Open daily | Book in advance to secure your place
Open daily | Book in advance to secure your place
Organising a work Christmas party for a small team should be relatively simple. You don't need a ballroom, a complicated seating plan, or a corporate package designed for 100 people. You need an activity that works for your group, fits your budget, and gives everyone a chance to relax together.
Edinburgh has plenty of Christmas party options for teams of up to 12 people, from chocolate-making and creative workshops to escape rooms, comedy nights and festive meals.
Before you book, think about the people attending. Consider whether they enjoy competitive activities, whether alcohol should be involved and whether anyone has dietary, mobility or accessibility requirements. The best Christmas party is not necessarily the most elaborate one. It is the one your whole team can comfortably enjoy.
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Small team Christmas party quiz
Answer six quick questions to find an Edinburgh Christmas party idea that suits your team of up to 12 people.
Your result
Share this quiz with your colleagues and ask everyone to complete it separately. Comparing the results can reveal the type of celebration most people would genuinely enjoy.
A chocolate experience is a good choice for a mixed team because it combines an activity with plenty of time to talk. It is indoors, centrally located, and doesn't have to revolve around alcohol.
The Chocolatarium is just off Edinburgh’s Royal Mile and offers several corporate and staff experiences suitable for small groups.
The 90-minute Tour of Chocolate includes hot chocolate on arrival, chocolate-bar making, an introduction to how chocolate is produced and a tasting room with more than 40 flavours.
It costs £28 per person, with a minimum charge of £336. This is equivalent to 12 people, making it particularly easy to budget for a team of that size.
This two-hour truffle-making workshop gives your team the chance to learn truffle-making techniques, experiment with Scottish ganache flavours and make chocolates to take home.
It costs £38 per person, with a minimum charge of £380 (equivalent to ten people).
For an adult team that wants to include drinks, the Chocolatarium offers chocolate experiences paired with cocktails, wine or Scottish whisky. These last 90 minutes and cost £44 per person, with a minimum charge of £352 (equivalent to eight people).
These experiences are strictly for over-18s. If your team includes non-drinkers, consider the Tour of Chocolate or Truffle-Making Experience as a more inclusive option.
Teams of eight or more can take part in a Chocolate Bar Challenge or a Scavenger Hunt and Tasting Challenge. These experiences add collaboration and friendly competition to the event.
Both last approximately 2.5 hours and cost £50 per person. They work well when you want more interaction than a conventional Christmas meal.
You can reserve a date with a £10 deposit. You must confirm final numbers, any changes, and the remaining balance seven days before the event.
An escape room works well for a team that enjoys puzzles, problem-solving and friendly pressure. It also gives colleagues something to talk about over dinner or drinks afterwards.
Escape the Past offers Edinburgh-themed escape rooms in the city centre. Its indoor rooms accommodate up to eight and six players respectively, so a team of 12 would normally split into two smaller groups.
The rooms take around one hour, making this one of the easier activities to fit between finishing work and a dinner reservation.
Escape rooms will not suit everyone. Check whether anyone in the team dislikes enclosed spaces, timed challenges or competitive activities before booking.
Social darts combines games with food, drinks and a lively atmosphere. Players do not need to be good at traditional darts because the games are designed for groups with mixed experience.
Flight Club Edinburgh in St James Quarter accepts group bookings from two people. Its festive packages generally suit teams of ten or more and can combine darts with food and drinks.
This is a good option for a sociable team that enjoys friendly competition. It may be less suitable if you want a quiet setting where everyone can easily talk.
Roxy Lanes on Rose Street offers bowling, shuffleboard, batting cages and other games. Its small-group packages are available for groups of up to 14 people.
Two activities start at £18 per person, and three activities start at £24 per person. You can add food and drinks separately, so you can build the event around your budget.
This works well for a team that wants plenty of activity without committing to one long organised experience. Some games are competitive, and the venue can be lively, so consider whether that atmosphere suits the whole group.
A creative workshop gives people something to do while still leaving room for conversation. Options might include wreath-making, pottery painting, candle-making or another seasonal craft.
