Christmas Party Venues in Ascot Vale

What to Know Before Booking Christmas Party Venues

End-of-year functions in Ascot Vale can look out over a golf course or settle in beside a pub fire. Riverside Kitchen & Bar runs its function room from the bistro on the hill above the Riverside course in Newsom Street, and The Laurel Hotel on Mt Alexander Road lists Christmas parties among the events its functions team handles.

Both take teams from a few dozen up to a couple of hundred, so the decision is mostly about the feel of the day.

For the staff member organising it:

Presentations – Riverside's room has a projector and screen with HDMI, plus complimentary wifi
A seated December lunch – Riverside seats up to 120 on round tables, with set menus from $45 per person
Drinks and canapés for a big team – The Laurel's dining room, exclusive for up to 200 standing
A department with its own bar – Level 1 upstairs at The Laurel, room for 100 standing or 60 seated
Arrivals – both venues have parking on site, and The Laurel has public transport close by

Canapés at The Laurel start from $38 per person, and neither of its spaces carries a hire fee.

Hot and cold canapés by the piece, platters and a one-metre grazing board suit a stand-up afternoon
Steak and salmon mains can be added to a set menu for a small surcharge
Packages covering sparkling, red and white wine, beer on tap and soft drinks last three to five hours
Minimum spends depend on the booking, and the functions coordinator confirms them at enquiry

The Laurel for the team party

A bar tab capped by the organiser can give way to pay-as-you-go service once it is spent
Three- and four-hour drinks packages keep the cost per head fixed
The Laurel Feast sits the team down to entrées for the table and a main each
Woodfired pizzas can join the canapé packages, and teams may bring their own decorations or DJ

Venues for Christmas Parties: Your Questions Answered

Which Ascot Vale venue suits a Christmas party with a slideshow?

Riverside Kitchen & Bar includes a projector and screen with HDMI and wifi, and Level 1 at The Laurel Hotel has TV screens and a sound system.

Can drinks start with a cocktail at The Laurel Hotel?

It can. Guests can be greeted with a cocktail, and the rest of the night runs on a three- or four-hour package, a capped bar tab or pay-as-you-go service.

Can a team of 150 fit at Riverside Kitchen & Bar?

Yes, for a cocktail-style function. Seated, the room takes up to 120 on round tables.

What about colleagues with dietary requirements?

Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free guests are covered at The Laurel Hotel, on the canapé menu and the Feast alike.