by Katie Thompson
When the sun sets and the dark sky twinkles with glittering Christmas lights, a night out in Norwich is full of seasonal cheer and special moments. All over the City of Stories, glowing pubs, restaurants and venues entice us in. And there’s loads of delicious food and drink to tuck into this Christmas, too.
And the best way to enjoy the festive buzz in Norwich is to experience it for yourself!
So, if you want to feel really Christmassy, you’re looking for laughs or you just want to enjoy the company of friends, read on for our top choices!
Norwich train station is just a 15-minute walk from all the action in the city centre, so travelling by train with Greater Anglia or East Midlands Railway is the perfect option for a fun night out!
Get into the Christmas spirit with The Christmas Orchestra at St Peter Mancroft church for one night only!
Is there anything that pulls at the heartstrings as much as live music? And when you pair that with the acoustics of Norwich’s largest medieval church, St Peter Mancroft, it’s definitely going to be a magical experience. For one night only, you can embrace Christmas spirit to the full with a performance from The Christmas Orchestra (Saturday 30 November, 6pm, tickets from £28). This 16-piece orchestra will serenade you with Christmas classics and music from the movies to ignite festive cheer.
Or for a more traditional (and interactive) evening of entertainment, then make your way to Holkham Hall for Carols in the Courtyard. This jolly sing-along will get you in the Christmas mood and fundraises for local charity. We’re sure you know the words already, so pick up a song sheet or embrace your own lyrical interpretations!
While You’re Here: Why not fully embrace the Christmas spirit with a lovely Gluhwein from Sir Toby’s Beers on Norwich Market? Or if you’re close to the coast, pop into The Victoria for a tasty tipple.
Norwich’s local and independent performance venues are great for any night out
On any night out, Norwich boasts a great range of local and independent performance venues. And one of the best line ups is often at Norwich Theatre Playhouse. This festive season, you’re sure to find loads of comedy that’ll have you singing and dancing the night away.
Christmas is a time for making memories, right? And we bet you can still remember a school song or two. That’s where The Big Christmas Assembly comes in (Wednesday 4 December, 7.30pm, £21 per person). Teacher James B Partridge is bringing his festive version of Primary School Assembly Bangers to the Playhouse for an evening of pure nostalgia, where you can step back in time and enjoy some musical surprises while you relive nativities past!
And for something a bit more fabulous, there’s Mat Ricardo’s Christmas Cabaret (Saturday 7 December, 6pm & 9pm, £21 per person). You can expect comedy, circus, and burlesque for a dazzling night of ‘shenaningans’! Every year is a sell-out, seeing Mat joined by international cabaret stars and drag artists like Lolo Brow, Lilly Snatchdragon and Lady Carol. This is a wonderfully fun, camp and entertaining night out full of creativity, wit and originality!
While You’re Here: A short walk away along the River Wensum, you’ll find the Ribs of Beef– a lovely waterside pub for a pint, glass of wine or some fizz! And if you’re a bit peckish, book a table at the Maids Head’s WinePress restaurant, serving delicious seasonal menus.
Book a karaoke booth or bar at Bowling House and choose from over 80,000 songs! There’s bingo too!
Just when you think there’s nothing better than karaoke, Norwich Arts Centre is playing host to Shaun Williamson’s one man show Barrioke (Saturday 21 December, 8pm, tickets £23). You might remember Shaun as EastEnders’ favourite Barry Evans- hence Barrioke. This is an unexpectedly joyful night out, full of great fun and riotous interaction with the audience that’s likely to leave your voice hoarse the next day!
And if you like your karaoke a bit more traditional, head up St Benedicts Street to Dereham Road where you’ll find Bowling House. Here, there’s a fantastic party atmosphere where you can hire a booth or your own private karaoke bar with over 80,000 songs to choose from! And Bowling House offers Christmas karaoke packages for any group of friends- from 6 people all the way up to 50. You can even add some delicious food (including southern fried turkey) and a game of bowling for even more festive fun!
While You’re Here: Treat yourself to some tasty tapas at Makers House to fuel your karaoke session, then stop at Hawthorn bar on the way back for a bespoke cocktail.
Mulligans is filled with fun games for a great night out with friends
It’s always a ‘par-tee’ at Mulligans, especially at Christmastime! This huge venue is filled with fun games for a great night out with friends, from electro-darts to shuffleboard, pool to 18-hole crazy golf. Here, everything is all in one place. There’s so much to do, so everyone will find something to enjoy– it’s time to show off your skills!
And who doesn’t love a good deal? You’re in luck because Mulligans have three to choose from! Try a game of golf with their Xmas Drinks Package (with two drinks to keep you hydrated!) for just £24 per person (six people minimum).
For a larger group (minimum ten people), Mulligans’ Xmas Get Together (£28 per person) upgrades the above with some light bites, too! Or for the full experience, the Ultimate Xmas Package (£40 per person) includes a game of golf, two drinks and a the ‘ultimate xmas buffet’!
While You’re Here: Just a 10-minute walk away, you’ll find Bier Draak, a popular and perfectly cosy bar to try a continental beer (or maybe an Irish Coffee!).
There’ll be no blue Christmases thanks to Carols with the King!
You won’t have a blue Christmas when you join The Blue Sueders for Carols with the King at The Forum (Sunday 8 December, £25 per person). This Elvis tribute act is East Anglia’s best-selling for a reason, and with over 15 years’ experience and a repertoire of over 400 hits, you’ll see why. Joining The Blue Sueders’ spectacular rock’n’roll show is crooner Dale Bullimore and comedian Olly Day and there’s also an auction and raffle in aid of local charities.
This is a Christmas celebration like no other, full of festive favourites and Elvis classics. We bet it’ll have your hips moving!
While You’re Here: For a quick dinner, book a table at PizzaExpress in The Forum and tuck into Dough Balls in Blankets! If you’ve got a bit more time, wander beneath fabulously festive decorations in The Royal Arcade to Yalm, where you can find multicultural cuisine for everyone’s tastes!
Bure Valley Railway’s Noel Night Train is a festive express for adults
This Christmas, Bure Valley Railway are offering a festive express that’s not just for little ones! Their Noel Night Train (6, 12 & 13 December at 6.30pm, £24 per person) is sure to spark your Christmas spirit. And it begins before you’re even on the train at the sparkling Aylsham station, where a brass band will be playing festive favourites. On this 60-minute journey, you can enjoy the chug of the steam train as you travel beneath Norfolk’s wide-open skies, warm drink and mince pie in hand. Once you disembark, mooch around the shop before heading home- you’ll be back by bedtime!
While You’re Here: If you’re based in Norwich and you’re not ready to end the evening quite that early, then there are plenty of cosy pubs for a warming drink to return to- and some with an open fire, too!
You can check out our City of Stories blog for even more festive things to do in Norwich on a Christmas night (or day!) out. Or visit our Christmas in Norwich page for our top picks!
