80th Party for older brother

[fletchlan]

My sister and I are organising an 80th birthday party for our older brother next April. Due to the fact that we don't have many people we can invite to the party, we have been given permission by the Steward at the local Working Men's Club to hold this party in their main bar while the normal Saturday night drinking is on-going. My sister and I are hiring some entertainment for the evening and obviously everyone (invited, or not to the party) are able to enjoy this. I am a great believer in having lots of food at parties. If you don't have some food left at the end of the evening, how do you know that everyone has had their fill. My sister thinks we should be providing food for the whole of the Working Men's Club (bearing in mind we have no idea how many people are likely to turn up) especially with social media if it's put on facebook that there is entertainment on at the club, loads of people could turn up. I, on the other hand, think we should only provide food for the invited guests, but if there is any food left the rest of the club may help themselves afterwards. What do people think?

What numbers of invited guests are you talking about? If it's not too many close family/friends, I'd go for a cheap meal beforehand then just go to the club for drinks, he'll think that's it and then you surprise him with the club and entertainment and extra friends..,

Unless you're somehow fencing the food area off so that only your guests can access it, you're heading for trouble having food in a open club. I reckon the regulars will have the lot first and you may find that your actual guests get very little. If she can afford to fund enough for the entire club from her own personal account that's her decision but asking you to chip in isn't fair when you've already made your position clear.

Edited for misunderstanding.

I'm sure the Steward would be able to provide some guidance.

At my local club they do similar, but events are tea-time ish so mostly over when the majority of the members come in. By which point the remaining sandwiches are available to all.

If you have a separate area for food then up to you, if the food will be where everyone is then just triple up.

There will be about 20-25 invited guests, but what my brother didn't want to do was go for a meal out. That was our first thought for a birthday celebration. He wants a party. He might be coming up to 80, but he is very young at heart!