Christmas Party Venues in Leeds and Yorkshire: 8 Venues to Book
A good Christmas party venue fits your headcount, feeds everyone well and is easy to leave at the end of the night. This list sets out eight party venues in Leeds, Wetherby, Sheffield and York, from a city-centre hotel two minutes from Leeds station to a racecourse with free parking and a Victorian mansion in Sheffield. Room capacities are given as each venue lists them on venues.org.uk, so you can draw up a shortlist for the festive season quickly.
Before you book, check four things:
✓ Capacity for your guest numbers, seated and standing
✓ Catering: who provides it, and the styles of food on offer
✓ AV for speeches, awards or music
✓ The nearest station, and parking if your guests will drive
Each Featured venue answers these checks in an “At a glance” block, so you can compare them before you plan your Christmas party.
Quick picks
- Park Plaza Leeds, Boar Lane: best for a city-centre party, dinner or cocktail reception two minutes from Leeds station
- Wetherby Racecourse & Conference Centre, Wetherby: best for banquets, dinner dances and large groups arriving by car
- INOX, Sheffield: best for a party with a bar, dancefloor and a licence until 1am
- Halifax Hall Hotel, Sheffield: best for an evening reception or private dinner in a Victorian mansion with bedrooms
- The Diamond Building, Sheffield: best for a large reception or awards evening at a university campus venue
- The Cutlers Hall, Sheffield: best for a banquet or party in a Grade II listed hall
- Stableside at York Racecourse, York: best for a smaller seated party with free parking
- The Wire Club, Leeds: best for a late-night club hire in Leeds city centre
The venues
1. Park Plaza Leeds, Boar Lane
Featured venue
Park Plaza Leeds is a city-centre hotel on Boar Lane, overlooking City Square and about two minutes’ walk from Leeds Railway Station. It has 187 bedrooms and two conference floors, and its meeting rooms can be opened up into larger spaces for dinners and receptions. Chino Latino, the hotel’s Pan-Asian restaurant and Latin cocktail bar, is used for private dining and cocktail receptions.
Best for: private dinners and cocktail receptions in central Leeds
At a glance
✓ Rooms: Park 3 + 4 + 5 250 reception, 200 theatre; Plaza 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 250 reception, 200 theatre; Park 1 + 2 120 theatre; City View 60 theatre, overlooking City Square; Scene! Lobby Bar for informal drinks before or after an event
✓ AV: Meeting rooms have audiovisual equipment and free high-speed WiFi
✓ Catering: In-house catering through Chino Latino and the hotel kitchen, with set menus, tasting menus, cocktail receptions and refreshments
✓ Access and transport: Leeds Railway Station is about two minutes’ walk. There is no on-site parking, and accessible rooms are available
See the rooms at Park Plaza Leeds
2. Wetherby Racecourse & Conference Centre, Wetherby
Featured venue
Wetherby Racecourse sits in more than 300 acres of Yorkshire countryside, about 15 miles from Leeds, close to Junction 46 of the A1(M). It lists banquets, dinner dances, charity balls and corporate dinners among its best uses. The Riston Suite on the middle floor of Millennium West has large balconies with racecourse views, and the 1891 Bar above it has panoramic views of the course.
Best for: banquets, dinner dances and large groups who want free parking
At a glance
✓ Rooms: Bramham Hall 300 dining, 300 cabaret, 500 theatre; Riston Suite 140 dining; 1891 Bar for informal drinks and networking; Millennium West Grandstand for dining and informal events
✓ AV: TV monitors are listed among the facilities, and a hostess or event manager is available
✓ Catering: Legends Global is the exclusive caterer, covering formal banquets, buffets, evening receptions, dinner dances and bespoke menus for charity dinners and large receptions
✓ Access and transport: Extensive complimentary parking on site, and the venue suits coaches. There is no station in Wetherby, and the nearest main stations are Leeds, Harrogate and York. There is no on-site accommodation
See the rooms at Wetherby Racecourse & Conference Centre
3. INOX, Sheffield
Featured venue
INOX is on Level 5 of the University of Sheffield Students’ Union Building, with views over Sheffield, a lounge, a large bar with a dancefloor and a balcony. It lists parties, balls, corporate dinners and gala dinners among its best uses, and a late night alcohol licence lets events run until 1am. Whole-venue events can take up to 350 guests.
