If you were invited to a birthday party at a cocktail bar.....

[treacletart]

...would you expect to have to pay for your drinks?

I'm trying to organise DH's 40th and have booked a lovely cocktail bar for the night. We can only afford to give everyone their first drink but I was hoping not to refer to this or to a paybar on the invites, because I think it looks really tacky . I'm hoping our guests will expect to have to pay and be nicely surprised by a welcome freebie. But I'd also hate for people to expect free drinks all night and be disappointed. What do you think??

[moondog]

This is so tricky. You're bound to have a misunderstanding one way or another. How about a jokey 'First one is on the birthday boy!' message on the invite? Are you providing nibbles and/or food?

I have to say,that if I was invited to a party and all I got was one drink,I'd be a bit pissed off and would actually be happier with a bit of a do at someone's house,to which of course I'd bring a few bottles.

(Intersted in this,because i'm thinking of something for my dh.)

[anchovies]

I wouldn't expect the drinks to be paid for (and would love a night out in a lovely cocktail bar!)but agree that "first one's on the birthday boy" would clarify it just in case.

[SoupDragon]

I wouldn't expect drinks to be free all night but it's best to clarify this on the invitation.

I don't think I've ever been to a wedding where drinks were free all night so I wouldn't expect it of a birthday party (No, I've been to one "free bar" wedding actually, last year).

[Whizzz]

Agree, I would try & make a joke out of it on the invite so that it was clear to everyone. Or put a 'Cocktail Token' on the invite ??
If it was me, I don't I would expect free drinks all night though (not unless you were millionaires !)

[treacletart]

cheers girls.

No were far from millionaires! But there will be some nibbles. Were doing it a bar because our house is much too small for a party and we go out so rarely nowadays I thought it might make a nice change - also no problem with noise, getting enough glasses, or clearing up after!

Now, next question... If we do it at the weekend it'll cost £175. If we do it on the Tuesday (his actual birthday) its free and we get a bigger/nicer room - will all our mates hate us for making them drink cocktails on a schoolnight?

[Whizzz]

Hmmm - Work with hangover is not good. IMO, a Thursday would be better if it has to be a school night.

[bakedpotato]

if you do it on the tues, would you put the saved cash behind the bar? in which case they'd forgive you.

[Hulababy]

I wouldn't expect drinks to be free; maybe just the first. I do like the idea of the cocktail token though.

[Hulababy]

You could have all the tokens collected together when used to "pay" and have some form of lucky draw - if named/numbered - for a nominal prize for a bit of fun.

[treacletart]

top idea about Thursday night Whizz, but sadly Ive just checked and it would count the same as a weekend as far as bookings are concerned. I'd much rather spend the money on booze!

[moondog]

Do it on his birthday! I'd welcome the chance of a little fun in the week as would everyone else I'm sure. (And at this stately age,gratuitous piss-ups are done and dusted surely?!)