The Event
A private pre-Christmas party at Aldermaston Village Hall in West Berkshire. The host booked the hall for 50 friends and family — a December gathering that sat somewhere between a Christmas party and a general excuse to get everyone together before the holidays scattered people across the country.
The request was straightforward: "proper cocktails, not the usual wine and beer." They wanted the bar to be the centrepiece, not a side table with bottles.
The Setup
Aldermaston Village Hall is a well-maintained community venue on The Street in the centre of the village, with parking and ground-floor access. Similar to Sulhamstead (where we ran a 50th birthday the following month), it's a clean single-room space that benefits enormously from the right bar setup.
- Single bar unit with LED accent strip positioned against the far wall
- One bartender and one bar back for the 50-person guest list
- Full glassware: coupes, rocks, highballs
- Cocktail-grade ice: large cubes for stirred drinks, crushed for spritzes
- Setup in 50 minutes; all equipment out by 23:30
The Menu
December parties call for richer, warmer serves. We built a short four-drink menu with a seasonal lean:
- Espresso Martini — vanilla vodka, double espresso, Mr Black; the reliable crowd-filler
- Smoked Negroni — mezcal, Campari, sweet vermouth, applewood smoke; the talking point
- Mulled Rum Punch — dark rum, orange, cinnamon, clove, star anise, served warm; the seasonal option
- Cranberry Spritz — non-alcoholic; sparkling water, cranberry, lime, rosemary sprig
We served 160 cocktails across three hours. Espresso Martini led (as it always does after 8pm), but the Mulled Rum Punch had the best reaction — guests came back for seconds and thirds.
December Bookings
December is our busiest month. Between office Christmas parties, private celebrations, and New Year's Eve events, we typically run 25–30 events in December alone. Village halls and community centres account for roughly a third of our December bookings outside London — they're the go-to venue for hosts who want control over the bar, the music, and the finish time without pub or restaurant restrictions.
We carry a wider spirits and garnish kit in December to support seasonal menus: dark rum, bourbon, cinnamon sticks, star anise, fresh cranberries, cloves, and oranges for garnish. Warm serves (mulled wine, hot toddy, mulled punch) are available on request for any winter booking.
"Cocktails galore last night!"
— The Sesh Bars team, December 2025
Party Bar Hire in West Berkshire
Private party bar hire starts from £1,800 for up to 50 guests. We cover Aldermaston, Tadley, Basingstoke, Thatcham, Newbury, and all venues across West Berkshire. December dates fill early — contact us by October for Christmas party availability.