Tag Archives: fun

Remember, remember…

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Fireworks Night, otherwise known as Guy Fawkes’ Night or Bonfire Night, is a quintessentially UK celebration, marking the time that Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators didn’t blow up the Houses of Parliament on the 5th November.

To many that haven’t grown up with this ‘holiday’, it might not seem an event worth celebrating but as many of us in the UK know, it’s become more of an excuse to watch some fireworks and have a party, wrap up in cosy clothing, eat hearty food and drink warming beverages, all whilst getting toasty by the bonfire.

Fireworks

It’s an obvious one of course, but if you’re hosting a Fireworks party, fireworks are a must! If you don’t think you’ll feel safe running the display yourself, you could hire a company to come in and do them for you.

If you do tackle the display yourself at your private party or corporate event, make sure you do so responsibly and safely, and adhere to Government safety rules. And with fireworks, must come sparklers too, so make sure you get plenty of these, as people do love them!

Bonfire

Another staple of any Fireworks Night is the bonfire. Although this was originally to burn the Guy,
this is a great way to keep everyone toasty during the night and can even be used to cook some bonfire treats.

There are different options of sizes, from the huge centrepiece fire, to little ones, to the smoke-free burning log pictured. Whilst staring into fire can be mesmerising, why not add some colour to your flames to add something extra special to your event?

Guy Fawkes

As mentioned before, this is the traditional origins of the night. People would make Guy Fawkes, which we call ‘a Guy’. This would normally be made out of old clothes stuffed with newspaper, or hay and added onto the bonfire as the main event.

If you’re not looking to be as traditional as this, you could always have some of the masks of Guy Fawkes, that feature in the film V for Vendetta, or why not make a bonfire cake with a little Guy
Fawkes on top?

Bonfire Night Food

Catering at events is important; mainly because it’s a great way of warming up the crowds with some hearty food. Serving jacket potatoes has always been a classic, but why not take this further with these shepherd’s pies, cooked in a baked potato shell?

Cooking a large dish of chilli is always a crowd pleaser and is easy to make in a big batch. Or why not consider cooking up some bangers with a bit of fire (keeping it on theme) by adding some chilli for chilli sausages?

Decorative food

Whilst hearty food may keep everyone warm, it’s worth making some visually pleasing treats that fit in with the theme of the night, like bonfire cakes, firework cookies and chocolate sparklers. To save hassle you could hire caterers.

Conclusion

There are different ways to approach Fireworks Night, whether you decide to go for something traditional, with traditional food and drink; or decide to go all-out and add a few twists and turns to surprise your guests, creating more of a spectacle. Whatever you do, make sure everyone is warm, cosy, safe and enjoying some of that autumnal fresh air!

A Stag weekend in Scotland

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If you are planning a private party, Stag weekends don’t always have to be about strippers. Edinburgh is glorious, gory, glamorous and great at kicking off its shoes and dancing on the bar. Just think of the city like an oh-so-respectable auntie – leading light of the WI and runs a bordello out of her back room. You’ll love it.

At a glance:

– From the glowering bulk of its infamous castle to the skinny Scott Monument, few cities have as many historic sights to see
– Cosy bars, ‘private’ clubs, haunted pubs, cocktail hour, real ale, drams and dives – Edinburgh’s love of a ‘wee swallae’ is legendary
– Scotland’s capital is shameless about its shameful past and happy to creep you out for as long as you can stand it

Local knowledge:

George Street – smart shops and serious clubs
This is where you’ll find Edinburgh’s smartest bars and clubs and crowds of sleek locals looking lovely.

The Royal Mile – land of the untamed tourist

Its tartan by the acre and you can’t move for tourists, but Edinburgh without a walk up The Royal Mile is almost illegal. Shameless souvenirs, lone piper (not even sure if he’s human), haunted tours, the whisky museum, closes, wynds and miles of cobbles, it’s all a bit stunning. But just go for it. Get into the spirit.

Tollcross – a down and dirty mix of a good time

If you like your pubs cheap, your takeaways plentiful and your entertainment eclectic, Tollcross is happy to help. If you’re up for a gig or a great club night, the mighty Picture House plays Tollcross hard and fast Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Bruntsfield – café society and a village vibe

Independent coffee are Bruntsfield specialities. Dodge the baby buggies and well-heeled Edinburgh mamas and grab yourself a large cup of caffeine and a window seat. This is where to take your raging hangover and soothe yourself back to life, ready to do it all over again.

