Competitive Socialising: The Team-Building Trend Redefining How We Connect at Work

In a world where traditional team-building activities are starting to feel a little tired, a new movement is taking centre stage: Competitive Socialising.

From ping pong and darts to crazy golf, axe throwing and adventure games, activity-led social spaces are redefining how people spend time together. Venues such as Flight Club, Electric Shuffle and Bounce have transformed familiar pastimes into immersive, high-energy experiences – injecting fresh, playful competition into leisure, hospitality and corporate events alike.

This shift has breathed new life into team building, offering organisations something far more engaging than the usual sit-down workshop or drinks reception: shared experiences that combine competition, connection and fun.

Why Competitive Socialising Is on the Rise

According to Kate Nicholls, Chief Executive of UK Hospitality, the rise of Competitive Socialising is closely linked to changes in how we work post-pandemic. Hybrid working has reshaped behaviour, with businesses now prioritising activities that genuinely encourage social interaction and meaningful connection when teams are together in person.

This trend is echoed by Nicola Blackford, Commercial Director at State of Play – the group behind Bounce’s ping pong bars – who has noted a shift in corporate bookings. Office days are becoming the new social days, with Wednesdays and Thursdays now replacing Fridays as the most popular times for team events.

In short, companies are seeking purposeful reasons to bring people together – and Competitive Socialising delivers exactly that.

Big Smoke Events: Leading the Way

At the forefront of this movement is Big Smoke Events, a brand that has been redefining team building long before the term Competitive Socialising entered the mainstream.

Since launching their award-winning Scavenger Hunt in 2015, Big Smoke Events has built a reputation for transforming universally loved games into bespoke, high-energy team experiences – all designed to spark connection, collaboration and laughter.

One of their standout offerings is the Challenge Series, which includes:

• The Giant Jenga Challenge Show

• The Ping Pong Challenge Show

• The Crazy Golf Challenge Show

Each experience adds a playful competitive edge while keeping inclusivity at its core. Giant Jenga combines tension, teamwork and time-pressured challenges, while Ping Pong and Crazy Golf bring escapism, energy and friendly rivalry directly into offices, venues and event spaces.

Reinventing the Classics

Continuing their innovative approach, Big Smoke Events recently launched The Bingo Challenge Show – a bold reimagining of the classic game. Numbers are replaced with words, pop culture moments and music from around the world, while teams compete in fast-paced, off-the-wall challenges against the clock.

The result is a high-energy, laugh-out-loud experience that perfectly captures the spirit of Competitive Socialising: accessible, inclusive and irresistibly fun.

Why It Works

As Fran Hubbard, Founder of Big Smoke Events, puts it:

“Happiness and connection are the foundations of a positive work culture.”

That philosophy sits at the heart of every experience they design – blending social interaction, light physical activity and playful competition to create events people genuinely want to be part of.

Setting the Standard

Big Smoke Events doesn’t just follow trends – it helps shape them. From start-ups to global brands, the company delivers in-person and virtual experiences that leave lasting impressions. Highlights include a London-wide Scavenger Hunt for Meta, engaging 3,000 employees across the capital.

After more than seven years of creating highly personalised, memorable events, Big Smoke Events has firmly established itself as a leader in the world of Competitive Socialising.

As organisations continue to seek better ways to bring people together, one thing is clear: Competitive Socialising isn’t a passing trend – it’s the future of team building.

And Big Smoke Events is right at the heart of it.