S8 (+P9) team trip 2023: Prague
Written by S8 Team
Last weekend, we all downed tools and gathered in Prague for our annual team retreat. Four days, 24 teamies, and more merch than you can shake a schnitzel at. Here’s the full round-up of what went down at this year’s S8 (+P9 👀) team retreat.
Our base for the week was Prague’s Mama Shelter: once a luxury communist hotel, now home to vintage cartoon reels, a restaurant DJ and foosball. The Cyprus crew (who arrived the night before) and the other early arrivals got stuck into some Georgian dining and castle-touring. But it wasn’t long before we were all united (some of us for the first time ever) over drinks in the bar that evening.
The next day was all about Czech culture. Coffee shops, beer halls, and chimney cakes – all while soaking up the last of the autumn sunshine. That evening, we learned about the history of the old town, the new old town, and the old new town during a city tour with a night watchman. Our favourite fact? Once upon a time, the city’s residents were told to drink three litres of beer a day to stay healthy. They even used beer to put out fires (but we have a feeling a few were started on purpose).
Day three kicked off with escape rooms, where we divided and conquered everything from zombies to dark magic. We only found out afterwards that those who escaped first got to watch the remaining teams struggle. But one thing we were all 100% certain of was that “our room was the hardest”. After testing our teamwork skills, our resident photographers Bruno, Biel and Nate got snap-happy at Studio 71: a quirky basement studio and backdrop for our all-new team photos.
On the final evening, we all headed to the Medieval tavern, U Pavouka, for a traditional five-course feast in a setting that was straight out of a movie set. Think sword fighting, fire shows, and more Czech food and beer than we could manage. And for the final nightcap? A visit to one of Prague’s best absinthe bars, of course.
It’s not often we all get together. So every time we do, it’s pretty special. Shout out to Ellie, this year’s t-shirt and sweatshirt designer, and Sam and Jack – the merch mules who got it there safely. Big up Biel, for his ability to make any BTS photo look incredible, and also the trip’s official after-party planner, Rachael. But a special mention to Fran and Mario – for letting us put our out-of-offices on for four fun-filled days so we could hang out IRL.
