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 venues entice us in.
From harmonious performance found festive and folky to karaoke Christmas classics, the best way to enjoy the buzz is to experience it yourself! So, if you want to feel really Christmassy, are looking for laughs or just want to enjoy the company of friends, read on for our top choices!
Book a karaoke booth or bar at Bowling House and choose from over 80,000 songs! There’s bingo too!
It’s always a ‘par-tee’ at Mulligans, especially at Christmastime! This huge venue is filled with fun games for a great night out. Show off your skills at electro-darts, shuffleboard, 18-hole crazy golf and more. Plus, their pick’n’mix packages mean you can enjoy your pick of activities, each including 2 drinks!
Bowling House is a go-to for any karaoke fan. Here, there’s a fantastic party atmosphere where you can hire a private booth or room with over 80,000 songs to choose from! So, take advantage of their Christmas karaoke package, ideal for 6 people- or 50. You can even add delicious sharing dishes and a game of bowling for a real party!
And sometimes there’s nothing better than a quiz! This Christmas, The Cathedral of St John the Baptist is offering a festive, fun-filled evening of trivia and friendly competition (29 November, 7pm, £15pp, includes food). And in between all the laughter, you can tuck into a moreish meal of pie and chips- just don’t forget to book in advance!
Norwich’s local and independent performance venues are great for any night out
One of the best line ups for a night out (at Christmas and year-round) is at Norwich Theatre Playhouse. Expect plenty of comedy, cabaret and Christmas cheer!
Velma Celli is bringing camp with a side of Christmas to Norwich in her festive cabaret (5 December, 7.30pm, £21pp)! As the ‘UK’s Queen of live vocal drag’, enjoy an evening of song packed with Yuletide parodies and fabulous renditions of classic tunes (if slightly lyrically altered).
And then it’s Narnia, but not as you know it, with the critically acclaimed The Liar, B*tch and the Wardrobe (10 – 20 December, 7.30pm, £16pp). Expect the characters you know, but with a twist as two evacuees are transported to an unknown land to solve the ultimate age-old problem: world peace! This is a raucous Christmas romp with guaranteed hilarity!
Get the family together for a traditional carol sing-along
In the magical surrounds of St Peter Mancroft, get lost in the angelic voice of soprano Nadia Eide in Winter Light (13 December, 7pm, £24pp). When paired with the acoustics of Norwich’s largest medieval church, you can expect enchanting renditions of Christmas carols and chart-toppers.
And for something even more traditional, make your way to Holkham for Carols in the Courtyard (11 December, 5pm – 6pm, FREE). This jolly sing-along will get you in the festive 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!
New Year’s Eve at Gonzo’s is always a sell-out, so make sure to book in advance!
Gonzo’s Two Room is a popular night out for many a Norwich native- especially as Europe’s Best Dance Venue (as voted by the BBC Radio 1 Dance Awards)! Throughout December- including their sell-out NYE party- you can expect a whole host of incredible DJs to tempt you to the dance floor with high energy sets.
Elsewhere this NYE, Norwich Arts Centre is playing host to Channel One Sound System (31 December, 8pm – 1am, from £19). As one of the UK’s best known reggae sound systems, they’ve played Notting Hill Carnival every year since 1983! Think positive sounds, rich heavyweight bass and a fantastic playlist of old and new roots music.
Enjoy a festive and twinkling steam train ride with the Noel Night Train
Come December, Bure Valley Railway’s Noel Night Train is a festive express that’s not just for little ones (5, 11, 12 & 18 December, 6.30pm, £26pp)! And it begins before you’re even on the train! At the sparkling Aylsham station, you’ll be greeted by a brass band playing festive favourites. On board, enjoy 60-minutes chugging past 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!
