‘Tis the season to get jolly! The great Christmas booze-up begins as office parties are thrown across the country – with Brits packing out pubs and bars early

Brits have begun packing out bars and pubs this evening as office parties are taking place across the country in the final run-up to Christmas. 

People have piled into their local boozers to celebrate the festive period with their co-workers on what is expected to be one of the busiest nights of the month. 

Cricket clubs, breweries and even Tory councillors are out on the town to let loose before the weekend as part of the annual corporate tradition.  

Pictures shared on social media show huge groups of people packed into bars and pubs across the country. Darts fans have also got into the festive spirit at Alexandra Palace in London where the World Darts Championship is currently underway.

Network Rail expects tonight to be ‘the most popular night of the festive season’ and warned people ‘to take extra care in stations on your way home’ as it shared a hilarious video of some drunk party-goers struggling to use an escalator. 

Revellers get into the festive spirit during a Friday night out in Newcastle’s Bigg Market as office parties are taking place across the country in the final run-up to Christmas

People in Newcastle celebrate the festive period with their co-workers on what is expected to be one of the busiest nights of the month

People in Newcastle celebrate the festive period with their co-workers on what is expected to be one of the busiest nights of the month

Darts fans have also got into the festive spirit at Alexandra Palace in London where the World Darts Championship is currently underway

Darts fans have also got into the festive spirit at Alexandra Palace in London where the World Darts Championship is currently underway

Pictures shared on social media show huge groups of people packed into bars and pubs

Pictures shared on social media show huge groups of people packed into bars and pubs

Carolling, songs and drinks are all on the agenda at Ickenham Cricket Club’s Christmas party this evening. 

The sports club invited locals to get down to the grounds for ‘a good old get together’ with its members. 

The group posted on X, formerly Twitter: ‘The Christmas Social! All evening tonight get yourself down to ICC for carolling, songs, drinks and a good old get together! See you then.’

Celebrations at the North Taproom pub on Sovereign Street, Leeds, are also well underway with plenty of party-goers already flocking to the venue. 

It posted on X, along with a picture of the packed out pub, saying: ‘Get your after work drinks in this christmassy friday

‘Lots of delicious drinks to go about from our incredible christmas cocktail menu and our carefully curated tap list of the finest beers. See ya there.’

Elsewhere, Enfield Conservative councillor Paul James Pratt shared some pics of the Southgate and Wood Green Conservative Association’s Christmas do, which saw MP Theresa Villiers appear as a guest speaker. 

Revellers get into the festive spirit during a Friday night out in Newcastle's Bigg Market, with just ten days to go to Christmas

Revellers get into the festive spirit during a Friday night out in Newcastle’s Bigg Market, with just ten days to go to Christmas

One dressed in a santa outfit sens a message to his mother while at the World Darts Championships at Alexandra Palace in London

One dressed in a santa outfit sens a message to his mother while at the World Darts Championships at Alexandra Palace in London

A man dressed as Banana Man as he watches the first day of the World Darts Championships at Alexandra Palace in London

A man dressed as Banana Man as he watches the first day of the World Darts Championships at Alexandra Palace in London 

One woman weats a somewhat untraditional Christmas jumper while celebrating out in Newcastle tonight

One woman weats a somewhat untraditional Christmas jumper while celebrating out in Newcastle tonight 

Two women don blue Christmas santa hats while celebrating their office Christmas party in Newcastle's Bigg Market

Two women don blue Christmas santa hats while celebrating their office Christmas party in Newcastle’s Bigg Market

Darts fans donning festive fancy dress celebrate a 180 score at the World Darts Championships

Darts fans donning festive fancy dress celebrate a 180 score at the World Darts Championships 

Darts fans celebrate a night out in the run up to Christmas at the World Darts Championships in London this evening

Darts fans celebrate a night out in the run up to Christmas at the World Darts Championships in London this evening

Network Rail expects tonight to be 'the most popular night of the festive season' and warned people 'to take extra care in stations on your way home' as it shared a hilarious video of some drunk party-goers struggling to use an escalator

Network Rail expects tonight to be ‘the most popular night of the festive season’ and warned people ‘to take extra care in stations on your way home’ as it shared a hilarious video of some drunk party-goers struggling to use an escalator

Carolling, songs and drinks are all on the agenda at Ickenham Cricket Club's Christmas party this evening

Carolling, songs and drinks are all on the agenda at Ickenham Cricket Club’s Christmas party this evening

Some groups have donned Christmas jumpers in a bid to drive home the Christmas cheer, with just ten days until the big day

Some groups have donned Christmas jumpers in a bid to drive home the Christmas cheer, with just ten days until the big day

Enfield Conservative councillor Paul James Pratt shared some pics of the Southgate and Wood Green Conservative Association's Christmas do

Enfield Conservative councillor Paul James Pratt shared some pics of the Southgate and Wood Green Conservative Association’s Christmas do

He said: ‘Great to have #Christmas drinks in my local and in #ArnosGrove Ward. Big thanks to Theresa Villiers MP for being our guest speaker.’

Workers at Scottish brewery Six°North  have switched from crafting pints to drinking them at their office work party. 

The company said on X: ‘The Christmas party continues in earnest. Where are we?!’

It also posted a picture of a packed out pub, with people seen standing shoulder to shoulder and barely able to move.