Which Big Smoke Events Game Works Best For Your Venue?
TLDR: The best game for your venue depends on more than headcount. Start with an accurate floor plan and running order, then match each format to the space: Crazy Golf needs room for a course, Giant Jenga and Ping Pong need clear space around the action, Magic Bingo needs everyone facing one focal point, quizzes need the right tables and tech, and scavenger hunts need a good route outside. Plan for movement, weather and access early, and the right choice becomes much clearer.
The activity looks perfect. Then the venue sends over its floor plan.
The room that looked so spacious in the photos has fixed tables, one narrow walkway and nowhere obvious for teams to move around. The outdoor terrace is shared with another booking. And the screen is sitting directly behind a pillar. Suddenly, your favourite game on the shortlist might not be the best game for your venue after all.
The trick is to match the activity to the space you’ve actually got. Start with the venue, the group and the atmosphere you’re after, then look at what each Big Smoke Events format asks guests to do.
Start with a proper venue brief
A headline capacity figure doesn’t tell you much. Two rooms that both “hold 100” can feel completely different once furniture, catering, equipment and staging are in place.
Before comparing games, gather:
- A floor plan with measurements, plus some recent photos
- The final furniture layout, including anything that can’t be moved
- Access details for doors, lifts, loading and parking
- Power, Wi-Fi, screens, sound and lighting
- Which indoor and outdoor areas are included in the booking
- Step-free routes, seating and toilet access
- Setup times, noise limits and any other bookings nearby
- The wet-weather backup
Share the running order too. A room may suit a game when empty but not when lunch tables must stay in place.
Crazy Golf: best when there’s room for a proper course
The Crazy Golf Challenge uses a portable nine-hole course with themed obstacles, team play, trivia and hosted scoring. It can be set up indoors or outdoors, and extra courses can be discussed for bigger groups.
It’s a great fit for a spacious office, conference area or event venue, especially if you want people moving around and plenty of friendly competition on show. The key is a layout where teams can get from hole to hole without cutting across catering routes or bunching up in one corner.
Because the course essentially becomes part of the room, it’s worth knowing at your venue how much floor space there is, if it will need to spread across connected areas, where queues might form. A tight room already packed with dining tables probably isn’t the right home for it!
Giant Jenga: best for eye-catching challenge stations
The Giant Jenga Challenge uses oversized wooden towers, a live host and challenges linked to the blocks. It’s quick to set up, works indoors or outdoors, and multiple towers can be used for larger tournaments.
It suits offices, breakout spaces, terraces and lawns, anywhere people can gather around a clear focal point. It also works well as one zone within a bigger event, as long as the rotations are planned.
Just remember the footprint is bigger than the tower itself. There needs to be room for players, cheering team-mates, the host and (inevitably) a collapsing stack, all without blocking walkways. A level, stable surface is a must, and if it’s outside, agree when the weather call will be made.
Ping Pong: best for a rooms with space to move and cheer
The Ping Pong Challenge is a hosted team tournament with portable tables, trivia, scoring and competitive rounds. The Big Smoke Events team can bring the equipment to an office, function room or suitable outdoor space, and can also look at using tables you already have. Expect movement, noise and a natural crowd around each match, which makes it ideal if you want a lively tournament feel.
It does need clear space around every table, somewhere for waiting teams to stand or sit, and a plan to stop stray balls bouncing into the buffet. Check the floor surface, outdoor conditions and any screen or power needs for the version you’re booking.
Magic Bingo: best for a shared room facing the action
Magic Bingo combines live magic, comedy and competitive bingo in a show hosted by professional magicians. Unlike a rotation activity, it brings everyone together for one shared experience.
That means sightlines and sound matter more than walkways. Everyone needs to see the host and keep up with the bingo, so watch out for pillars, badly placed screens, speakers and busy service doors. If it’s following dinner, agree when clearing will finish so the room is ready for the show.
It works well in a hotel function room, office event space or any venue where seating can face one clear focal point. It’s less suited to groups spread across several separate rooms.
Personalised Quiz: best when tables and tech line up
The Big Smoke Events offers two different types of quiz. The Personalised Quiz is a hosted, custom-made quiz with company content and a live leaderboard, while the Team Quiz is technology-free and doesn’t need a screen.
For the tech-based version, make sure your venue has strong Wi-Fi or mobile signal, power, screen visibility and sound. For the tech-free option, make sure there’s enough table space for writing.
Whichever you choose, teams need to be able to hear the host and chat among themselves, which can be tricky in a very loud shared venue.
Scavenger Hunt: best when the local area is the venue
A Big Smoke Scavenger Hunt uses a bespoke route, creative challenges and a host, with teams exploring an area between an agreed start and finish point. It can kick off at your office or another location and finish with awards and highlights back together.
It’s a brilliant option when your building is too small for the group but the surrounding area is great for exploring and you’d like to get people out and about. The route effectively becomes the “venue” and can be adjusted around the needs of your group.
If you’d prefer a technology-free version, the Treasure Hunt uses clipboards and pens rather than GPS.
Make weather plan a call, not a hope
Several Big Smoke formats work indoors or outdoors, but that doesn’t mean every setup can switch at the last minute. Make sure you have or book a proper backup space. Be sure to find out how much notice is needed and decide who makes the call if weather call makes you change your plan.
Allow for setup and reset
Portable equipment still needs to get in, be set up, tested and taken away again. Share loading details, contact names and a protected setup window, and flag it early if lifts are small, parking is limited or another event is using the room first.
If the activity follows a meeting or lunch, agree who moves the furniture and when. And if dinner follows, give the venue enough time to reset without rushing the awards.
Let the space help choose the game
The right Big Smoke event should feel as though it belongs in the space. needs room for a course, Giant Jenga needs safe space around the towers, Ping Pong needs clearance around the tables, Magic Bingo needs one shared focal point, a quiz needs the right tables and tech, and a hunt needs a good route.
Have a browse of the in-person events, then share your floor plan, photos, group size, running order and any access needs through the enquiry page. The team can help work out which game will suit your space best.
