It’s probably fair to say that most Brits are pretty sociable beings, right? Sometimes there’s nothing we like more than a good old-fashioned chin-wag with our loved ones. However, in recent years, we’ve tended to opt against heading away from our home comforts. In 2001, reports showed that just over half of the UK’s adults would prefer friends come over to their house to socialise rather than head to a pub or restaurant. By 2017, this figure had substantially risen to 75%. And with two pubs on average closing each day in Britain, the rise of home entertainment is clearly having an effect.
But, why do we like to entertain at home?
Expense
The major factor that we’ve started to entertain at home is expense. The average cost of a three-course meal in the UK last year stood at £28.59, excluding drinks and gratuity. That means that, with the price of drinks hiked up in most restaurants, you could easily pay over £50 per head on your dinner date — and that’s not factoring in other expenses, such as taxis!
By entertaining at home, you can stock up your fridge and freezers with all your favourite foods and tipples for a fraction of the cost. Now that sounds better, doesn’t it?
Ease
How often do we see an old friend and say ‘let’s meet for a catch-up’ – and then never do anything about it! Organising a get-together can often be hard work and fall at the wayside. That’s where home parties come in handy. Unlike many bars, kids are allowed! This means less hassle in needing to find a babysitter if you have little ones as you can just bring them in tow. Great, eh? Convenience
By organising house gatherings, you can also take it in turns who plays host. That way you continue your social circle without needing to spend too much.
Everyone likes to get praise
Humans are competitive. Gaining the plaudits from our peers can be a real ego booster, no matter how much we deny it. Hosting a good party or gathering can hold you in high esteem within your family our social circle. After all, we all remember who used to hold the best house parties at school, don’t we?
So, how can we make sure our homes are the perfect spot for socialising?
The barbecue space
With the UK weather, who would ever have thought that the barbecue would become so popular? If you visit any supermarket when the sun is shining, you’ll be met with a limited selection of sausages and burgers and empty beers, wines and spirits shelves. Those summer months and lighter late nights give us the perfect opportunity to bask in the fresh air and wine and dine outside. With so many barbecues to choose from, it’s simple — and cheap — to pull out the barbecue and cook a feast on the coals (or gas).
The seating area
If you’ve got a garden, then it’s a great place to entertain (in the summer!). While we love our lawns, we need a seated area to offer to our guests, especially if food is on the menu. If you do choose to deck out your garden, then composite decking boards are a great, fairly low-maintenance option. This allows you to have a designated area for guests to congregate, eat and drink and best of all, it doesn’t take much to clean up afterwards!
How about a hot tub?
We’re not kidding! The hot tub is fast becoming a garden favourite in the UK. Despite the dramatic change in weather over the winter, hot tubs can actually be suitable for all-year-round entertaining. In Newcastle, sales were 600% higher in the first four months of 2018 than the whole of the previous year. With prices vastly varying depending on the model and size, the idea of relaxing in the comfort of your personal garden spa is clearly one that appeals.
The garden bar
We maybe haven’t seen garden bars as much as you’d have thought, possibly because of the price. A garden bar is becoming increasingly more sought after in the UK though to those who have enough spare space. While these can be professionally built huts, some are using their imagination and recycling materials to create a one-off garden bar out of caravans and summerhouses. Imagine being your own landlord and not needing to deal with kicking out time?
If you don’t have enough outdoor space, you can buy cheap optics for your kitchen so that, when you offer those spirits, you do so in a quirky manner instead of just heading for the ‘booze cupboard’. After all, we all like to show off our gadgets, don’t we? An impressive alcohol selection will look all the better in a well-presented manner.
Back to basics with a dining table
Let’s face it, in the UK we have plenty of rainy days. When the weather isn’t playing ball, entertaining must come inside. Some people prefer to eat their dinner in front of the television, and that’s fine. However, a nice dining table can come in extremely handy if you are entertaining guests. Whether it’s for a ‘Come Dine with Me’-effect, sit-down meal, or just to place your buffet snacks and drinks on while people chat away, a table could be a great purchase. Make sure you place it in a space that still allows you to freely navigate around it and doesn’t clutter your room.
There you have it! With the rise of home entertaining set to continue, make sure you make the most of the space you have available and wow your guests with your amazing hosting skills.
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