Best for: parties and society balls that need a bar, a dancefloor and a late finish
At a glance
✓ Rooms: Bar with dancefloor, for evening receptions and parties; Lounge for informal dining and drinks; Balcony with views over Sheffield; INOX Suite 1 + 2 + 3 120 cabaret, 180 theatre; INOX Suite 1 + 2 80 cabaret, 120 theatre
✓ AV: AV equipment is referenced for the venue
✓ Catering: In-house catering led by Head Chef Joe Berry, a Master Chef of Great Britain, with plated dinners, canapés, evening buffets and afternoon tea. Vegetarian and vegan options are always available. The bar serves wines, craft beers and signature cocktails
✓ Access and transport: The University of Sheffield tram stop is about two minutes’ walk, and Sheffield station is about five minutes by taxi. Paid parking is at Q-Park Durham Road. Guests enter by the West Entrance and the venue is on Level 5
4. Halifax Hall Hotel, Sheffield
Featured venue
Halifax Hall is a refurbished Victorian mansion in Endcliffe, west Sheffield, with 38 en-suite bedrooms and landscaped gardens. It lists evening receptions, parties and private dining among its best uses, and the Dining Room holds evening receptions of up to 150. The Library has two antique bookcases bought at the 1936 auction of the RMS Olympic, the sister ship of the Titanic.
Best for: evening receptions, parties and private dining where guests can stay overnight
At a glance
✓ Rooms: Dining Room 150 evening reception, 110 theatre; Library 70 standing, 30 dining; Warden’s Study 12 boardroom, for small private dinners; Gardens for drinks receptions
✓ AV: WiFi and natural daylight in the event rooms, and TV monitors are listed among the facilities
✓ Catering: In-house catering through WithUS, with canapés, evening food, afternoon tea, and bar and restaurant dining. The bar and restaurant are open to hotel guests and the public
✓ Access and transport: About two miles, or a 30-minute walk, from Sheffield city centre, and a short drive from Sheffield station, with local bus and tram options. Free on-site parking for hotel guests, and two accessible bedrooms
See the rooms at Halifax Hall Hotel
5. The Diamond Building, Sheffield
Featured venue
The Diamond is the University of Sheffield’s Faculty of Engineering building, on Leavygreave Road in central Sheffield. It can host up to 1,500 people across all its spaces, and it lists awards evenings among its best uses. The Moonscape Open Area is the main open space for receptions and holds up to 300 standing.
Best for: large receptions and awards evenings
At a glance
✓ Rooms: Moonscape Open Area 300 standing; Lecture Theatre 1 400 theatre; Further Conference Lecture Theatres 160 theatre; Adaptable Conference Rooms for smaller groups
✓ AV: Advanced AV technology is stated as available in every room, and the facilities list includes a stage and air conditioning
✓ Catering: In-house catering through WithUS, covering receptions, evening events and bespoke event menus. Vegetarian and vegan options can be accommodated
✓ Access and transport: Sheffield station is about a 20-minute walk, or a short tram or taxi ride, and University of Sheffield Supertram stops are a few minutes’ walk. The main entrance is at ground floor level, and Lecture Theatre 1 has a hearing loop
See the rooms at The Diamond Building
6. The Cutlers Hall, Sheffield
The Cutlers Hall is a Grade II listed building in the centre of Sheffield, a short walk from the railway station. It hosts private dinners and Christmas parties, with in-house catering. The Main Hall takes 350 for a banquet or 500 for a reception, Hadfield Hall takes 200 for a banquet or 400 for a reception, and the Old Banqueting Hall takes 150 for a banquet. Wi-Fi is complimentary throughout. See The Cutlers Hall on venues.org.uk.
7. Stableside at York Racecourse, York
Stableside is on Tadcaster Road in York, and its conference and event centre hosts functions from family parties to residential conferences. The dining room seats up to 80, and there is a recreation lounge with a bar. Catering runs from a finger buffet to a three-course meal, and there is free car parking with space for coaches. See Stableside at York Racecourse on venues.org.uk.
8. The Wire Club, Leeds
Wire is at 2-8 Call Lane in Leeds and is hired out for club nights and live electronic music events. It is licensed until 4am Sunday to Thursday and until 6am on Friday and Saturday. The equipment includes a Funktion-One soundsystem, Pioneer and Technics DJ decks and an Avolite Titan Mobile lighting system, and an SIA licensed security team is on site. See The Wire Club on venues.org.uk.
Choosing the right venue
Start your Christmas party plans with your headcount and how your team will travel. A team that wants a central Leeds hotel and a train journey home suits Park Plaza Leeds, while a team driving in from Leeds, Harrogate, York or Bradford suits Wetherby. For a party with a dancefloor, look at INOX or The Wire Club, and for a seated dinner in a historic setting, look at Halifax Hall or The Cutlers Hall. For more options, browse our Leeds venues, Yorkshire and the Humber venues and Christmas party venues.
