To think if you have a party on New Year's Eve people will expect food?

[Iknowwhatyoumeanaboutthathat]

DH wants a party on NYE. He's been pestering me for years but I've never been keen. It sounds like a lot of hassle and work and expense. We could easily end up with 30 adults and 40 kids ( children would have to be invited). I'm generally ofvthe opinion NYE is overrated.

He says we would only need to provide nibbles/ crisps. I think proper food would be expected e.g. a hot buffet or a big chilli and jacket potatoes and that alcohol would need to be provided. I have told him I'm asking for your opinion and will show him the thread.

I would expect buffet style nibbles! However we used to go to new year's parties every year for a small group and everyone brought food and drink to in addition to what the host purchased.

So crisps, dips, pasta salad, sausage rolls, anti pasti etc

If I were daft enough (I'm not) to host a party for that amount of people at home I would have a load of slow cookers on the go. 1 with chilli, 1 with a pork shoulder joint in and maybe a 1 with a beef brisket.

I would shred the pork with a bbq sauce, do a pan of onions for the beef and a pan of rice for the chilli and a couple of trays of jackets for those who want it.

Then ask everyone to bring either salad or picky bits. Plenty of bread rolls, sauces and dips, bowl of grated cheese and some doritos and that's it.

Drink wise would be a dozen bottles of cheap wine, few crates of lager and cider. Bottles of coke and lemonade and maybe some cans for the dcs.

But the thought of 40 dcs would push me over the edge.

Could you hire a village hall or something instead?

I would say a cold buffet. Sausage rolls, bread, pizza, samosas, cheese, cold meat etc.
I would have some drink, especially soft drinks for the children. I would expect adults to turn up with some booze.

We have invited people on NYE and I'm certainly not doing a full meal. As per other NYE events I have been to I will provide hot snacks such as mini pies and kievs and pizza for the DCs
I will get in a reasonable amount of food as people will be here from about 8-1 but would expect people to have had a meal beforehand so no need for me to provide one.

I wouldn't be expecting a sit down meal but unless it starts after 8/9pm I'd probably need something more substantial that crisps to survive off. That said I wouldn't expect anything posh: crisps, pizzas, sandwiches or whatever are fine and I'd expect guests to bring generous quantities of drinks with them!

Frouby's idea of a slow cooker is perfect everyone can dive in when they're hungry.

I think the issue here is the scale, 76 is an awful lot of people, and that gives logistics issues, tables, chairs, classes, plates, bottle openers, ice, mixers etc even just the bowls to shove crisps out for 70 odd people.

As said, I'm doing it for 15 and to be honest even that requires a bit of thought.

Why don't you offer to have a dry run, a smaller event with up to twenty?

"I wouldn't expect food."

What's wrong with you? After several hours of drinking most people will want to soak up the alcohol. Seriously, I would be really disappointed to go to a party where there was no food. I would leave early.

We normally host nye for our friends, normally about 35-40 of us, including children, youngest now aged 3. They are all asked to bring their own alcohol and each family brings a pudding.

I would feed the children around 8.30 (I would expect them to have had a snack at a more convention tea time though), pizza, nuggets, garlic bread, hot dogs that kind of thing. At the same time I would serve some party food to the adults, (the nice stuff you buy in the supermarket, breaded Camembert, garlic mushrooms, prawn toast, spring rolls, samosas, prawns-I can't even remember what kind of stuff I buy, normally just a pack of everything). Then around 10ish, I would put a chile on the table with jacket potatoes and crusty bread, then puddings for everyone.
NYE can go on a bit and we've found by spacing out the food it keeps everyone going till midnight.

I think if he's never had a party, and he's an extrovert then I'm afraid you need to compromise for a year or two.

If I were you, I'd do a practise run with maybe 2 closer friends/ family and ask them to bring a few bits and just hang out/ play games on NYE. Then next year, if this goes well, go for something bigger and indulge dh's dream. Come on, you get your own way every single year!

Assuming it starts around 8 or 9, I wouldn't expect a dinner. Snacks (garlic bread/crisps/etc) yes.

