Planning a party lunch: what to tell us when you book
Organising a birthday, a family get-together or a team lunch? What we need to know to plan it properly, and when to tell us.
2 min read
Whoever books the party usually ends up answering everyone else's questions, so it helps to have the answers ready. Whether it's a birthday, a christening, a family get-together or a team lunch, these are the things we'll ask you, and why.
The date, and a second choice
Weekends fill up first, Sundays especially. If you can be flexible, give us a second date when you first get in touch. It makes it much more likely we can fit you in the way you want.
How many, roughly and then exactly
A rough number is enough to start with: "about twenty" lets us tell you what is possible. We'll ask for the final number closer to the day, so we can set the tables and order the food.
The time, and how long you'd like
A two-hour lunch and an afternoon that runs on are planned differently. Tell us when you'd like to arrive and roughly when you'll finish, and whether there will be speeches or a cake to bring out.
“Tell us about allergies early, even if it is only one guest. It is far easier to plan a menu around them than to change it on the day.”
Allergies and dietary needs
Collect these from your guests when they reply to you, and send them to us all together. We can tell you which of the 14 main allergens are in each dish and suggest what will work for everyone.
Children
Let us know how many children are coming and roughly how old they are. There is a kids' menu, and it helps us plan the seating.
Guests travelling from further away
If some of your guests are coming a distance, they can stay the night in one of our rooms upstairs. Ask when you book the party, as rooms are limited and go quickly on busy weekends.
For a business lunch
Tell us how long you have. If you need to be back at your desk by two, we'll plan the food so that you are. If your company needs an invoice, say so at the start.
The quickest way to start is the form on our parties and groups page: it asks for the date, the time, the numbers and the occasion, and we'll come back to you to talk it through. Nothing is booked until we've agreed it with you.
