A change of scene can give your team the space to have conversations that keep getting squeezed out of the working week. Maybe you want to agree on priorities for the next quarter, get two teams working better together or spend a morning tackling a problem before sitting down for lunch.
If you’re looking for a team away day venue in Southend-on-Sea, here’s how to put together a day that gives people time to do useful work and enjoy being together.
Decide what you want to leave with
Start with one question: What should we have by the end of the day that we don’t have now? For a strategy day, that might be three priorities everyone agrees on. For a workshop, it could be a shortlist of ideas and a decision about which one to try first.
Share that goal before the day so people can bring their own ideas. Then build in time for everyone to contribute. If you’re tackling a tricky question, give people a few minutes to think on their own before discussing it in pairs or as a group. You’ll hear from more of the room that way.
Choose a space that suits the way your team works
At San Fairie Ann, our wonderfully quirky restaurant and private hire venue on Alexandra Street has two spaces to consider:
The private basement has a long table, a projector and the feel of a 1920s speakeasy. It seats up to 25 for seated events and is a good starting point for a focused workshop or leadership strategy session. Tell us how you’d like to work so we can discuss the best setup for your group.
The main restaurant has chandeliers, eclectic interiors and room for up to 55 seated or 90 standing. It’s a good option for a larger team gathering, a seated company lunch or informal drinks to round off the day.
If you’ll need room for breakout groups, wall space for workshop materials or a particular setup for presentations, mention it when you enquire. The best layout depends on what people will be doing as well as how many are coming.
Try a morning workshop followed by lunch
A half day can be plenty if you have a clear goal. Here’s an example of how you could structure it:
9:30 am - Arrive for coffee and breakfast, then introduce the goal for the morning.
10:00 am - Run a focused workshop or strategy discussion.
11:00 am - Take a coffee break and give people time to chat.
11:15 am - Work in pairs or groups, then bring everyone together to agree on next steps.
12:30 pm - Sit down for lunch and give the team time to catch up.
Before lunch, write down the decisions you’ve made, who’s taking each action and when you’ll check in. That way everyone can enjoy the meal knowing what happens next.
Make food part of the day
reakfast and coffee give people time to settle in, especially if they’re coming from different offices. A buffet lunch can suit a day with more workshops to come, while a seated meal is a lovely way to finish a morning session and give people time to talk beyond the agenda.
When you enquire, let us know whether you’re thinking breakfast, refreshments, a buffet or a seated lunch. If you already know of any dietary or access requirements, share those too so we can talk through suitable options early on.
Plan your team away day at San Fairie Ann
Whether you’re organising a strategy morning, a team workshop or a company lunch, we’d love to help you put the day together. If you’re considering a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday, ask us about weekday private hire availability.
Explore our private hire spaces or email hello@sanfairieann.co.uk with your preferred date, approximate team size and what you’d like to get out of the day. We’ll talk you through the space, layout and catering options.