word, two letters: DJ! A DJ makes everything easier, stress-free and fun. You can rely on them to set the perfect atmosphere and take requests whilst avoiding any catastrophic playlists from a colleague’s iPod.

Plenty of venues can help you with this, so don’t worry about resorting to an awkward quiz. At Carousel, we always match our entertainment to our chosen theme, so this year we’re offering spoon carving, puzzle making and a puppet dance workshop (if you’re feeling brave enough).