Where to Plan Your Winter Social

There’s something about winter that sharpens the appetite for company. As temperatures fall, we retreat indoors — not to hibernate, but to gather. It’s the season of glowing interiors, of laughter carried over glassware and good food, of evenings that stretch a little longer because nobody’s in a hurry to leave.

Planning a winter social in Britain isn’t about grandeur; it’s about atmosphere. The perfect venue marries warmth with energy — somewhere that feels alive even as the streets outside are quiet. From interactive bars to cultural landmarks, from city rooftops to country escapes, there are spaces across the UK designed precisely for this kind of celebration.

Sixes Cricket

At the centre of this landscape stands Sixes Cricket — the modern benchmark for sociable winter gatherings. With venues across London, Manchester, Birmingham, Brighton, and Cambridge, Sixes has transformed the classic British pastime into something stylish, social, and warmly inclusive.

Inside each site, the familiar sound of bat on ball meets the low hum of convivial chatter. Groups step up to the digital nets to face simulated bowlers while friends cheer from plush booths, plates of sharing dishes arriving with reassuring regularity. The décor strikes the balance between sporting heritage and contemporary polish: rich timber, brass fixtures, leather seating, and lighting that flatters rather than floods.

Sixes works so well in winter because it turns activity into atmosphere. It offers the liveliness of play without the chill of the pitch — competition that unites rather than divides. Corporate teams, friendship groups, and families all find the rhythm naturally: a little sport, a little laughter, a good meal, a final round at the bar.

The menu leans proudly British — seasonal comfort food elevated through quality ingredients and careful execution. Burgers, buttermilk chicken, hearty sharing plates, and signature desserts that seem designed for indulgence after a long working week. Drinks run from craft ales and wines to creative cocktails that echo the brand’s playfulness.

It’s easy to see why Sixes has become a fixture for winter socials: energetic, well-run, beautifully designed, and above all, fun.

Rooftop Bars and Terraces

The British climate might seem hostile to rooftop gatherings in December, but the best city terraces now reinvent themselves for winter. Across London and Manchester, open-air bars have evolved into enclosed, heated sanctuaries — glass domes, fairy lights, faux furs, and a sense of alpine intimacy that pairs perfectly with mulled wine.

Spaces such as the Queen of Hoxton’s winter rooftop in Shoreditch or Skylight Tobacco Dock use transparent canopies and glowing heaters to create warm microclimates above the skyline. Smaller hotels, too, now enclose their terraces for private hire, turning what was once a summer perk into an atmospheric winter lounge.

These venues appeal to groups who want something seasonal but casual — less dinner, more gathering. The mood is relaxed, the drinks are central, and the city feels far away even when it isn’t.

Winter Garden Spaces

If the rooftop is winter’s rebel, the garden pavilion is its diplomat — still connected to nature, but comfortably enclosed. Botanical settings such as Petersham Nurseries in Richmond or The Winter Garden at The Landmark London provide that rare combination of greenery and shelter.

Under glass ceilings and soft lighting, these spaces feel perpetually golden. They work beautifully for afternoon socials, long lunches, or early evening drinks where conversation and comfort outweigh formality.

Winter gardens have become particularly popular for teams seeking alternatives to predictable restaurants or bars. They deliver atmosphere and photogenic charm, but still allow guests to talk — and breathe.

City Museums and Galleries

For a social with a little culture, museums and galleries across the UK offer private and semi-private event spaces during winter. From the Natural History Museum and Tate Modern in London to The Whitworth in Manchester and Kelvingrove Art Gallery in Glasgow, these venues can host everything from drinks receptions to immersive tours.

They’re ideal for organisations or groups who want to combine a festive element with an experience — perhaps a guided viewing followed by drinks and canapés. Most museums offer in-house catering and event teams, so the logistics are smoother than they might appear.

The benefit is atmosphere. After closing hours, these cultural spaces acquire a hush that feels luxurious in itself — history and conversation sharing the same quiet grandeur.

Boutique and Design-Led Hotels

For groups that want everything under one roof, boutique hotels are an intelligent choice. Properties such as The Hoxton, The Ned, Treehouse London, or King Street Townhouse in Manchester all host private socials during winter, combining stylish interiors with adaptable menus and professional service.

The advantage lies in flexibility: guests can move between bar, lounge, and dining space without losing cohesion. Many hotels now create themed seasonal environments — think warm wood tones, flickering fires, and curated cocktails built for comfort.

These settings suit professional teams and friendship groups alike: a little less kinetic than an activity venue, a little more polished than a bar crawl. The focus is on design, warmth, and a sense of occasion.

Country House Escapes

For those willing to step beyond the city, Britain’s countryside offers winter social settings steeped in tradition. Venues like Coworth Park in Berkshire, Grantley Hall in Yorkshire, and Luton Hoo in Bedfordshire have refined the art of the seasonal gathering.

Guests arrive to log fires, decorated halls, and dining that celebrates British produce at its most comforting — venison, parsnips, local cheeses, puddings that linger. These locations suit teams or families seeking space and stillness, away from December’s urban rush.

Many now offer combined experiences: shooting days followed by lunch, cookery demonstrations, or spa treatments before an evening meal. The rhythm is slower, the style unmistakably British, and the mood — especially under snowfall — unmatched.

Curling, Ice Rinks and Pop-Up Lodges

Interactive experiences beyond cricket are flourishing across UK cities. Temporary ice rinks and alpine-style pop-ups appear each winter in destinations such as Somerset House, Natural History Museum, and Eden Project.

These are less formal than traditional event venues but ideal for smaller, more active groups. An hour skating, a warm drink afterward, perhaps a reserved lodge or bar area — it’s a structure that mirrors the Sixes format: play, relax, connect.

Many such venues now offer private hire packages that combine rink time with dining, making them a viable option for those seeking novelty without excess.

Urban Distilleries and Breweries

For smaller gatherings, craft distilleries and breweries across the UK provide spaces with authenticity and warmth. Venues like East London Liquor Company, BrewDog Outposts, or The Spirit of Manchester Distillery blend activity and education — tastings, tours, mixology sessions — with relaxed, informal dining.

Their appeal lies in tactility. Guests engage with the process, learn something, and enjoy food and drink that feels connected to place. The settings tend to favour exposed brick, warm lighting, and a sense of camaraderie — perfectly suited to winter evenings.

The Art of the Season

What unites these varied venues — from cricket nets to rooftops, galleries to country estates — is not their geography but their sensibility. Each offers more than shelter from the cold; they offer context for connection.

Winter socials succeed when they balance structure with spontaneity, experience with comfort. They thrive in venues that give guests something to do as well as something to enjoy.

And among them all, Sixes Cricket stands as the clearest expression of modern British sociability: playful, inclusive, impeccably run, and designed for laughter that carries long after last orders. It proves that winter warmth is not only found beside the fire, but also beneath the glow of good company and a well-timed swing.