Well, we're there again. It's the Christmas party. And we all know these can be a minefield. At worst they can be dull, at best slightly tipsy. Most risky is the alcohol fuelled lunch or dinner, lowering inhibitions and creating a false sense of security, which can lead to the most terrible social faux pas. It's the land of blunders under the mistletoe, and photocopiers put to bizarre uses. However, corporate entertainment whether for staff or clients can be constructive. It's just Christmas that has a tendency to bring out the devil in otherwise sane people. But what about the other eleven months of the year? And what's on offer?

If it's speed you want and something a bit different, then Ultimate High is the place to go.

For all those Top Gun fans out there wanting to live the fantasy, Ultimate High is the, well, ultimate experience. Imagine getting in a dog fight above the Cotswold countryside, trying to shoot your boss out of the sky. Of course your guns aren't real but they will trigger a smoke trail when you hit the target. The man behind it, Mark Greenfield, describes it as "paintballing in the sky."

Greenfield is an ex-RAF pilot and he has a team of six former Red Arrow pilots, test pilots and spitfire display pilots. He says, "We teach people to fly over the course in 40 minutes." He believes 'it's perfect corporate entertainment because it breaks the ice and gets people talking'.

Military style suits are donned on arrival and everyone is given a call sign. Greenfield says the briefing is part of the entertainment. The fantasy starts here and when you step into the plane with your instructor you become Maverick, Viper, or whatever your choice.

There's a selection of planes and packages. From simulators, helicopters, and Bulldogs, to the ultimate, that word again, Extra 300, there's something to suit everyone. The Extra 300 is, says Greenfield, "The most exciting stunt plane out there. It's nine litres, 300 horse power. With a roll rate of 400 degrees a second it's perfect for competition aerobatics." When people land he says, "They have a grin on their face the size of Wales." And it's all captured by an onboard camera, so people can take home a lasting memory. The formation flying and bringing guns to bear has been enjoyed by everyone from bankers and solicitors to firms like B & Q and Mazda. 'Fantastic', 'fabulous' and 'awesome' are just some of the accolades. And don't imagine it's just for the boys. At least a quarter of those in the cockpit are women, who, according to Greenfield, "Are generally better than blokes. Partly because they're more relaxed and their flying is smoother."

"We don't have the approach of the cookery school. We say come and play with us and have fun. Here it's like a party." Anna Venturi, Venturi's Table

For a more down-to-earth form of corporate entertainment, but no less unique, Venturi's Table offers a new twist to cookery classes. Co-founder Anna Venturi, from Milan, says, "We don't have the approach of the cookery school. We say come and play with us and have fun. Here it's like a party." And her daughter, Letizia, who works with her, says, "It's like a family really, we really look after you and pamper you." Anna says, "We have this mother and daughter appeal. It's a formula people can relate to. It's the Italian approach, relaxed, friendly, welcoming, with lots of style."

They have two state-of-the-art kitchens catering for up to 60 bookings. Based in Wandsworth, the venue is modelled in the style of a stunning Chelsea home. Everything's bespoke from the interior to the glasses to the menu.

This is entertaining without pressure and team-building without trying. And by way of example Anna cites the case of a young woman who was part of the Nestle world-wide team they recently entertained. She says, "One lady could not cook an egg. I took her under my wing and we made choux pastry. When she saw it rising in the oven she was so relaxed she said, I want to do this for my mum." Anna says, "It becomes almost like a therapy for people in very stressful jobs."

But how do you get the most out of corporate entertainment and why do it in the first place?

Melanie Lord is marketing manager for Price Bailey, charted accountants. With six offices in East Anglia and London they are a relatively small company. Yet they spend up to £75,000 a year on their corporate entertainment. Lord says, "It acts as a big thank you and can generate actual business. And it's a chance for clients to network and build relationships."

"Imagine getting in a dog fight above the Cotswold countryside trying to shoot your boss out of the sky."

She also acknowledges it can be a good icebreaker with clients. As she says, "You can see that behind that business person is a real person." The range of events they hold vary from the prestigious, such as Newmarket Races, Ascot and international rugby, to the more regional. These might take the form of hospitality dinners in a local school, clay pigeon shooting, or gliding sessions. Lord says, "People always remember the more unusual events. They contact us saying how much they enjoyed the event, even writing hand written letters." Clearly for Price Bailey their budget is money well spent. And they are not alone. Providing this type of service for the corporates is big business these days.

Off Limits is a company that offers a wide choice of corporate hospitality multi-activity days. And according to director Martin Stephens, "There has been a quite phenomenal increase over the 16 years we've been running." They run an average of 15 to 20 events a week. The key says Stephens is, "It's a shared experience and something they can relate to with their clients." Drumming with drums from Africa and James Bond events are just two experiences to choose from a long list. "Rage buggies are very popular," says Stephens. "They are designed specifically for the corporate market. They're pure adrenaline machines and you race against the clock."

Whether it's dressing up for the races, roaring through the skies in a fighter jet, or getting elbow deep into pastry, there seems to be something for everyone in the world of corporate entertainment. But whatever the choice, just remember, when it comes to that yearly celebration, sobriety is a much valued commodity especially when you have to face the boss next morning.

www.ultimatehigh.co.uk

www.venturis-table.com

www.pricebailey.co.uk

www.actiondays.co.uk

By Michele Nevard