Dare we mention Christmas?

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It will soon be almost that time of year when you dig out your fluffy jumper, drink mulled wine and enjoy the holiday with friends and families.　

Did you know that almost 11 million Brits will go to their works’ Christmas party this year? It is an annual event to let your hair down and have fun and what Christmas party would be complete without some embarrassing dancing?!?

So without further ado, here are some fun ideas for your corporate event or private party in 2017;

1. Santa’s Grotto

This can be a truly magical way to bring some fun into the office! Why not get the boss to hand out everyone’s Secret Santa presents in a grotto whilst dressed like Father Christmas himself against a Winter Wonderland backdrop?

2.Snow Machine.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Add some festive spirit to your event with fake snow. Activate it to sprinkle soft snow drops over everyone as they arrive to the party. Everyone loves snow and it can transform your private party into a magical wonderland.　

3. Rodeo Reindeer

Who can resist having a go on a bucking, spinning and twisting bronco reindeer? Great entertainment in the office will have a barrel of laughs trying to stay on as long as possible. The question is, who out of the team will win?

4. Santa and Elf hire

If you don’t want to dress up, why not hire Santa and Elf characters? They are the perfect addition to your Christmas event and can help liven up the crowd to create a fun, memorable
evening.

5. Santa’s Thrones

What better way to surprise the boss than hire an Elaborate Santa throne? Fit for a King (or Queen), these beauties would look amazing in your office and definitely create a festive feel to get everyone excited for the holidays.

6. Christmas Prop Hire

If you just plan on throwing the work’s do at the office during work hours, go to town with Christmas decorations! We have a fabulous range of Christmas props to hire including a cute frosty snowman, beautifully decorated presents to put under the Christmas tree, reindeer ornaments and much more.　　

7. Photo Booth

A better way to get all the staff together and have fun than in front of a festive background, wearing funny props and making fools of themselves? Hiring a photo booth can be the perfect entertainment idea and the staff can even record their own holiday cheer messages to each other with a video option.　

Make your party run smoothly

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With these clever tips for your private party / event, you can keep your guests happy and occupied—and make yourself less stressed, from hello to good-bye.

For the smoothest entry, give arriving guests a clear destination. A small table done up with essentials is a friendly gesture, and it frees you to get back to the kitchen if needed. Try to offer bar access from more than one side, to prevent a cue. Stock generously and make sure you chill white wine for two hours in advance so guests won’t need to come looking for anything—ice, glassware, bottle opener, condiments—but reserve some surface area for mixing drinks.

Guests go where the action is, they want to socialise with the host. Be ready to make them feel welcome.

Give over the far end of your kitchen counter or island to appetizers, so people know exactly where they can linger without being too in-your-face.

Welcome help. Reserve certain small jobs for early birds and those who shy away from being chatty. Offer the sorts of tasks you could give to an older child: setting out dishes and cutlery, plating hors d’oeuvres, filling the water jugs, or putting bread rolls in a basket.

Hide signs of stress. If anything makes a guest feel guiltier than watching the host do dishes after the meal, it’s watching her do them before the meal. Use the dishwasher as a hiding spot for dirty dishes even those you’ll ultimately wash by hand.

Go with the sort of low-key nibbles you would find in a classy bar: small bowls of nuts, Bombay mix, and olives.

Spirited conversation is a dinner party’s bread and butter, but sometimes it needs a nudge.
Manage moods. At holiday time, people tend to arrive hungry (and ready to indulge), so don’t make them wait too long for the main event.

Use a white tablecloth, white dishes, and just one or two rich accent colours and centrepieces should be tall enough to talk under or short enough to talk over.

A place card for everyone. Seating plans may seem formal, but they actually make guests more comfortable. Think about who would benefit from particular placement: small children (seat near a parent), couples (split them up to encourage mixing), and hearing-impaired guests (reserve a quiet corner chair or seat them front and centre, depending on personality). Then fill in the blanks.

Turn a table into a convenient, arm’s reach refilling station. Load it with wine, jugs of water, and spare utensils to eliminate supply runs.

Be present. Each time you get up to fetch something, you essentially abandon your guests. A host’s primary duty isn’t to feed people but to spend time with them. Serve family-style, and forget cleaning up mid-event. Carrying plates to the kitchen is one thing; but once you turn on a tap, you’ve dissolved the festivity.

