Food for a 13th birthday party

[MinnieMountain]

DS is having friends round from 12pm-4ish for his 13th birthday. They're going to game and generally hang out.
What do you feed a group of 12/13 year olds? DS hasn't had a thing like this for a few years and I'm strangely at a loss.
The only dietary restrictions are no strawberries (allergy) and not just pizza (fussy birthday boy who doesn't like melted cheese).

Some sort of chicken thing? Are you cooking or could they have takeaway?

What’s his favourite meal and snacks?

If not pizza then something like burgers or chicken tenders and fries?

I'd prefer to cook.
Burgers are a good idea.
Or can I get away with sausages and chips like when he was 8?

Hot dogs?

What about kebabs? In the kitchen layout some prepared salad (like a chippy has), a selection of bread for wrapping (naan or wraps), the meat and every sauce under the sun. They can make their own kebabs.

Plenty of napkins and some cans of pop.

Nando's Fakeaway.

Get a couple of spatchcocked chickens (Lidl and Aldi both sell them in a foil tray with a herb marinade) and do in the oven with some chips. Bag of salad, tub of coleslaw, corn on the cob, and a couple of bottles of piri-piri.

ETA - Poultry scissors and an earthenware platter make a big difference here.

Big pan of sausages with rolls, coleslaw, salad, wedges

Chilli, rice and trimmings

Pile of wraps with fillings to make fajitas or burritos

I like the Nando's idea too.

Get him to check if there are any dietary requirements in advance though, so you can offer a veggie choice (or whatever) if needed.

My DS has asked for a Dominos for his 13th gaming night!
If I was cooking I’d do a takeaway Nando’s, chicken, pitas, dirty fries, or maybe chilli and all the toppings and then leave them to it!

Chicken drumsticks - either cooked yourself or supermarkets sell them cooked already.
Pizza (I know birthday boy won’t like it but others will and he doesn’t need everything that’s part of buffet)
Sausage Rolls
Crisps
Cucumber and cherry tomatoes
Coleslaw
Potato skins

I found at this age there were still a few fussier eaters - it's really shifted in the last couple of years though so I'm seconding the ideas like chicken drumsticks, burgers, sausages/hot dogs. I find they can eat like a horde of locusts so I tend to do a couple of big platters of whatever it is and then let them get on with it.

Thank you for the ideas everyone.

DS says he wants cold food. And there's someone with a nut allergy.

I think @DearCritic's suggestion is the sort of thing I'll end up doing.

Plus lemon drizzle cake.

Buffet sounds good
or
wraps
lettuce
tomato
cucumber
chicken
ham
cheese
sauces and they can create their own wraps
serve with a side of chips
and ice cream or ice lollies for afters? Could always do some watermelon incase anyone doesn’t like the thought of freezing cold pud

If he wants cold food, would they enjoy afternoon tea or almost like children's party food but nice food and a bit more grown up?

Sandwiches, sausage rolls, crisps. Perhaps a cheese and pineapple hedgehog.

Then the lemon drizzle cake and another cake or two and/or scones and clotted cream with jam that's safe for the guest with a strawberry allergy. Or mini chocolate ganache puddings.

Maybe serve it on a little picnic bench rather than tiered flowery cake stands that might not appeal.

Evvmnaks Three Tier Wooden Serving Tray Decorative Tiered Cake Stand Farmhouse Style Serving Stand for Dishes and Trays : Amazon.co.uk: Home & Kitchen

Or something like this

Folding Two Tier Serving Stand | Dunelm

Cold food? Easy streets. Order a platter of sushi!

I think filling up a group of 13yo boys on sushi would bankrupt even the Sultan of Brunei

I think there will be 3 girls and 3 boys, plus DS who doesn't like sushi anyway. I've only met 2 of them before (primary school friends).

A hedgehog is a great idea.

Whilst I love the idea of scones, I'm useless at them. It sounds like a chocolate thing is worth doing though.

Fajitas and tortillas or similar

Your DS may only want cold food but a good host needs to think of his guests needs too. Not only his.

I would definitely do a pizza option even though ds isn’t keen

Cold food and no pizza?
Is your Ds sure that his friends are going to be ok with this, because at that age they're generally all about the pizza/Nandos/Maccas etc.

Quiche, cheese straws, sausage rolls or a sausage plait. If you don't want to bake your own scones supermarket scones are perfectly acceptable.

Delia Smith's Chocolate Bread and Butter Pudding served with cream or vanilla ice cream could be a good choice. It is absolutely delicious hot or cold, can be made a day in advance and should be filling enough even for hungry teenagers.

Garlic bread/dippers? Mini sliders? Mini wraps? Hot dogs - could get quite creative with the toppings. And then an array of fruit and veg.

I haven't done a proper list on here yet. I'm still musing. Pizza might be added but I don't think it's particularly controversial to not have it. DS went to a party on Tuesday for the same friendship group and they had spring rolls and cold chicken.

I'm going to do sausage rolls.

@Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain DS isn't doing the cooking. A cold lunch is perfectly fine anyway. And this one won't contain strawberries or nuts.

Edited to add- hot food for 7 teenagers means eating at the table. They want to "hang" in the living room.

Iceland do a TGI Fridays range which is a bit more grown up than sausage and chips with beans
or do a hot buffet
mini pizza (if they don’t like it don’t eat it but the others will)
nuggets
chips
onion rings
samosas/bhaji

but Iceland is your friend here

It will be cheaper and easier to get a takeaway. What does your son want surely its his choice