Doodles Ceramics Workshop in Marchmont welcomes corporate groups for pottery painting and clay sessions. Groups of more than six need to arrange their booking directly.
Pottery painting is a relaxed option for mixed groups and does not involve alcohol or physical activity. Please note that completed pottery usually needs to be collected about seven days later.
For wreath-making and other seasonal workshops, check the dates carefully. Many Christmas classes only run on selected evenings and can sell out well in advance.
A pantomime, theatre performance or comedy show is a straightforward choice for teams that want entertainment without organised team-building exercises.
This option requires very little participation, which may appeal to colleagues who dislike competitive games or being put on the spot. You can combine the show with a meal before or afterwards.
The drawback is that your team will have limited time to talk during the performance. If bringing people together is the main purpose of the evening, allow enough time for dinner or drinks.
Comedy is also subjective. Check the type of show and any age restrictions before booking for the whole team.
A cocktail class gives an adult team a shared activity instead of simply reserving a table at a bar.
The Three Sisters offers cocktail masterclasses for groups of eight or more. Current packages include a welcome drink, cocktail-making, small bites, and mixology games.
This is clearly an alcohol-centred activity. Ask about mocktails or alcohol-free participation before booking, rather than assuming suitable alternatives will be available on the night.
A whisky tasting can work well for client entertainment, visiting colleagues or a team interested in Scottish food and drink.
The Scotch Whisky Experience is beside Edinburgh Castle and offers tastings, dining and private events. Some private functions are available for groups starting from ten people.
This is a distinctly Scottish Christmas party idea, but it will not suit teams with several non-drinkers. Ask about alternatives before committing to a package.
Although Camera Obscura is best known as a family attraction, its interactive exhibits and optical illusions can also offer colleagues a relaxed, playful experience away from the usual workplace setting.
Camera Obscura offers five floors of illusions, interactive exhibits and views over Edinburgh from its rooftop terrace. It suits mixed-age teams and lets people explore at their own pace.
Groups of 14 or fewer can book ordinary tickets through the Camera Obscura website. The attraction is on Castlehill, so it is easy to combine with a meal or another Royal Mile activity.
This is a general admission visit rather than a private staff event, and teams of fewer than 15 do not qualify for the advertised group discount. It is best for an informal Christmas outing rather than structured team building.
A visit to Edinburgh’s Christmas market followed by dinner can be one of the simplest choices for a small team. It gives people the freedom to browse, have a festive drink and choose which attractions they want to try.
This can also work on a smaller budget because you don't necessarily need to buy a group activity package.
However, the market can be extremely busy, particularly on Friday and Saturday evenings. It is outdoors, weather-dependent and may be difficult for a group to stay together. Check the official programme, opening dates and accessibility information for the year of your visit.
Book your restaurant separately. Finding a table for 12 in December can be harder than arranging the market visit itself.
Afternoon tea is a good alternative to a late-night Christmas party. It works well for teams that include non-drinkers, people with evening commitments or colleagues travelling home by public transport.
Look for a hotel or restaurant that can seat your group together without requiring private-room hire. Ask whether the festive menu accommodates vegan, gluten-free and other dietary requirements.
Afternoon tea is less interactive than a workshop, so it suits an established team that is already comfortable socialising together.
Your Christmas party does not have to start after work. A daytime event can be easier to organise, especially if your team has caring responsibilities or prefers not to travel home late in December.
A simple itinerary might include:
Daytime availability may also be better than the most popular Thursday and Friday evening slots.
There is no correct amount to spend. Set the budget before asking the team to choose an activity; otherwise, expectations can quickly exceed what the business can afford.
Always check whether the advertised price includes VAT, food, drinks, service charges or room hire. Minimum charges can also be more important than the per-person price for a small team.
The Chocolatarium offers indoor chocolate experiences for small teams in Edinburgh city centre. Your group can make chocolate, taste unusual flavours and choose between relaxed, drinks-based and competitive experiences.
Explore the corporate and staff event options, check availability and choose the experience that best suits your team.
If you are arranging an event at another time of year or want an activity focused more specifically on communication and collaboration, read our guide to team-building ideas in Edinburgh for small teams.
