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Key takeaways
- Decide the purpose of the day first. Party rooms for a relaxed social, event spaces for talks, cooking studios or BBQ venues for something hands-on.
- Friday to Sunday, public holidays and the day before a public holiday are at the weekend rate, so weekday daytime is easier on the budget.
- The full amount is paid online at booking with no booking fee. For large groups, use the concierge form or Name your price.
- If numbers may change, a Flexible policy gives a full refund for cancellations 24 hours or more before the start.
- Plan activities people can join or simply watch. Never force anyone to sing or perform solo.
Choose a team building venue by what you want the day to achieve. For games and a relaxed social, book a party room. For talks or a bigger group, an event space. For something hands-on, a cooking studio or a BBQ venue. Enter the date, time and headcount on Gatherland and each venue shows its total and availability for that slot.
What kinds of venue work for team building?
| Venue type | Good for | Check |
|---|---|---|
| Party room | Games, karaoke, consoles, board games, a casual meal | Maximum headcount and seating |
| Event space | Talks, workshops, awards, larger teams | Projector, mics and table layout |
| Cooking studio | Team cook-offs, baking | How ingredients and equipment are handled |
| BBQ venue | Outdoor feel, talking while you grill | Whether BBQ food sets are offered as add-ons |
Party rooms
Best for a team that wants to unwind. Many party rooms have a Nintendo Switch, karaoke or a mahjong table, which makes team competitions easy.
Event spaces
If the programme includes slides, a talk or a workshop, an event space gives you more room, and some have a projector and sound system. For company events, see event spaces for corporate events.
Cooking studios and BBQ venues
Cooking together is a natural exercise in co-operation. A cooking studio suits team cook-offs, while a BBQ venue lets people talk while they grill. Some venues offer BBQ food sets as add-ons.
Team building venues
Event spaces for company events:
How do I budget for team building?
Venues charge per person per hour or per room per hour. Some set a minimum number of hours, a minimum headcount, or offer group discounts. Friday to Sunday, public holidays and the day before a public holiday are at the weekend rate, so weekday daytime slots are usually easier on the budget.
For typical price levels by venue type, see the price index. The full amount is paid online at booking, and the total shown is what you pay, with no booking fee. Any refundable security deposit is shown before payment.
What if the group is large or has special needs?
- Concierge: for large or corporate events, use the concierge form.
- Name your price: post the date, group size and budget, and hosts answer with offers.
- Enquiries: for venues without instant booking, send an enquiry first.
What activities work well?
| Activity | Venue | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Console tournament | Party room with a Switch or PS5 | Mix departments in each team |
| Karaoke contest | Party room with karaoke | Group songs, so nobody is forced to sing solo |
| Cook-off | Cooking studio | Set a time limit and ingredient list, then eat together |
| BBQ meal | BBQ venue | Split jobs: grilling, prep, clean-up |
| Workshop or talk | Event space | Do the structured part first, then let people mingle |
Not everyone enjoys games, so plan activities that are comfortable to join or to watch. For more ideas, see party games for groups.
Steps for organising a team building day
- 1
Pick the date
Use the date poll to find a day most colleagues can make.
- 2
Fix a headcount and filter
Set a headcount range and filter by size, for example party rooms for 30 people.
- 3
Confirm the details with the host
Message the host from the venue page about layout, equipment and food.
- 4
Split supplies and activities
Use the party checklist to assign shopping and hosting.
- 5
Work out the shares
If colleagues are chipping in, the cost splitter calculates each person's share.
Cancelling and changing plans
Each venue uses a Flexible, Standard or Strict cancellation policy; the earlier you cancel, the more you get back. This is the latest you can cancel, in hours before the start, for a full refund and for 50% back:
Refund deadlines by cancellation policy (hours before start)
View data table
| Full refund (latest) | 50% refund (latest) | |
|---|---|---|
| Flexible | 24 hours | 6 hours |
| Standard | 48 hours | 24 hours |
| Strict | 168 hours | 72 hours |
Source: Gatherland cancellation policy
Cancel later than the 50% deadline and there is no refund, though a security deposit is always returned in full. For company events where numbers may change a lot, favour venues with a more flexible policy. See the cancellation policy. If the host cancels, you are refunded in full.
For activity ideas, see party games for groups.
Frequently asked questions
Which type of venue is best for team building?
For games and a relaxed social, a party room. For talks, workshops or a larger team, an event space. For something hands-on, a cooking studio or a BBQ venue. Decide the purpose of the day first, then the venue type.
Is there help for large company events?
Yes. For large or corporate events you can fill in the concierge form with your headcount, date and needs. You can also use Name your price: post a date, group size and budget, and hosts reply with offers.
Are weekday daytime sessions cheaper?
Friday to Sunday, public holidays and the day before a public holiday are charged at the weekend rate, so Monday to Thursday slots are usually at the weekday rate. The exact total shows in the search results.
How does payment work?
The full amount is paid online at booking. The platform holds the money and releases it to the host 48 hours after the booking ends. There is no booking fee for guests.
What if colleagues drop out and numbers fall?
Minimum headcounts, pricing and cancellation policies vary by venue, and per-person pricing is the most sensitive to changes. Check the venue page before booking; if numbers are uncertain, choose a more flexible policy or message the host about adjusting.
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