How to throw a great New Year’s Eve cocktail party
Everything you need to host a sparkling soiree, with chic planning tips from 5-star London hotel The Ned
Image: Photo by Food Photographer | Jennifer Pallian on Unsplash
Need some New Year’s Eve inspiration? Be the hostess with the mostess and treat your friends and family to an elegant cocktail party. We’ve turned to The Ned for their golden rules on making your night unforgettable.
Keep it simple
At The Ned we have a very considered approach to parties but we don’t try too hard. The more complicated the plan, the more scope there is for something to go wrong. There is a real art to keeping it simple. Don’t overplan the night; let your guests enjoy themselves and read the room – games and activities are only fun if the crowd is willing. And if you’re working with a theme, like 1920s glamour, decorate with just a few beautiful things, rather than going overboard with lots of cheap accessories – let your guests’ costumes be the stars of the show.
Choose music carefully
Image: The Ned
Party music needs to put people in a good mood. You don’t want to drown out guests who are chatting to each other, or force your personal music collection on an unwilling crowd. Choose upbeat music that sounds good at a middling volume – and if in doubt, find a preset playlist on YouTube or Spotify.
Invite extra people
Image: The Ned
The more the merrier – better to have too many people there than not enough. Always over invite. If someone unexpectedly turns up with a plus one, don’t sweat it. Great hospitality is about ensuring everyone has a good time.
Make more food
If your party is going on late, ensure you have enough food for the WHOLE evening. Lots of people do canapés at the start of the night, but forget about midnight munchies. Your guests will love you for it.
Image: The Ned
Spend on cocktails
Drinks are so important. Make sure the cocktails are well made – you needn’t offer a whole menu (see point 1!), even just one sensational cocktail is enough. Our champagne cosmo is a great option: it’s a mixture of gin, bergamot, raspberry, lemon and, of course, champagne. And remember at this time of year, the cocktails should be strong!
The Ned is holding a range of festive events in the run-up to Christmas, including carol evenings, festive afternoon teas, a Boxing Day brunch feast and even an incredible Christmas Day extravaganza. Check out its website for more information.
Are you hosting your own New Year’s Eve celebration this year? Show us your party-ready home by tagging us on Instagram with #thisgoodhome, tweeting us @goodhomesmag or posting a comment on our Facebook page.