Garden supper this evening. Would it be reasonable to suggest that guests might leave the table for the football?

[LemonRoses]

We have a ten people arriving for supper this evening. We plan to eat on the terrace, with a 7pm start to catch the last of any sunshine. Clearly if they arrive at 7.15, have drinks and warm spiced nuts/olives then sit down to a starter of crab, we’re not going to be serving the entree until well past 8pm.

I don’t know two of the couples. My guess would be that three, maybe four, of the men would want to see the match. I don’t think most of the women would be particularly interested.

My problem is I wasn’t aware there was a football match this evening and I rather suspect some guests will want to see it.

Do we;

• open the doors so people can pop in and out?
• suggest those that wish cut their food at table and then eat of their knees with a fork whilst watching the television?
• suggest we watch together later?
• not mention to football and hope nobody else does?
• arrange regular update messages from someone who is watching?

If a match is at 8pm, what time will it finish? Should we defer eating until after the match but add in more substantial canapés?

Only in an ironic way.

All sorts duchesse all sorts.
My question would be - do people who have ‘supper’ (and call it that) deserve to watch football ??

@GrandDuchessRomanov

Do people who have "supper" watch football?

Yes... they can all supper pint in less than 30 seconds!

@Loudestcat14

My guess would be that three, maybe four, of the men would want to see the match. I don’t think most of the women would be particularly interested.

I think YABU for the sexist assumption the women won't watch to watch the match.

She knows 3 of them well enough, though. If they don’t normally watch but the 2 she does not know do, it’s still “most” that do not.

@GrandDuchessRomanov

Do people who have "supper" watch football?

Hmm good question.

Or are they the type who get someone to take a photo of themselves watching the football and then post it on twitter so the press can report on it?

Personally I would just have a buffet/finger food. Not the night for a formal dinner party

Oh dear GrandDuchess that should have been.

Watching the guests play croquet from the terrace ie: patio will dispel any thoughts of watching such vulgar antics.

You'll be fine OP.

If I accepted an invitation to a dinner party, and then all the guests spent two hours huddled round the television watching anything (let alone bloody boring football) to say I'd be pissed off would be an understatement.

@GrandDuchessRomanov

Do people who have "supper" watch football?

Is supper a posh word in UK? It’s not where I live. But we also don’t call it football.

I find it strange that people think that having "supper" is posh. I'm in NE Scotland, and supper was what we called our evening meal.

We were certainly not posh! Just an ordinary family.

Posh people had dinner in the evening, dinner to us was the midday meal.

@TiddyAndFletch

If I accepted an invitation to a dinner party, and then all the guests spent two hours huddled round the television watching anything (let alone bloody boring football) to say I'd be pissed off would be an understatement.

Ever been in the company of people whining because they are missing a match? Or trying to watch/listen on devices. So annoying also.

I’d prefer the tv on in the other room where they can choose to sit or else wander in and out.

hannayeah ‘supper is largely an affected word - so striving posh. Not wholly - there are exceptions. There have been passionately argued threads about ‘supper’.

KikiniBamalam Sound delicious and since the food is Isle of Wight based, I’m going to use it. I’d normally just do harissa.

Having done my research, I may well now ask Alexa to play the national anthem. Maybe State Anthem of Ukraine as well so as discourage jingoism. Plus Marseillaise and the Soldiers Song to show a broader European flavour. It’s not the World Cup and only a quarter final...why the big fuss?

Jaxhog. Gammon and Cumberland sauce if for Christmas Eve.

Howshouldibehave We won’t be having ‘afters’ we are not in a 1950s sitcom. No Angel Delight or tinned fruit cocktail is involved.

Fernando072020 I know three of the five women very well. They won’t be interested in football. Nothing to do with womenhood. Some of the men won’t be either - but they are more inclined to watch to enable conversations about it later. Does gender even exist?

I’m thinking fork only on the sofas as a sudden explosion of cheering football style might see trays of food tipping onto the rugs. Nothing to do with being American, or not.

LightasaBreeze No ha-ha, just a small wall and steps. East facing sadly.

Email returns suggest doors open to allow wandering, possibly watch goal replays and move in near full time if England look like winning. Now to the Gallybagger and Romesco tart.

For many of the working classes, 'supper' is simply a snack just prior to bed.
For some, it's a little more formal in as much as it's a specific designation for a light meal, rather than perhaps something more ad-hoc.

A similar theme happens with dinner / lunch and dinner / tea.

I would order kebab and chips and get a couple of crates of fosters in.

*Ever been in the company of people whining because they are missing a match? Or trying to watch/listen on devices. So annoying also.

I’d prefer the tv on in the other room where they can choose to sit or else wander in and out.*

I think that's the long and short of it. It's a reasonable assumption that some will feel a little aggrieved at missing the football, and end up watching on devices. Better to have done with it, and put them all in a room.
Ultimately it's a bit rude of the guests (imo) and unfortunate for the host, but some semblance of embracing the event probably helps.

@zukiecat

I find it strange that people think that having "supper" is posh. I'm in NE Scotland, and supper was what we called our evening meal.

We were certainly not posh! Just an ordinary family.

Posh people had dinner in the evening, dinner to us was the midday meal.

I think it’s the same in US. Def not a word I ever heard posh people use.

The use of entree is interesting. I would never use it at home about a meal I cooked. I see it only in restaurants. I just read the stupid Wikipedia entry about it and suspect it came to US during a time when it was less about the order of service and meant the type of food and style of cooking. Meat served warm. Then could have evolved here to mean main dish.

@hugocat

There are some grammar mistakes in the post, OP is English not your first language? Are you outside the UK?

There is nothing that would suggest English as a second language in the OP

Why are people taking the piss out of the OP? She has a different lifestyle to yours, that does not mean you need to make fun of her.

Having done my research, I may well now ask Alexa to play the national anthem. Maybe State Anthem of Ukraine as well so as discourage jingoism. Plus Marseillaise and the Soldiers Song to show a broader European flavour.
Ireland didn't qualify so you can probably skip the Soldiers Song. Definitely don't listen to an English translation!!

You should great fun - wish I knew you and was invited. I'd love crab in the garden with so many couples.

That should read: You SOUND great fun.

Supper in the south of England is generally used by people trying to sound posh (think hyacinth Bucket), entree is very much an American term when used for the main course, in France it's a starter!

If I was invited for dinner tonight I would assume informal with football on, couldn't care less about the game myself I should add. Unless specified otherwise of course. That said I don't know anyone who invites people for supper, obviously not posh enough! (I call it tea for what it's worth, I'm from London)

@Amillionnc

Why are people taking the piss out of the OP? She has a different lifestyle to yours, that does not mean you need to make fun of her.

I don't think they are. I think it's people generally having some fun over how to solve the quite frequent problem of hosting an event that happens to coincide with another major national event.

I really don't see anybody being vindictive of mocking HER - just lightening the mood and getting sidetracked as MN threads so often do.