Two questions about hosting a party.

[edgewater]

I have a big birthday soon. Ideally I’d like people at home but I live in a small bungalow so I need to look at a venue.

My options are:

1. Village hall, caterers, disco, supply some drink but if people are specific BYOB.

1. Hall in local town, caterers, disco and a big wad of cash behind the bar.

If you were coming, what would you like the catering to be?

Thanks.

1

Town sounds better for not drinking & driving, and for getting to accommodation if people are staying overnight?

Are your guest more local to the village or town?

Which is the most convenient for the guest and involves cheaper transport or more people being able to drink?

Town is easier but if village id put on a bus to the bigger town to get them home.

Town is easier by 6 miles.

Town. I love old fashioned party food like egg mayo sandwiches, quiche, cold chicken nuggets / chicken legs, Wotsits, cheeseboard, and Victoria sponge cake...

Town

If town is more convenient for most guests, then 100% option 2.

Satay sticks with a peanut sauce.
Dumplings (like from Chinese restaurant).
Pork pie.
Mini burgers.
Cheese board.

Thank you. Will go for the Town venue and stick a good chunk of cash behind the bar.

Food wise, I’m still not 100% sure but time is on my side to arrange someone.

Town if its easier for more guests.

Also if it's a bar you don't have to do any clearing up which is a BIG plus at the end of the night.

I wouldn't expect the host to be paying for the drinks.

If it were a cash bar I'd expect to bring the money and if it were a village hall then with no bar then I'd be more than happy with the chance to just take in a bottle of wine or whatever it was that I was drinking.

I think this might depend a bit on your age group, or maybe social group ?
Also the 'town' and where the hall is.
I would be inclined to drive to a party, so I'd prefer a hall where we can park. I don't like going into a City Centre at night.

I'd prefer local but only cos the bus stop near me tends to attract 'yoofs' drinking rocket fuel

I go careful putting cash behind the bar I've done this in the past and found people that would normally drink a pint of lager suddenly realise a triple Jack Daniels and Coke is what they fancy because they're not having to pay for it.

In my local we can buy the tickets you buy the beer tickets in advance ( I think it's about £3 ) and handed them to people as they arrive that way they can go to the bar with the ticket and put to it if they want or just use it on its own my local does not give change back from the ticket

Ie A pint of larger - £3.50 , purchaser adds 50p to the ticket
Pint of coke £2.30 purchaser hands over the ticket but does not get any change.
You can use as many tickets as you want at the same time if you're getting around in or a more expensive drink.