Exciting news - the ‘Young Gathering’ Ball returns to London on Tue 16th December 2025, and promises another spectacular evening of reeling for Years 11-13!
Event Details
Date: Tuesday 16th December 2025
Time: 7pm-11pm
Location: St Columba’s Church, Pont Street, Chelsea, SW1X 0BD
Evening Schedule
7pm: Doors open for drinks reception and filling in dance cards
7.30pm: First dance (Dashing White Sergeant)
9pm: 15 Minute Break / Interval
11pm: Carriages
Dress Code
Highland Dress or Black Tie. For dinner jacket, shirt & tie hire, visit our partners www.thedresscode.cc
Who Can Attend?
Open to students in Years 11, 12 and 13. Everyone is welcome - no previous dance experience is required.
An optional Pre-Ball Practice will take place on the afternoon of the Ball (1.30–3pm at St Columba’s). This session is strongly recommended for complete beginners, as it will cover the basics and include a run-through of the easier reels. Joining this practice will make the evening much easier and far more enjoyable.
Our caller, John Carver, will guide dancers through the reels during the Ball, so you’ll be supported whether or not you’ve danced before.
For extra preparation, you can also explore John’s reeling tutorials at www.reeling.co.uk/videos
Need to hire a DJ, shirt & tie for boys in your party? Check out www.thedresscode.cc
Want to see video of a previous Young Gathering? Check out below…
FAQ FOR PARENTS
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No problem at all – the Young Gathering is open to anyone in Years 11–13, whether or not they have reeled before. The focus is very much on fun and participation.
This year, for the first time, we are offering an optional Pre-Ball Practice on the afternoon of the Ball (1.30–3pm at St Columba’s). Any beginners are strongly encouraged to attend, as it will cover the basics and build confidence so the evening itself can be all about dancing rather than learning.
It’s also worth watching John Carver’s short Reeling Essentials video (link here), which gives a quick introduction to the main steps. On the night itself, John will walk through and call every dance, and there will be plenty of friendly dancers around happy to guide newcomers.
Most importantly, if your son/daughter comes with a willingness to join in and have fun, and attends the pre-ball practice if they’re a complete beginner, they will have a fantastic evening! 🕺💃
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A: Absolutely! This is a key tradition of any reeling Ball and the Young Gathering will be no different. We can even send them out to ticket-buyers in advance of the event, if groups would like to fill in their dance cards perhaps during drinks/supper before coming along to the Ball. A helpful guide to filling in dance cards correctly will also be sent with all dance cards, just so guests know what to do!
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A: All ticket buyers will be contacted 3-4 weeks before the Ball and asked where you would like your dance cards to be sent to. We send them via Royal Mail so that your party can fill them in before you arrive at the Ball.
Alternatively, you can choose to collect them on the night at the venue and fill them in at the drinks reception before the first dance.
The choice is yours!
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A: For many guests, this will be their first reeling ball, so we’ll start with simpler reels and build up from there. Expect to dance classics like the Dashing White Sergeant, Eightsome Reel, and Reel of the 51st (likely to be the grand finale). We may also include Hamilton House and Duke of Perth, and for fun, we might even throw in Strip the Willow (although not strictly a reel!). And the 'Young Gathering’ reel is John’s creation, super easy and will be called on the night - nobody has ever found it tricky! Don’t worry - there will be a walkthrough before every dance. Want to brush up ahead of time? Check out John’s reeling tutorials at www.reeling.co.uk/videos.
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A: We will have some small snacks going around between dances but we encourage everyone to have a bite to eat with their parties before coming to the venue. This way we can make the most of the time for dancing - this is a Reel Thing event, after all :-)
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A: No! This is a zero alcohol event simply because of the age group of those attending. However, there will be plenty of soft drinks available during the evening, including a flute of sparkling elderflower served to everyone on arrival! 🥂
We will have security guards on site and any guest arriving at the Ball in possession of alcohol or clearly under the influence will be asked to leave immediately
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A: This is simply because we want everyone to attend the Ball as part of a group. That way, guests are less likely to get lost in the crowd or end up without partners for the dances. We will have a number of helpers there on the night to assist with this, but it’s much easier to manage if everyone attends as part of a group. Ideally, each group/party going to the Ball would meet up beforehand for supper/drinks - that will also help to keep everyone involved.
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We understand it can be tricky to organise groups with an even number of boys and girls, but there are good reasons for this.
First, we want to ensure everyone has a partner for every dance, as all reels are partner-based. Having balanced numbers makes this much easier and ensures that everyone has a more enjoyable experience on the dance floor.
We also ask that everyone attend in groups of at least 8 people to enhance the overall experience -especially for this age group. Coming as part of a group means there are familiar faces to share the evening with, which makes filling in dance cards and getting ready for each reel smoother and more comfortable. It can also help reduce any awkwardness, as group members often get to know each other beforehand.
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A: Tickets are sold in groups of 8 as a minimum, so it’s not possible to buy just a few extra through the standard booking page. However, if you already have a group of 8 and would like to add more people, please email john@reeling.com.
If tickets are still available, John will send you a special link with a promo code so you can purchase additional tickets and expand your existing group. -
We recommend you visit our partners at www.thedresscode.cc for all your son’s DJ needs!
TERMS & CONDITIONS
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All guests must show their Fixr QR code (from the group ticket buyer). Ask them to share!
Wristbands will be issued to all guests once admitted.
Security checks may include bag searches for alcohol or prohibited items (including vapes, cigarettes and illegal substances). Anyone found with such items may be refused entry or asked to leave.
Reel Thing Events Ltd reserves the right to refuse entry
No alcohol will be served. Guests appearing intoxicated will not be admitted.
No re-entry once guests have left.
Vaping is not permitted
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Professional security staff will be on duty throughout the evening.
Bag checks and light searches may take place at the entrance.
Refusal to comply with security checks may result in denied entry.
Guests are expected to behave respectfully towards event staff, helpers, and other attendees at all times
Reel Thing Events Ltd may remove anyone whose behaviour compromises safety or enjoyment.
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The event finishes at 11pm and all attendees must be collected promptly.
Collection must be by a responsible adult whose name has been provided in advance via the event form.
Reel Thing Events Ltd is not responsible for attendees once they have left the event premises.
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No refunds unless the event is cancelled by Reel Thing Events Ltd.
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Photos and videos may be taken for sharing with guests after the event or future event promotion.
Attendance implies consent for image use.
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St Columba’s Church, Pont Street, London SW1X 0BD
Nearest Underground stations: Knightsbridge, South Kensington, Sloane Square.
If you have any questions not answered above, please email john@reeling.com