Drinks in the garden

[pimmsandgin]

If you were invited for "drinks in the garden from 8pm onward"

What food would you expect?

What can offer to a crowd of ppl that won't be too ££ or complicated but will soak up booze

For me, if I turned up at 8 for drinks and someone offered me a whole ham to carve, I'd think they'd lost the plot.
8 pm is either piss up time or quick drink before getting the kids to bed. Unless it's dinner and drinks, noone will expect a ham or a pile of chicken nuggets. I'd decline as it's too late for me to start drinking and I don't want cake at 8pm either.

Crisps, dips. Maybe stuff like tortilla chips, peanuts, Bombay mix if you wanted to do a few things. If soaking up booze is a concern you could get a couple of those platters of samosas, spring rolls etc.

I'd expect something like this. Maybe nuts as well.

I see the whole ham is becoming a slight item of ridicule which is fair enough and I don't mean to bang on (for much longer anyway) but in the words of Keir Starmer, hear me out. I got a huge one the other day from Morrissons for £9 that would feed loads of people. Imagine the cost if you bought packets of cold meats, from M&S or Tescos. I'm not talking about having thick slices of ham on a plate with roast potatoes. I'm just saying a ham might be an economical option. Agreed if you are having your grub at 6pm ham and bread might not be appetising but I bet it would be eaten anyway. Blokes would definitely. Well, the ones I know. Anyway, just a thought.

I might go and get one now and have a little drinks party in the garden with it on my own, it being 9.25am so the sun is probably well past the yard arm if I knew what that was. AND I've had breakfast already.

Crisps

I’d interpret the invitation to mean ‘eat dinner before you come’.

Glad you're making this happen, life is tough for a lot of people just now so actually arranging something like this and keeping it low key might encourage others in your circle to do the same which is great for everyone! Drinks in the garden I would expect crisps and dips, nothing more.

I'd expect crips and nuts

If you want to soak up booze then add bread and cheese.

I don't see anything wrong with the whole ham suggestion either, obviously it would be served cold and sliced. No different to chorizo or whatever other cold cuts you like to serve.

I want to go and buy a ham now to keep in the fridge and pick at

Same.
Some suggestions are turning it into a full on buffet rather than drinks, which is the invite op is sending.

No don't get me started on a full-on buffet. Then we're talking whole salmons and something called a "fish kettle".

Crisps and dips

I wouldn’t expect any food but I do get snacky at home of an evening so nibbly bits are always appreciated. The best way to tackle this is to serve something like bread and cold meats (I guess grazing platter esque but I hate those) because then if someone misunderstood and didn’t eat then they will have something substantial and won’t be starving. And it’s food you’re likely to eat yourself the next day if there’s leftovers.

Yea agree something a bit better than crisps. Hummus and pita, some other crudités and dips will do.
And going by other threads - warn the neighbours!!!

if you were meeting people in a pub at 8pm, would you also expect hams, chicken drumsticks, cheeses etc. to be available?

Crisps, nuts, olives, maybe a dip.

Think you could also very reasonably ask people to bring snacks - I would. So 'bring a bottle and nibbles.'

If I’m invited out for drinks at 8pm I’m expecting a bit of a session to be honest (which probably says a lot about my friends!) and I’d expect nothing more than some crisps and dips, if that.

For more civilised gatherings some crisps, dips, olives etc left out on the table where you are sitting for people to pick at, nothing that needs to be served. Maybe something sweet, but I’m thinking something like those plastic boxes you get in a supermarket bakery priced at 2 for £4, brownie bites etc.

I'm no early Shirley but 8pm sounds extraordinarily late for a garden drinks do to start.

You risk a load of people having dinner and settling in for the night and not turning up.

I'd probably go for 6.30/7 and chuck in sausage rolls, drumsticks, mini pies, samosas, crisps, dips, salami and a cheese board.