5 places to have a group celebration

1. Check out Chester for a celebration

Main station: Chester

Want to be dazzled, entertained and leave wanting more? Then Chester may be the destination you’re looking for. Not only does it offer excellent nightlife, with a plethora of bars, pubs, and clubs, there is so much more to see and do.

Perfect for snapping pictures with your favourite people, Chester provides a backdrop that melds medieval with Tudor and Roman architecture, housing a multitude of shops. From high-street favourites, to independent boutiques to high-end designer, the city’s great for indulging in a spot of retail therapy as part of your trip away together.

If bottomless brunch floats your boat, check out the Bottomless Gin Brunch experience at Providence Gin, where groups of up to 20 can taste from a library of more than 300 gins (as well as wine, cocktails and beer), while enjoying fabulous grazing boards made up of produce from local artisan producers.

Or maybe your party’s more into afternoon tea? If so, Veeno Wine Bar and Restaurant serves afternoon tea Italian-style; think unlimited tea or coffee along with Italian focaccia bread filled with meats and cheeses followed by scones, cake and cannoli – delizioso.

Or maybe you’re a gang of beer enthusiasts, if so the Brewhouse & Kitchen experience is the perfect group activity. Right in the centre of Chester, you can choose between a beer tasting masterclass or even get hands-on experience in brewing at this microbrewery. If you do the latter, as well as being treated to breakfast, lunch and beers throughout the day, you get to take away a five-litre keg of beer of your choice.

If, however, you just want to relax and unwind with your party, it’s definitely worth noting that Chester boasts a really good selection of spas and wellness centres right in the city centre.

Plan your trip to Chester

2. Live it up in Leeds

Main station: Leeds

Fantastic by day and outstanding by evening, with its wealth of bars, restaurants, events and activities, the options for fun are almost endless in the buzzing city of Leeds.  

Looking for an activity to warm the celebrations up? If escape rooms are your thing, check out Escape Hunt in The Light Centre on Headrow, or maybe Flight Club which takes groups up to 37-strong (snacks, drinks and darts – what’s not to love). Want to show off your strength and accuracy, maybe Axe Throwing is the activity for your gang? Or slightly less high intensity, there’s Junkyard Golf which really puts the crazy in ‘crazy golf’ with strobe lights and an eight-foot bear.

Need something to line your stomach? As well as entertaining, Hello Karaoke @ House of Fu has a series of karaoke rooms AND serves seriously tasty ramen downstairs.

Not your jam? Maybe this is – the Domino Club is a speakeasy-style bar where you’ll find live Jazz, Blues, Funk and Soul and a fully licensed bar waiting for you below ground.

Want to catch up over drinks? An ideal meeting place, the Green Room is located just a stone’s throw from Leeds station. It has a great atmosphere, impressive drinks menu and a extensive indoor and all-weather outdoor spaces to get together.

Want somewhere that has it all? Spread across four floors, Headrow House  has a restaurant, beer hall, live music venue and two roof terraces – it really does tick all the boxes.

Casual drinks and dining on the cards? Check out Belgrave Music Hall and Canteen - a much-loved Leeds institution.  Boasting live events and fresh, canteen-style food including pizza from Dough Boys and burgers from Patty’s in addition to its incredible roof terrace.

Or if you’re looking for somewhere a bit more glam, maybe Sky Lounge is for you. Located on the 13th floor of the Doubletree by Hilton, Sky Lounge is a popular location for special occasions thanks to its unrivalled city views as Leeds’ highest rooftop bar.

Visit Leeds for a party

3. Experience the madness of Manchester

Main station: Manchester Piccadilly

It doesn’t get much more vibrant than Manchester, making it the perfect place to get together with friends for a big celebration. 

Looking for something fun to do? For competitive groups, check out Lucardo escape rooms, the iconic Crystal Maze or Immersive Game Box where you can see if you can survive Squid Games!  

For more active groups, maybe consider hiring canoes, kayaks or boats – with all its canals, Manchester is famous for its vast waterways which stretch for miles.  

Your group more into a spot of retail therapy? Manchester is a beacon for shopping enthusiasts with a great mix of high-street stores, department stores including Harvey Nicholls and Selfridges, designer boutiques and independent shops.

Looking for iconic spots to enjoy over drinks?  Check out 20 Stories in Spinningfields area – it has a bustling bar and a large rooftop terrace with full 360-degree views of the Manchester skyline. Or maybe The Ivy Spinningfields, which houses both The Ivy Brasserie and The Ivy Asia, with exciting menus and cocktails and a resident DJ in the evenings. It also boasts a rooftop garden which is open all year thanks to the retractable glass roof, so you can enjoy this space even in the Manchester rain!

