The Darkness and Boney M rock web firm party

Justin Hawkins (2nd from left) and The Darkness

LONDON - For most employees, the entertainment at the office Christmas party rarely stretches beyond a few chicken tikka mini bites and some warm pinot grigio to the strains of Black Lace.

But when employees of a Gloucester computer company and their families arrived for their festive bash, the fire-jugglers and fireworks that greeted them on a red carpet should have given a hint that they were in for more than a mobile disco and a platter of cocktail sausages.

By the end of the party on Saturday night in a marquee at the city's football ground, the guests had been entertained by television host Jonathan Ross, veteran disco kings Boney M and post-ironic glamrockers The Darkness.

All of which was accompanied by a complementary bar offering Cristal champagne, vintage wines and fine spirits for the 200 revellers.

The event, which cost £600,000 ($1.5m), was paid for by Andrew Michael, the owner of Fasthosts, a website hosting service that is one of Britain's fastest growing technology companies.

Mr Michael, 25, who co-founded his enterprise at the age of 17 in his bedroom as part of an A level project, has made a habit of throwing what are probably the most lavish office Christmas parties in the land.

The company lists "astounding Christmas parties" in a rundown of "culture and benefits" on the recruitment page of its website.

Last year, staff were entertained by Rachel Stevens, Girls Aloud and the Sugababes.

In 2003, they had to make do with Mis-Teeq, the Cheeky Girls and Louise Redknapp.

Mr Michael, who has seen his company's sales grow from £240,000 in 1999 to £20 million this year, explained yesterday that paying six-figures for live acts rather than the traditional party entertainment, a CD of Slade, was a way of rewarding his employees.

The entrepreneur, who pays for the party from his own income rather than company funds, said: "We are a growing company with a relatively small staff but they are all incredibly important to our success so the parties are a way of showing my appreciation of their work.

"They have grown year on year and the Slade CD was never going to be an alternative."

Despite three weeks of planning, the party very nearly did not happen.

The event was cancelled last week after a Sunday newspaper caught wind of its celebrity line up and the publicity led to fears that it would be stampeded by fans of Brit Award winners The Darkness.

Police also threatened to ban the event on grounds of public safety but eventually relented after Mr Michael announced it had been cancelled, forcing a frantic operation to re-book the bands and resurrect the marquee.

Plans to offer an afternoon party for underprivileged children from the area had to be cancelled.

A charity auction with lots including one of Ross's suits and a guitar belonging to The Darkness frontman Justin Hawkins was held instead, raising £9000.

Mr Michael insisted that the difficulties would not entice him to opt for giving his staff gift vouchers rather than staging another star-studded event next year.

He said: "I sometimes feel like I may have made a rod for my own back but there will be another party next year. But I think we'll have keep it a bit more of a secret."

- INDEPENDENT