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?

I’m sorry op but there is something so hyacinth bouquet about the unnecessary detail of the food it actually made me chortle. 😂

Just email or text and ask them if they want to watch th footie.

Hyacinth Bucket would approve, although she generally favours a candlelight supper.

@VerticalHorizon

At this time of year DP’s nuts are warm enough. No Pom Bears?
A few posters referring to her as Hyacinth bucket

It seems like mocking to me.

[quote Amillionnc]@VerticalHorizon

At this time of year DP’s nuts are warm enough. No Pom Bears?
A few posters referring to her as Hyacinth bucket

It seems like mocking to me.[/quote]
Well, perhaps you're right.

I've not personally interpreted it that way and I have no idea about the motivations of others.

Maybe it wouldn't do any harm to sometimes see it from the other side and curtail some of the potentially pointed stuff if there's a realistic prospect of it being interpreted as personal.

Do people who have "supper" watch football?

My dog has supper. He's a bit meh about football but does like a good game of cricket.

Agreed @Amillionnc.
Double standards. Good thing the op’s got a sense of humour.
@LemonRoses you had me at warm spiced nuts
Have a lovely evening

@SecretSpAD

Do people who have "supper" watch football?

My dog has supper. He's a bit meh about football but does like a good game of cricket.

🎼he's got a bone, he's got a bone, SpAD's dog's got a bone

I'll get my coat

I'd plan for everyone to watch football with the meal. If we were invited somewhere tonight I'd be expecting the football to feature massively. It's a national event I think, not just for people who always watch football.

A really lovely sense of humor. And obviously cares about her guests.

The level of detail is fun to read!

I'm crying with laughter.

those that wish cut their food at table and then eat of their knees with a fork whilst watching the television

You probably don't need to suggest to them how and when to cut their food

Just carry on as you were, and see how it goes. No need to decide in advance.

*he's got a bone, he's got a bone, SpAD's dog's got a bone

I'll get my coat*

In his dreams!

If she is very posh, she won't actually have a big TV, just an old black and white, small one - suitable for witnessing coronations and such like.

@SecretSpAD

*he's got a bone, he's got a bone, SpAD's dog's got a bone

I'll get my coat*

In his dreams!

It's a lab coat.

You're being sectioned!

@Howshouldibehave

You need to move things much earlier so you’re starting on the warm spiced nuts at 5.30/6. Then you can do canapés or perhaps some cheese fondue at half time. Then Arctic roll or something for afters.

People attending a dinner party would not expect or want to start eating, even canapes, at 5.30/6.00! I would think people very rude if they got up from the dining table to watch a football match, too!

It might not be too late to hire a hot tub with gazebo and cinema screen so that you can all watch the football from the terrace in comfort and get to know your new contacts better.

Out of interest, do you invite all new arrivals to the village round for dinner or just the ones of the same social class as you?

People attending a dinner party would not expect or want to start eating, even canapes, at 5.30/6.00!

'Even canapes'. Such disdain!
Here, have a sausage roll!

Despite having to google most of the dishes I think it all sounds delicious. Hope it goes well OP, the football might be a good ice breaker.

@hannayeah

A really lovely sense of humor. And obviously cares about her guests.

The level of detail is fun to read!

What until Christmas

If I was invited to a dinner party, I would not expect to be sat watching football on telly for most of the evening. If that’s what the majority of guests wanted to do, I’d go along with it to be polite, though.

If most of the guests aren't bothered about it, then it's not an issue.
If most would like to watch it, then it's better to have guests who enjoy your party, albeit watching football, than to resent their time with you because they'd agreed prior to knowing the game would take place.

Oh op. I'ts all cringeworthy isnt it. Supper and garden terraces indeed.

Just have your friends round, dish up some food and stop behaving like Margot Leadbetter.

Unless of course you're taking the piss or are you always so very try hard?

Missing the point of the thread, but I’d love to know a bit more about the IoW themed menu. I live there and it sounds a really nice idea.

@Reallybadidea

It might not be too late to hire a hot tub with gazebo and cinema screen so that you can all watch the football from the terrace in comfort and get to know your new contacts better.

Out of interest, do you invite all new arrivals to the village round for dinner or just the ones of the same social class as you?

No need! I recall from another thread that OP is the proud owner of a hot tub!

Gosh OP, why didn't you think ahead and hire a projector or cinema screen that your guests can watch outside if they so desire? You must be losing your touch.

@Orchidflower1

she didn't know there was football on

Neither do I, usually. I don't follow sport. My husband informed me the other week that there was a game on, and I realised (whilst I was enjoying some quiet reading outside) that the cheering and singing I could hear some distance away must be related to that. (Ingerlaaandd-Ingerlaand-Ingerlaand) and so on.

If husband wants to watch a game, he'll watch it on his phone. We wouldn't dream of changing dinner plans because of football, but that's because none of our friends would bother about football, either. Husband did have an event to attend last week, and one person tried to change the timing of that to accommodate football. No one else was willing to re-arrange mealtimes and life in general to accomodate the one football supporter, so the football supporter dropped out and was replaced.

I agree about the weather and the sexism . I've had to get my timings right to walk the dog, but the forecast for the UK is such that it's doubtful that anyone will be eating outside this evening. Not unless they've a marquee to shelter under, and it doesn't sound like OP had that factored in .