Do I have to feed them? If so, what?

[birthdayfood]

I’m taking DD and 8 of her pals out at the weekend for her 11th birthday, to a bowling/ go karting type place (they’re doing 3 different activities). It’s from 1.30 - 3.30ish.

They don’t do food at the venue, though I’m guessing I’ll have to buy them all (££) drinks. Too cheeky to take drinks with me do we think? It’s a huge place, with loads to do, big arcade etc with a bar. Not sure they’d notice or care & I have spent £200 on the activities so might be ok to bring a multipack of capri suns or sometning? Especially as the drinks are served in glasses & will be tricky for the kids to carry them around whilst playing eg mini golf etc.

Then I was just thinking of bringing some crisps & sweets to have on the table whilst they’re taking turns bowling (can’t really eat during the other 2 activities).

But chatGPT reckons no, I have to feed them something proper 😩 do you agree? I don’t want to annoy the venue by bringing anything messy & I haven’t got a huge budget this close to payday - suppose I could make them a sandwich each or bring a pack of mini sausage rolls?

Would very much appreciate some guidance, in the past she’s either had a big party at a hall or whatever where obviously there would be a buffet , or just a few kids where they all fit in the car & we’ll stop at maccies. No idea what to do with this lot!

I'd take drinks in bottles and a sharpie to write names on. And tell parents it's cake only.

Capri sun fine, I remembered they have lids now! But take a sharpie

Take a multi pack of water so everyone has a big bottle and cut the cake and eat it during bowling!

It sounds great OP. Honestly..if they are bowling first, then golf, they are not going to want to sit to eat. Send a message to the parents along the lines of "looking forward to seeing you at X party. Can I please ask that child brings a water bottle as we are going to be busy! Cake will be served"
Pack some of that concentrated squash stuff, a pack of wipes, napkins and an empty jug. The venue should give you water. You can set up camp at a table with the bags, kids can rehydrate as needed and then you do cake at the end.

Id just tell everyone to pack a drink and a snack or supply water or Capri suns and some kind of easy to eat non messy snack - kit Kats or oat bars or something. I wouldn't expect food to be served at a party with those timings.

I’d get a tray of cupcakes rather than a big cake you have to chop and need a knife for,
much easier to deal with.
in terms of food I’d ask the place what they do they might do pizza/nachos/ hotdogs - our bowling alley/arcade does that but if not I would personally take them somewhere after, get another mum to help transport some of them or get a minibus taxi somewhere for some food and get the parents to collect from there perhaps?

Ime crazy gold has platforms all around to rest dribks as they encourage you to buy them. Ours even has mini bars half way round. You’ll be fine whatever you decide

We did something similar with my 11 year old DD recently, we did an activity 1-3pm then everyone had a drink each in the cafe there before going home.
We took some juice cartons, crisps and snack bars etc in case anyone was hungry, they didn’t eat much of it but did all have a drink because they were running around.
So basically no I don’t think you need to feed them but mention to the parents to make sure they have lunch before the party

I would let the parents know that the children will need to have lunch beforehand, and then just provide cake and snacks if the venue allow it. If you can't do cake there, why not give them cupcakes to take home?

I would buy a multi pack of water and label it with each person’s name. I’d get some paper party bags and put a packet of crisps and some sweets in it. I’d get some individual cakes and pop them inside too. If venue says anything I’d say the cakes are instead of a birthday cake