Summer is when most companies finally get around to the socials, away days, and team events that kept getting pushed back during the busy spring months. With more daylight, better weather, and people generally in a better mood for being out of the office, it’s the ideal window to bring a team together. Getting it right takes more thought than booking the nearest pub garden, though, especially with venues and dates filling up fast across the season. Here’s what to consider when planning your next event.
What to Look for in a Venue
The venue sets the tone before anything else. Look for somewhere with character rather than a generic function room; spaces like Comptoir Bakery's railway arches near London Bridge offer something memorable from the moment guests walk in. Smaller teams might suit an intimate space like our Maltby Street café, which holds up to 80 guests, while larger gatherings need a venue like Southwark Cathedral, which flexes from 6 to 120 guests across multiple rooms. It’s also worth checking whether the venue can support kitchen facilities, particularly if food is going to be a central part of the day, and whether catering and logistics can be handled in-house to avoid juggling multiple suppliers.
The Benefits of Activity-Based Events
Hands-on experiences, such as a chef-led baking workshop, get colleagues working together towards a shared result rather than standing around making small talk. The act of preparing, baking, and decorating something as a group naturally breaks down silos and gets quieter team members involved in a way that a standard meal rarely manages. It also gives the day a clear structure, which makes planning easier and the event itself feel more purposeful.
For teams that want something with more creative scope, bespoke event formats can be built entirely around a theme or specific outcome, which works well for larger off-sites or end-of-summer celebrations.
Why Booking Early Matters
Summer dates fill up fast, particularly across July and August when most companies try to squeeze in an away day before the autumn workload picks up. Booking early secures your preferred date and venue, and gives you more flexibility to customise catering, branding, or activity elements rather than working with whatever is left closer to the time. It also gives you room to adjust numbers or requirements as the date approaches, which is far easier with plenty of notice.
Ready to start planning your event in London? Get in touch with Comptoir Bakery at catering@comptoirbakery.co.uk to discuss your requirements.
