Hosting a buffet - help!

[cosmobrown]

I said I will host a family get together.

Please help me think about what I need...
If I've invited 25 people, how many chairs will I need to provide?
Any tips very very welcome.
Thank you.

Hello , nice of you to host so many . Keep it simple I’d say I’m not sure what your cooking skills are but obviously get the basics - plates cups spoons bin bags tissues / napkins ;

savoury
sandwiches
some fried bits or oven nibbles
quiches
salads
mini ginger foods
humus
dips
veg

you need some fillers Rice / pasta

do like a Mac n cheese or a veg rice
pizza for children

deserts - shop bought or make own mini deserts trifles doughnuts cakes

you can present all the above very nicely with a nice table cloth and lovely dishes

Drinks ! The good stuff soft drinks juices cordials

Surely you will need 25 chairs?!

Sorry just seen it’s a buffet

Plenty of cushions for those who will be sitting on the floor. I couldn't rustle up 25 chairs in my house, not even using the garden furniture.

How big is your budget? How much time do you have?

I'd do roast meats like ham, beef or even a turkey if you can find one!
Salads: pasta, potato, leaves, couscous, leaves, ...
or just a selection of breads and leavy salads

Then a selection of deserts... is there a keen baker in the family to help you out?

And yes, you need seating for 25 people as well as 50+ paper plates, cutlery and cups. Or hire some if you can as it's better for the environment.

I have just done similar (slightly less people) and found that everyone will want a seat of some sort!
Depends what sort of buffet your doing, will it be just a finger buffet or are you having plates with knives & forks?
We found good french bread, with a choice of cheeses, pate, meats etc went down really well and are easier than sandwiches ( unless your buying the platters of ready made sandwiches of course).
Another winner was vegetable samosas which everyone loved (we got Waitrose ones which I think are the best but others are available!!) easy to heat up and suitable for vegetarians too.
Dips, hummus and olives were left which surprised me as I love them!
Deserts also weren’t really eaten very much apart from the children devoured a Colin the Caterpillar and a truly massive fruit salad disappeared.
Practically everyone bought drink so we had lots of wine & beer left over but many asked for soft drinks which they hadn’t bought, so I would definitely recommend stocking up with coke, sparkling water and fruit juices.
Good luck!

I was thinking of hiring plates/glasses/cutlery etc.
My main table is 250x100cm. Do you reckon that is big enough for the food? Drinks can be on the worktop.
No kids really, possibly 1 x 3yr old, but otherwise all grown ups.
I want it to be special, so will buy the food in.

It's more about the home practicalities I'm wondering about.
1 toilet available??
I reckon I can seat 10 in my living room,

Do you have a village hall/church hall nearby, often if you contact them and they have nothing on they'll let you borrow tables, chairs, plates etc for low or no cost.

I don't think you'll be able to fit 25 chairs in but I'd try to have seating for 15 if you can and some cushions for anyone who can sit on the floor, most people will mill about chatting.

duh. posted too soon,
and have 11 chairs/bench that could go in the kitchen/diner. I think 11 seats in the kitchen would fill it up! I was wondering if I could get away with having people sat in the living room, and people stand up in the kitchen?
There will be 1 elderly person who will def need to be seated all the time.

If it’s possible to rent a village hall or similar, that would be preferable, unless your house is v large

Is this a trick question?

For 25 people you need 25 chair/seating opportunities surely?

I see you only have one loo

Hire somewhere as other posters have suggested, or do a massive picnic somewhere, is this now, in the winter? Perhaps not then!

Also if you are going to insist on it being your home, dont forget to employ the ironing board for more space!

If it’s a family party type event it is fine for people to be standing up, drinking, picking at things from finger food laid out.

If the food will need both knife and fork etc and everyone will eat together, then more chairs.

Think about parties in houses you have been to, and how the buffet worked.

One loo is fine for 25 adults.

You can't seat 25. So focus on presentation and food that can be managed on paper plates and a fork. Keep it cold and easy to serve.

Honestly everyone loves sandwiches. Make triangles, rolls, wraps etc. Cheers savoury, egg Mayo, ham etc. Good bread. Generous fillings.

Make a few simple salads. Potato. Coleslaws etc. Cold meats or cheeses. A platter of pastries. Vol au vents or mini quiches always welcome. Crisps and crudités.

Mini scones with cream and jam maybe.

One loo for 25 adults! That's going to be a stretch...

Thanks all.
I'm glad you reckon 1 loo will be enough.

How big a serving table will I need do you think?
If I get a caterer, do they usually provide serving plates too?

Great idea to use the ironing board!!! I love Mumsnet!

Oh, 1 loo not enough?
OK folks vote -
I could add a loo by either asking people to use my ensuite loo in our bedroom, or asking the lodger if we could use their bathroom for the afternoon. Neither is ideal, which is why I was hoping 1 would suffice!

Well my loo opinion is coming from a peri menopasual bladder perspective. Obviously not everyone will be so desparate!!!

If your getting caterers in you don’t need to worry about serving plates, glasses, knives and fork etc as they should have them.
You can’t make your house bigger so if you don’t want to hire a hall they will just have to squash in!
If it’s family or close friends why cant they use your en-suite? Wouldn’t bother me and be better than having everyone queuing up cross legged in the hallway!!

Aren't you tempted to hire a local function room - in our area for example we have a couple of pubs/rugby club/cricket club with an extra room they let people have for free, because they'll spend behind the bar.

I’d feel the same about the ensuite… Do you have some close family members to whom you could mention to use that? Otherwise tbh in your shoes if it’s more about mess etc than invasion of your privacy I’d be tempted to designate the main loo gents and the ensuite ladies, if there are no non-binary etc considerations! Went to a family event once where they’d designated separate loos like this and was quite glad not to have to deal with the mess the blokes make!

Maybe invest in another folding table only cheap from Argo’s - I like the veg samosa idea always a hot chicken n potatoes good too - I do the ones with skin on mini ones lots of butter rosemary erm in terms of seating most parties I’ve been to it’s every man to himself lol if you find a seat sit on it lol some people inevitably might end up standing

what is the occasion?

It's for an elderly relative's special birthday.

I'd like it to be quite posh looking, but informal and friendly at the same time.