Over the past two years, we’ve become quite the pros at finding ways to entertain ourselves at home, and from Zoom quizzes to old fashioned board games, it’s easy enough to have some fun from the comfort of your sofa with a little imagination. Of course, now that socialising is well and truly back on the cards, we’ve been embracing the chance to return to our favourite social occasions, with fine dining dinners, visits to our favourite champagne bars and nights at land-based casinos all punctuating our weekends with just the right amount of glamour, sophistication and excitement.
But, with the summer months just around the corner, the season for hosting barbecues, garden parties and soirees is all but upon us, and offers the perfect chance to invite friends round for an evening of entertainment and fun. It’s a far cry from the desperate attempts to find something to occupy us during the lengthy months of lockdown isolation, and this time, staying in is a choice. No longer are we doing it alone but are welcoming the chance to play host and give friends and family a night to remember – and by thinking outside the box with some creative ideas, it couldn’t be easier to ensure everyone leaves feeling fulfilled and talking about it for months to come.
Host a casino night
Land-based casinos may have finally thrown open their doors once again, but that doesn’t mean you have to leave your home to enjoy a slice of the action. Bring the glitz and glamour into your own home by setting a black-tie dress code for guests and hire in some key casino equipment like a roulette wheel and poker table and let an evening of excitement and excess unfold.
Bringing in a professional croupier and some staff to circulate with cocktails and canapes is certain to bring some additional flair to the evening, and if you’re hosting a large number of guests, playing some fun casino games at Amazon Slots or one of the other great online casinos to have come into their own during the pandemic is a great way to ensure everyone is kept occupied and happy while waiting their turns.
Plan a luxurious spa evening
Sometimes, the idea of getting dressed up to the nines for a night at your favourite champagne bar feels like far too much effort, but if you’re still keen to catch up with friends this weekend then why not invite them round for a lavish home spa evening? Gone are the days when indulging in a massage or facial meant taking a trip to an actual spa, and with a growing number of mobile professionals offering their services across the country, you can arrange for them to come to you instead. They’ll bring the treatment tables and products, you provide the wine, and you’re good to go.
For an added touch of opulence, ensure that you have plenty of soft, fluffy robes, slippers and towels on hand for your guests, set the lighting low, and pop some soothing background music on to set the mood. After a long and stressful week, it’s likely to be just what everyone needs, and planning in plenty of time to unwind in the hot tub together afterwards will ensure that you get to scratch that itch to socialise, too.
Throw an outdoor dinner party
Dining al fresco isn’t reserved only for barbecues, so if you’re eager to show off your garden space whilst making the most of the warmer weather, then why not invite guests over for a fine dining-style dinner party instead? It might sound like a lot of work, but by hiring in a private chef – ideally one with plenty of experience under a Michelin-starred chef – you can relieve yourself of the finer details and allow them to whip up a string of gastronomic masterpieces designed to take your guests on a culinary journey to remember.
To set the scene, lay up a large outdoor dining table, taking care to plan the seating arrangement carefully to ensure the conversation flows throughout the night, and create just the right mood with candles or outdoor lamps and gentle music. Bringing in some waiting staff will leave you free to play host and enjoy the evening yourself, and all with minimal stress. Granted, there may be some cleaning up to do in the morning, but it will all be worth it.