For something, perhaps, a bit more relaxed YES is a multi-space venue with a busy gig schedule, regularly changing street food vendors and “cheap beer and fancy drinks” to enjoy. If beer’s your thing, then maybe Brewdog Doghouse is the destination for you. The first-floor bar has a whopping 30 taps of craft beer and a mouth-watering menu of burgers, wings, salads and brunch options. 

Organise a celebration in Manchester

4. Get out on the Toon in Newcastle

Main station: Newcastle

Renowned for its friendly welcome, Newcastle is the perfect destination for a group celebration.  Easy to get to by train, the city is a shopper’s paradise and the entertainment is second to none.

Looking for a group activity to bring your gang together? What about Lane 7  – just a stone’s throw from the station? This retro-styled bowling alley, karaoke, ping-pong and pool venue has a great menu of cocktails and snacks to warm you up.

Competitive group? What about EXIT Newcastle – this escape room on Westgate Road has easy, medium or challenging options that are bound to get everyone working together.

Or what about Point Blank Shooting – a speak-easy bar that serves premium cocktails along with American snacks while testing your skills in a simulated shooting range.  Select a replica weapon from the armoury and, using laser technology, make your way through a variety of shooting scenarios which test your timing, aim and reflexes. 

Wondering where to grab drinks and a bite to eat? What about By the River Brew Co – this food and drink hotspot is brilliant on a weekend. Set inside repurposed shipping containers beneath the iconic Tyne Bridge, head here for a bite to eat and take your pick from the range of independent vendors at its street food market. Thanks to its riverside location, this spot is perfect when the sun is shining.

Another favourite, Horticulture boasts ‘the world’s biggest espresso martini menu’. This stylish bar and restaurant is tucked away on Market Lane and has a bountiful menu of dishes made using fresh, organic, locally-sourced produce with a focus on sustainability.

If gorgeous views are high on your agenda when looking for the perfect rooftop bar, then ABOVE, the rooftop bar on top of Vermont hotel, will be perfect for your gang. Only a 7-minute walk from the station, you can enjoy cocktails mixed by expert mixologists and tuck into a range of delicious dishes inspired by flavours from around the world all while taking in the panoramic views of Newcastle.

If you’ve got luxury in mind, check out 3SIXTY Champagne Bar. The highest tower in the city, this Newcastle venue has a relaxed dining feel with a focus on sharing boards and small plates. What’s more, it also serves a beautifully crafted champagne afternoon tea.

With The Botanist's signature décor, you’ll feel like you’re walking into a secret garden. Ideal for groups with its extensive drinks menu and sharing plates, it’s also great for a Sunday roast if you need a good feed.  

Need entertaining? Check out what’s on the line-up at The Stand Comedy Club. The Club boasts a roster of comedians including nationally known acts and local up-and-comers. If live music’s more your group’s jam, then Newcastle has no shortage of great spots to check out. From The Cluny to Boiler Shop to Riverside, you’re bound to find something that strikes a chord.

Enjoy a night out in Newcastle

5. Try York for a winning weekend

Main station: York

As well as providing an awesome backdrop for your Instagram snaps, York offers so much to do both during the day and on a night out – so ideal for getting groups together for big celebrations.

For something laid back, you could spend an entire day exploring York’s cobbled streets, marvelling at the medieval architecture and popping in and out of its huge array of independent, designer and high street stores. Talking of exploring, if you want to find out more and be thoroughly entertained, maybe sign your party up for The Bloody Tour Of York. Led by Mad Alice, you’ll find out about highwaymen, witches, murders and more.

Or maybe you’d prefer to sit back, relax and catch up on the water? City Cruises York offers both guided tours (with an onboard bar) or the option to hire your own boat with up to 8 people on board. If you’re thinking to combine cruising with food, there are also various foodie cruises departing from King's Staith Landing where you can have a meal to remember.

If you’re looking for something that gets the adrenaline levels up, check out The Hilt where you can throw axes like a Viking and eat like a king. Or maybe try your hand at The Hole In Wand  - the world’s most magical golf course. Or take an hour to take on York’s most challenging escape room Gr8t Escape.

Heading for drinks? Great as a kick-off meeting point, York Tap is literally in the train station, so no one should get lost finding it. Priding itself on serving the best beer the country (and further afield) has to offer, you can’t go wrong. Cocktails in mind? Then Evil Eye is for you, specialising in cocktails made using fresh ingredients. Or to please every taste, check out Pavement Vaults, which is located on the south side of Parliament Square and serves an array of craft beers, wines and cocktails along with the finest barbecued and smoked foods - yum. 

Want live music along with a beer? The Fulford Arms is one of York’s best live music venues and benefits from also having a lovely beer garden attached. 

Take a trip to York