The best corporate away day ideas in London give your team time together and something to take back to the office. Our Aces High workshop does both: an immersive poker experience, designed for beginners, that builds negotiation, deep listening and decision-making in high-stakes moments. We come to your office or a venue anywhere in London, for teams of 6 to 60+.
What makes a good corporate away day?
A good away day starts with what you want your team to leave with. Some teams want to reconnect after a busy quarter. Others want new starters to get to know the people they work with, or a leadership team to think more sharply about risk.
Three things to settle before you book, which also make for a better proposal:
What the day is for: connection, a new skill, a celebration, or a mix.
Who is coming: how many people, and how well they already know each other.
Where it happens: your own office, a venue you have chosen, or one we recommend.
Why does poker work for an away day?
Poker is a microcosm of how we show up in the real world. Every hand asks for a decision with incomplete information, under a little pressure, with colleagues watching.
Who jumps in first? Who waits to see what everyone else does? You might find that a quiet colleague reads the room brilliantly, or that your first instinct changes when you listen to someone else. Our facilitators draw out those moments and connect them to negotiation, communication and decision-making at work.
What happens on the day?
Our signature workshop runs in four parts:
Traitor or faithful? A Traitors-style body language game of bluff, to learn to read the room like a pro.
Strategy in action: a beginner tutorial and a team challenge that dives into negotiation and deep listening.
Poker personality: discover your poker personality profile and how it shows up on and off the table.
Tournament time! Try your negotiation tactics and poker face to win prizes, trophies and bragging rights!
Every session is tailored to your team and objectives, so we can zoom in on one skill or dial it up into a celebration.
What will the team take back to the office?
Read the room: noticing the signals in pacing, posture and hesitation that most people miss.
Negotiate with confidence: knowing your value and timing your contribution.
Deep listening: hearing what is said, what is not said, and how the story is shifting in real time.
Self-regulation: staying calm and thinking clearly when the pressure is on.
“It’s rare to find something that’s this enjoyable and this commercially useful at the same time.”
Anthony York, Group People Director, IP Global, on his team's offsite
Does anyone need to know how to play?
No. Our workshops are designed for complete beginners, and our facilitators guide the group through the basics step by step. Experienced players are challenged too, so everyone leaves with something new.
There is never any gambling at an Aces High event. Nobody stakes money, and everyone gets a seat at the table.
Where can we hold it?
Anywhere with a private room. We are fully mobile and bring everything we need to your office, a hotel or a function room. If you need somewhere, we work with partner venues across London that are used to hosting our tables. We take no mark up on food, drink or room hire, and you pay the venue directly.
How many people can take part?
We typically host teams of 6 to 60+, in tables of up to eight. We can also host much larger, bespoke events, so tell us your numbers and we will shape the day around them.
If your firm is in law, consulting, accountancy or finance, you may also like our article on team building for professional services firms in London.
Questions before booking
How long is the workshop?
Our signature workshop is neatly packaged into 3-4 hours, including breaks. However, all workshops are fully bespoke, so we can work to your session timings.
Is there any gambling?
No, never. Nobody stakes money at any point. We play for plastic chips and prizes. The focus is on skills and learning. Poker is the punchline, not the point.
Can you come to our office?
Yes. We bring the tables, cards and kit to your office or venue, or we can recommend partner venues across London.
Do you only work in London?
We are based in London and travel for events further afield, so please get in touch wherever your away day is. We’ve hosted events in Europe and the US before!
Can it fit around a strategy session?
Yes. Our workshop follows nicely from a working session, and we tailor the timings and content to your programme and audience. We often find clients run strategic planning at an offsite, followed by our ‘organised fun’.
To plan your away day and receive a tailored proposal, tell us about your event on our contact page.
