Quick Buffet Poll (Help please!)

[Buffetornot]

OK everyone, quick poll here.

Hosting a party for about 50 people next week. It's at a venue and the time is from 7-9pm so not over a meal time.

Not many drinkers, so providing tea and coffee, cash bar if anyone wants a drink.

I have a large cake, brownies, selection of crisps, a sweet station so everyone can make a pic n mix. Is this enough, would you expect a full buffet?

YABU- Yes, provide some sandwiches and sausage rolls you miserable git.

YANBU- Everyone will have eaten already, snacks are fine.

Firstly, 7-9pm absolutely is a mealtime!

Secondly, not everyone has a sweet tooth.

I would say 7-9pm is bang on mealtime surely? So, yes I think you need to put on more food (sorry)

Even if you don't usually eat at 7, they'll have missed dinnertime to travel there

Maybe crisps, nuts etc?

Are your guests adults?

I wouldn't have eaten by 7pm! I wouldn't expect a meal but some savoury nibbles over sweets and sugar would be good! Sausage rolls?

If you're only doing sweets I'd make it very known so people do eat before hand. At that time I'd definitely expect savoury items at a party.

Another vote that 7-9pm is absolutely main evening meal of the day time. Tea, coffee and cake feels more suited to mid afternoon tea break to me.

This.

I’ll take a vegan sausage roll or a plain bread roll please and thank you and a glass of wine 🤣

You need something savoury.

If I was invited to a party at that time, I'd expect there to food. More food than you've described.

Tea, coffee and cake is what I'd expect at an afternoon event.

Bar snacks at a minimum. Can you stretch to Costco platters?

7-9 is a standard meal time for adults…

You definitely need to provide something other than cake!

Make the sandwiches

We eat at 7.30/8 so absolutely a meal time - I would expect plenty of savoury options
If you don’t want a beige buffet what about cheese, pate, cold meats, with bread and crackers, salad, crudités and fruit

I'd definitely expect a bit more given the time, especially on the savoury front. I'd add some sandwiches, sausage rolls, scotch eggs, veg batons and dips, samosas, a potato salad, cheeseboard and meats/fruits. Easy party food.

I would also put out:

Cheese and french bread

sausage rolls & veggie rolls

Pizza slices or quiche

Vegetable sticks / olives

variety of crisps.

It's all sugary aside from the crisps. Not what adults will want at dinner time, i.e. 7-9pm.

What’s your budget?
How far are people travelling?
What did the invite actually say?

How far will people have travelled? If they are all 15 mins away, say you are only providing pudding, but maybe have cheese as well. If over 15 mins, I think you should provide more food.

This.

Sorry OP. A buffet is needed for this time.

Your suggestions are more afternoon.

YABVVVVVVVU

What is the event for, by the way?

Cup of tea and a brownie for 50 people seems a bit unusual? Is it a fundraiser or something, hence wanting to keep costs down?

Looking to keep it simple. The guests will have eaten their main meal by this time.

I'll get some savouries too. Sandwiches, wraps, sausage rolls, small quiche or similar.
Followed by cake, coffee /tea then sweets to take away.

I think it depends on age/demographic
You say not a lot of drinkers so is it older people or kids maybe.
7-9pm may not be everyone's mealtime but younger working people may not normally eat till. 6.30-8pm....and if getting ready to go to a party may skip dinner to save time planning to eat there.
But retired people or families will probably eat first.