End of Year Christmas Parties at The Normanby Hotel
The beauty of having a Christmas party at The Normanby is that you have choices to create the vibe you are looking for. If you’re looking for something more traditional in style, the Public Bar with plush seating and classic decor would be right for you. Or maybe you want something more tropical and beachy, the outdoor Cabana area would be my recommendation. Whatever mood you’re looking to create, we have you covered at The Normanby Hotel.
What’s your experience at organising Christmas parties?
People love having Christmas parties or end of year parties at a pub. So I’ve organised plenty over the last 5 years of working in hotels.
Why do you think the Normanby Hotel is such a popular place to have an end of year Christmas party?
I think people love having their Christmas party here at the Normanby because the atmosphere is laid back and everyone feels relaxed. I think the Normanby is also popular because we have so many different types of rooms to hold your party in so we can accommodate groups of all sizes. We have the 4 indoor spaces to choose from like our Public Bar that can fit up to 120 guests and there is the Valentine room for a smaller gathering of 50, or for a more intimate party, we have the Nicholson room for up to 20.
Or you can go outdoors. Given it’s summer time, it’s a good choice for many to have their party outside, under our umbrellas, on the Cabana deck or in the Garden Bar.
So I think it’s because we can give people so many options to choose from, we’re a popular spot.
What sort of Christmas parties do you hold at The Normanby Hotel?
Mainly work end of year Christmas parties. We also have quite a few sports clubs that hold their end of year parties here. And we’ve held family Christmas parties too.
Which space at The Normanby Hotel is the best for a Christmas party?
It all depends on the size of the party. We have rooms to accommodate a variety of party sizes. Our biggest space inside is the Public Bar. It can accommodate up to 120 guests. If you want a smaller space, I recommend the Valentine Room (50 guests) or the Cabana deck if you want it outside (up to 80 guests). And we also have the Garden Bar for a smaller outdoor space (50 guests).
Or if you a combination of indoors and outdoors, The Lounge Bar is perfect for you. The Lounge Bar accommodates up to 100 guests comfortably. The lounge area is indoors, with comfortable chesterfield seating, connected to a large, outdoor balcony, overlooking Musgrave Rd.
For information about all our spaces, download our functions package.
What can The Normanby Hotel help organise?
We organise your food and beverages of course. Maybe we can find a santa for you too….just ask and we’ll help out as much as we can.
What is a good day and time for a work Christmas function?
It does depend on the event you are wanting to have. If you’re wanting an outdoor event, during the day, it’s a great idea. If it’s an indoor event, evenings are preferred.
But in my experience, people like to do a work party on a Friday night. People are more relaxed when they don’t need to back up for work again the next day… And for a start time, I would recommend 6pm onwards. Let’s people go home, get freshened up and get their party mood on.
It’s a daytime event, Saturday or Sunday works and late afternoons are the most popular times.
And for a non-work Christmas function? What’s a typical day, time and length?
Pretty much the same. Friday nights are the popular time slot.
Do you have a special Christmas food and drinks package?
Yes we do. It’s all our popular menu items with some extra special Christmas items added. Think Turkey Christmas sandwiches, fresh seafood for summer and mini pavlovas.
What food is the best for a daytime Christmas party?
Nibbles like sliders (our #1 choice!), pizzas, mini meat pies and sausage rolls, mini quiches, chicken skewers work really well. Small bite sized pieces that are easy to handle with a drink in your hand. And for a Christmas touch, we have Turkey sandwiches, plum pudding and fresh sushi and seafood.
We do have vegetarian options too like our deep fried delight – samosas, vegetarian spring rolls.
Download our Food & Beverage functions menu.
What food is the best for an evening Christmas party?
I would suggest the same as a daytime party.
Do you have gf and vegetarian options?
We have gf pizza bases and gf slider buns. And we have a sushi platter which is gf and can be made fully vegetarian.
How much food should I order per person?
Each platter feeds 6-8 people which is roughly 2-3 pieces each.
Should I do a drinks package or bar tab?
For any kind of end of year Christmas party, I recommend a drinks package. Paying a price per head is usually easier for everyone, including you. Then you know exactly what your budget is. After the drinks package timing is over, you can always go on a bar tab or people just buy their own drinks.
Download our Beverage menu.
How does the music work for my party?
You can create your own Spotify playlist. We have the sound system to easily hook that up. We can also shuffle a party playlist for you if you don’t want to create your own. From my experience, don’t make it all Christmas music. Mix it up with some fun party music too.
Some good christmas songs to play are:
Obviously, All I Want for Christmas is You, by Mariah Carey.
Last Christmas, by Wham!
It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas, by Michael Bublé
Santa Tell Me, by Ariana Grande
A couple of oldies but goldies…
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!, by Frank Sinatra
White Christmas, by Tony Bennett
And throw in some Aussie jingles too like
Aussie Jingle Bells by Bucko & Champs
Apparently Australia’s most popular Christmas song is How to Make Gravy by Paul Kelly
Can I decorate the room?
Absolutely but getting access to put up the decorations depends on which room you book.
The Public Bar is open to the public when it’s not booked out. You can come in and decorate as long as you are considerate of the guests.
For all other rooms, you can come in any time of the day to decorate and prepare.
You are welcome to bring a Christmas tree, if you’re wanting to go all out…
What information do you need from me to help plan the party?
- Budget
- Timing especially arrival time
- Number of guests
- Bar tab or drinks package
- Which food platters
- What time you want to come and decorate
When should I book?
We get bookings for Christmas parties in the middle of the year. We all know when a Christmas party is going to be…so book early and secure the spot you want. Especially if you have a big group, don’t wait until November…We get booked fast so I recommend you contact me sooner rather than later.
Please email functions@normanby.com.au or call (07) 3831 3353. Or send us an enquiry with our event form below.
Do you have parking?
Yes we have parking for about 80 cars on site. It’s right next door to the hotel. For directions, the address for parking is 18 Kelvin Grove Rd, Kelvin Grove.
Do you have any seating for guests?
We have lower couches scattered around our function spaces so there is always somewhere people can sit and relax.
I have some more questions.
Please email us or call (07) 3831 3353. Or send us an enquiry with our event form below.
We love Christmas and end of year events at The Normanby Hotel. It’s the time of the year everyone is in the mood to party and that’s the kind of energy we love. The couple of weeks leading up to Christmas, the place is just buzzing with activity. We’d love to have your party here, so please contact us to make your booking soon.
