Party Hosting Made Easy

‘Tis the season to be jolly, so follow our easy tips to give your social gatherings that extra bit of sparkle

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What could be more fun than a party? Well, if you’re the hostess it’s easy to fall into the trap of filling glasses and showing people where the loo is all night, but if you plan ahead you’ll be able to enjoy the event, too. Here’s how...

Party-proof the house

‘Before the party, look at your space from a guest’s point of view,’ suggests etiquette coach William Hanson. Where can guests put down drinks? Should you leave out dishes for used cocktail sticks? do you need to push furniture towards walls to create more room? Is it obvious where the loo is? Some signposting will help, and if you don’t want guests venturing upstairs or into certain parts of the house, string festive bunting across a doorway to indicate that the area is out of bounds.

Prep the drinks