Inspiration needed for DS1 7th birthday celebration

[BlueChampagne]

Have had small garden parties at home for the last couple of years but feel something different is required, as it's getting a bit samey. His peers seem to have stopped having parties, but that doesn't mean he can't have one. We discussed going to the theatre with a friend, but there are no appropriate shows on at the right time!

Any ideas?

At that age I found my DCs started to enjoy more special things with a small group of friends
eg local soft play, bowling, sports party at local leisure centre (swimming, football, trampolining etc), pottery painting, make your own pizza at local restaurant, cinema.
Or if larger party still favoured, hire a local hall and have a magician/disco/bouncy castle.

Thanks Seeline. Thought about swimming but the local pool still requires parents to be in the water too at that age, and I didn't think they'd all be keen. Also thought about horse-riding, but little brother too young for that (have to be over 5).

I'll investigate pottery party though.

My son had a Rollerdisco for his 7th birthday party.

The children around is are very into rollerdiscoing at the moment

Go-carting? Lazer quest? Both v popular when friends of ds have had them as birthday "parties".

7yr olds would still enjoy a bouncy castle in the garden - with a bbq for food.

Pizza Express parties popular round here

Could get a bucket load of crafty ceramics stuff from Yellow Moon for the price of a pottery party. Maybe I'm really looking for a theme for another at home party ... will take ideas back to DS this evening.

Imperial we made pizzas at home last year, but good shout.

Thanks all - and keep 'em coming!

I heard about a great pizza pary at home (on mn I think!) - where kids helped to make the dough, decorated an apron, put toppings on their pizza, played some games then ate what they'd made - if weather was good, you could be outside, if weather is bad they could watch a film?

Go carts, laser quest, pizza making (home/Pizza Hut/pizza express). Saturday morning cinema depending in what's on, Animal man.

We've done all of these and they've gone down well.

My daughter just had her 8th party which was a cinema party (at home). We had a cinema 'shop' where they bought hotdogs and chips, popcorn, sweets, drinks and ice-cream with pretend money printed with my daughter's face on, they watched a movie (one that just came out on DVD so not many had seen it), then I put glitter tattoos on them all before they went home (you can get them on ebay about 50 for £10)