Party timings and food

[Hotttchoc]

If you are having a party at 2 pm would you expect food as soon as you get there or would you eat first. Barbecue party at someone's house.

I'd expect food about half three or four and would have had breakfast but not lunch.

I couldn't wait until 2pm/later, so I'd have a light lunch. I'd hope for a drink on arrival, ufvfoid likely to be after 4pm, a few nibbles would be nice. I think most people realise you need to allow for a couple bring late, host sorting drinks and having a bit of a chat before food is cooked.

I'd expect food at about 4ish. I certainly wouldn't be anticipating food as soon as I arrived at 2pm.

A party at 2pm - I would not expect to have food.

A barbecue party at 2pm - I would expect there to be food pretty shortly after arrival and would have had late breakfast/brunch but not lunch.

I am thinking drinks + sandwiches / nibbles on arrival and dinner around 4 but wasn't sure if 4 is too early for some people

But then would you want a sandwich at 2 and dinner at 4?

I was thinking sandwiches in case people are hungry on arrival

I wouldn't have lunch beforehand. I'd assume food would be served before 3pm with a start time of 2.

What is the alternative if planning to serve dinner but not lunch? Does the party need to start just before dinner is served? It is a child birthday party but a party for adults and children IYSWIM

Can you not just tell people when food will be served and then they can plan accordingly ?

Crisps / dips on arrival, food from 4, no one will keel over!

If someone invited me round for a BBQ, and said come about 2pm, I'd expect drinks and maybe crisps on the table, and then the BBQ to be cranked up from about 2.45, so first eating from around 3 - 3.15.

I'd be a bit confused if they started handing round a buffet.

People will have made their own decisions about having a late breakfast, or a snack at midday, or just waiting, or having brunch mid morning as suits them.

If I went for a bbq and was given sandwiches upon arrival I'd be very confused! If arrival is at 2pm I'd do drinks/ crisps/ firing up as soon as the first guests arrive with food serving up for 3/3:30pm. If it's a 'dinner' it wouldn't be a bbq and if it was an invite for 4pm with food for 5pm would be better. Or if you intend to do a later bbq just let the guests know. Don't give them sandwiches though!

This because we all know if you just let people assume, everyone will have different expectations about what will happen and then complain if it turns out differently to what they thought would be served and when.

Also any cultural expectations, eg if you're Spanish, telling people to turn up at 2 will mean they'll turn up at 3 pm and expect a full meal to be served for lunch at 3.30/4 pm.

A few considerations

• mainly family who are usually late anyway and it is more likely they will arrive at 3
• The reason I didn't say 1 was to avoid doing a full lunch as the intention is to get food in the later afternoon
• whilst it will he an outdoor party we might not even put the bbq on and plan to get good in hence thinking sandwiches and then food later
• the party starts at 2 and will go on until 8pm +

I think telling people food will arrive at 4 or whatever may be the best way

I was thinking if it starts at 2 people won't expect a full meal then a it's not lunchtime

Then, I think if it were me, I'd say "Come over for drinks from 2pm and we'll crank up the BBQ later" or something.
If you are invited to a BBQ (or come to that dinner or any other meal) in my head, I would expect the food to be served 30 - 45 mins after the arrival time.

As others have said there is no right and wrong about the time you eat, but it is helpful for all sorts of people to know when they will next eat. Even if it is an unusual time for them then they can make adjustments round that time.

If everyone is going to be there into the evening then I would say "arrive from 2 and we'll be having a bbq later on"

Thanks. Yes I think I would want to know what time food will be so I could plan accordingly.