Breaking the Ice: Innovative Icebreaker Activities for Corporate Teams

Team-building activities — the phrase might conjure images of trust falls, awkward ice breakers, marathons, paint balling, karaoke and maybe even a scavenger hunt or two. But hey, let’s pump the brakes on the eye rolls for a sec, because when you sprinkle a bit of history and tropical culture into the mix, things get a whole lot more interesting. And where better to stir that pot than in the eclectic, ever-vibrant London boroughs of Islington and Angel and more importantly their Thai restaurants?

So, what’s the deal with Islington and Angel, you ask? Sit tight, because we’re about to dive deep into the heart of London’s rich history, and I promise it’s gonna be a ride worth taking.

Islington: A Brief Time Travel

Imagine trotting down the cobblestone streets of Islington, way back then, when horses were the only means of transport, because this area wasn’t always the bustling urban escape we know and love today. Once upon a time, Islington was all about rural vibes, with green fields and trees as far as the eye could see, with a human population that you could probably count on two hands and one foot and an animal population of a little bit more.

Fast forward a few royal sovereigns later and Islington begins to blossom into a fashionable suburb. We’re talking the 17th and 18th centuries, where the fresh air and open spaces became the talk of the town among London’s elite who needed to escape from the stench and overcrowding of royal London to new weekend and summer pastures. Picture grand houses with butlers and servants, lush landscaped gardens for entertaining out of town visitors and kitchen gardens sprouting home grow vegetables. A surrounding village with its weekly food and chattel market supplying local handmade produce with its sense of a community spirit that was tight-knit but oh-so-welcoming.

Angel: From A Single Pub to Urban Icon

Now, let’s shimmy over to Angel. The name itself has a certain ring to it, doesn’t it? It actually comes from a historic inn that dates back to 1546, which stood at the corner of Pentonville Road and Islington High Street. This wasn’t just any old pub; over time it became a coaching house, an inn, a post house, a hostelry and a restaurant. But above all, it was a landmark, a beacon for travellers just passing through, and the resident locals alike.

Over the years, the Angel’s area transformed itself into what it is today. What was once a simple human and animal watering hole on the outskirts of London town situated midway between the City of London and the City of Westminster with its main highways leading further afield to rural Oxford and the West County, has grown into a bustling hub of activity, mirroring the evolution of Islington. The area became synonymous with innovation, community, fun and a dash of that London charm that’s hard to put your finger on but impossible to miss or ignore during its busy commercial day light hours or during its buzzing night scenes.

Team Building with a Twist

Now, here’s where things get interesting and spicier. Imagine diving into your team-building activities in Islington and Angel’s restaurants, where you’re not building rafts, throwing axes or singing songs badly but instead you’re walking through history, exploring the nooks and crannies of these two historic areas, and maybe, just maybe, learning a tropical thing or two along the way.

Why not kick things off with a rum making experience in an actual distillery that takes you through the historic importance of the tropical pirates’ famous tipple? Challenge your team-members to uncover the secrets of the seven different types of rums in the “Guess the Tasting Notes” challenge while fostering and building on that all-important team spirit?

Or how about a team cocktail challenge inspired by the diverse flavours of rum punch, sugar cane syrups, sun ripened fruits and the spiced dry rum from the tropics? Imagine attending a team-building activity masterclass where team-members get to bond while learning expert cocktail techniques from the bar’s award winning mixologist team. Can a team meeting get more interesting than that???

For those of your team not so adventurous, creative or brave they can just sit back and chill and simply enjoy brainstorming in a sensory food wonderland of bottomless tropical brunches, bottomless tropical drinks, Thai small plates, fusion cuisine and dine in the Angel’s paradise.

The Power of Place in Team Building

You see, when you blend the backdrop of Islington and Angel with tropical venues into your team-building activities, you’re doing more than just bonding. You’re connecting in the heart and soul of London with its tropical past, engaging with its stories that stretch back through the ages across the seas. It’s about understanding that every brick in those historic buildings, every cobblestone on the streets, has borne witness to a slice of an individual Londoner’s historic oceanic journey to bring rum back to his home land. Simply put, sitting or standing in tropical restaurant gives you the opportunity today without having to throw any anchors, to become a part of that historical narrative too.

A Tale of Two Boroughs

As we wrap this up, let’s take a moment to appreciate the journeys the people of Islington and Angel have been on. From high-society city hangouts to suburban rural retreats, from stressful workplaces to idyllic places of rest for the weary, from a single iconic traveller’s inn to a bustling urban oasis. These areas embody the evolution of London itself. They remind us that history isn’t just about kings and queens, important dates, unforgettable events and interesting facts; it’s about the stories of real people from all walks of life be they nobility or servants, farmers or pirates and of stories of faraway places that have shaped the past of London’s doorsteps and the people who will continue to shape the present and future of all those who live and work here.

And what better way to connect, to truly bond with your team-members, than by stepping into these stories together? Whether you’re solving the mysteries of tropical cocktail ingredients, defending your sensory skills on a rum challenge, or simply sitting in London’s tropical paradises and soaking up the atmosphere and the music, you’re not just building a team. You’re becoming a part of something bigger — a story that spans centuries, forming a new small London community that’s ever-evolving its relationships and contacts in a city that never ceases to amaze all who visit or live in it.

So next time you’re thinking of team building activities, why not look to Islington and Angel? Just walking distance from Highbury and Islington or Angel underground stations the venues allow you to dive into the area’s history, embrace the culture, taste the food, drink its sensory potions, letting the spirit of these iconic London restaurants and bars infuse your team with a sense of unity and adventure that’s truly one of a kind. After all, in the end, it’s the shared experiences, the laughs, the challenges, and yes, even the awkward moments, that knit us closer together, creating memories that, just like the rich history of Islington and Angel, stand the test of time.