What would be easier would just be to tell people when you invite them that because it's a lot of people, you won't be doing proper food so they should have dinner beforehand.

30 adults and 40 kids is crazy whether you are a party animal or not. What kind of mansion do you have for them all to be able to enjoy it??

And particularly with kids you need to think of how you will entertain everyone, I think 5-6 families is about right (with considerable preparation), but you're talking about more than three times as many people. I personally know I wouldn't be able to do it, even if all food is purchased etc - it's still an awful lot to do just opening the packets for all these people!

Agree with PP - try a smaller party first then review.

I would have zero interest in tucking into a massive jacket potato and chilli meal if I'm trying to party.

We're hosting a NYE party this year, just for the neighbours, (about 12 guests). We've asked them to bring nibbley things, just whatever' they've got left over from Christmas...(i'm expecting a lot of cheese). We live in mid wales and it's usual to being a dish to a party, so everyone offered to bring something anyway. We've bought a few pizza's and garlic bread and will do some mulled cider, and a few beers but the rest of the food/drinks will be supplied by all. Getting together for the party is more important than the food. Also we've made the start time 8-9 pm to give everyone a chance to eat first.

You're opening up your house that you'll have to clean in advance and spend a good time tidying after. It's NYE, not a wedding or bday celebration at a random weekend of the year. People would be been buying drink and nibbles anyway, and shouldn't expect to have them provided for. The only house I've been to with all food and drink provided on NYE is my friend's parent's house where £££££ were spent and different bands were planning in 2 of the 5 reception rooms (money to burn). You're putting yourselves out enough, and good friends would bring their own supplies. Spend £80 max on basic food and soft drinks.

I'm going to a small party at friends (18 people ish) and we're all taking some canapés/nibbles. I wouldn't want anything heftier.

If you plan on going for it this year I would suggest you ask everyone to bring food with them and you provide a big chilli or similar. Same with alcohol - bring your own booze but hosts provide some and some soft drinks ( especially with a lot of kids attending ).

We have a nye party every year and don't do good beyond crisps which don't really get eaten.

No kids though. People generally come around 930pm and stay til the wee hours.

Food needs to be provided I think. If you're throwing a party you may as well do it properly. Easiest thing is hot dishes like Thai curry, chilli, beef casserole and then rice, jackets, fresh bread etc. The meat dishes can all be done the day before and then it's just setting it all out on the table. But get proper plates, cutlery and glasses, all of which can be hired cheaply (glasses usually for free from the odd licence), or bought. Nothing spoils the feel of a party like plastic cups for wine and cardboard plates.

Food wise I would be thinking of a cold finger buffet, so small sandwiches, fingers of quiche, vol au vents etc and yes you would need to provide a fair amount of booze and lots and lots of soft drinks if you have kids coming.

If I was having that number of people on NYE then food would be an important part of it. Somebody is going to be hungry, and some might have a fair bit to drink which is best counteracted with a bit of food available. If money was no object, I would buy a shitload of pizzas and keep the oven churning them out. Or I might otherwise ask everyone to bring a plate of sandwiches/sausage rolls/wcheese and biscuits or some cake or trifle. And also bring a bottle or two.
However, I'm not sure about the common sense aspect of a NYE party where kids are present at midnight, and even less so where they outnumber the adults. It's just a bad idea.
Why not a New Year's DAY party? That would be do-able. NYE not so much with a cartload of kids. Your DH sounds like mine. It's all going to work brilliant in theory.In reality, not so much. Happy New Year and bezt of luck x

OP 70 guests. Are you fucking mad?

And it's not even you who wants this party?

Do you ever have enough toilets for seventy odd people? I'm guessing it's a huge house if you can accommodate that many, or maybe an outbuilding? Have you had parties for this amount before?

40 kids is HELL!!!!! I spend Christmas Eve with my best friends and 10 kids is enough (I have 3).

If you're in Scotland, then you'll need to provide breakfast too

I've never been to a Hogmanay party that finished before then

But then I love Hogmanay. Waaaaay more fun than Christmas IMO.