Relocating for sweets and coffee lets guests stretch their legs and switch up conversation partners.
Cheer at the finish line. Champagne after the meal is a nice surprise. It’s one of those delightful little touches that people remember.

May Day celebrations

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It may not be as hugely popular as it has been in the past, but May Day is still a much-loved event in the UK and as such, various towns, villages and cities will be celebrating it in some form, generally in the form of a mini festival for the day! You can’t hold an event without having some entertainment but what sort of things are out there for May Day entertainment? Well fear not, because we have put together five fantastic May Day entertainment ideas for you to try next year!

Layla Rosa

Not exactly a traditional form of entertainment for parties or events, but an absolutely stunning one all the same! This act is a stunning revolving freestyle aerial rig on which two multi-skilled acrobats perform. It’s a beautiful and elegant choreographed circus show or ambient performance.

Morris Dancers

May Day entertainment ideas don’t come much more traditional than this – hiring morris dancers for your event. A tradition that dates back hundreds of years, morris dancers are hugely popular to watch and enjoy, despite at there always being one curmudgeon who moans aloud at their jolly dancing. So get your handkerchiefs, sticks and bells ready for the perfect example of May Day entertainment.

Rachel Haywood

…and the music just keeps coming! Rachel is perfect for a summer entertainment idea, which makes her a brilliant choice if you’re looking for May Day. We confess that May isn’t (strictly speaking) the summer, but what’s the harm in pretending? She is fab musician who provides pan music for a more up tempo set depending on what you’re looking for.

Garden Games

Come on now! It wouldn’t be May Day without a little outdoor fun! From quoits to chess and huge versions of Connect 4 and jenga, there’s sure to be something to entertain kids of all sizes (including the 30-year-old ones amongst us). We’ve also recently seen and enjoyed a fantastic version of Battleship, which utilises binoculars and a bit of dress up. How else would you fill the village green?

Belly Dancer

Ok, so traditionally you would never see a Belly Dancer at a May Day celebration but why not dare to be different and Hire the wonderful Tara Lee. Tara is a professional belly dancer, she performs and teaches both modern and traditional belly dance styles. She also performs Arabic folk dance as well as the whirling dervish. So if you wanted to hire her for a class at your event or just book her to entertain all your guests, then Tara is certainly your girl.

Stay Within Your Event Budget

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Planning corporate events or another major event can be expensive. The average cost of a wedding is moving closer and closer to £30,000. Even large private parties like an anniversary or graduation party can cost thousands. If you plan a corporate event, the cost can go up exponentially.
As a party planner, it’s important to work with your clients to stay on budget while also planning the event of their dreams.

Research Costs

Before you can create a budget, you need to have a good idea of what things cost. You may be shocked to learn what caterers cost, or you may have had no idea that a photographer could cost so much. Call around to get a few estimates based on some standard details, or do an online search to get a ballpark for what others have paid in your area. Once you have that information, you can get a rough idea of what you might like to spend for each item on your party planning checklist.

Create an Overall Budget Amount

Start by determining how much you can afford for your event. Create a couple of amounts: Set the amount you’d like to spend, and set the amount that you could spend if you stretched things a bit. By having a budget range, you will have some wiggle room for unexpected expenses. You’ll also give yourself some flexibility to indulge if you find a more expensive caterer that you love or you decide you want to spring for a nicer venue.

Create Estimates for Each Category

Break down your budget into categories for each item you will need for your event. For example, a typical event planning checklist for a wedding would include things like catering, venue, wedding cake, the officiant, flowers and wedding attire. Create a range for each budget item, ensuring that the total still falls within your overall budget range.
Don’t Overlook Small Costs
When you are shopping for party supplies, you might think their costs fall within your budget, but you might overlook the smaller costs than can push you over. For example, if you have £5,000 budgeted for catering and you find a caterer that gives you an estimate of £4,800, you might think you will be saving some money. However, after tax is added and you pay the tip, you could be well over your budget. Be sure to include these smaller expenses when calculating your budget.

Working within your budget also ensures that you stay on track and that you find ways to cut corners without sacrificing on quality.

Hire some entertainment for your BBQ

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The BBQ Party season is nearly here. That’s when you know it’s time to bring out the BBQ and host your own party. But why not make your BBQ party unique and fun by incorporating some Party Ideas in the form of party entertainment and games throughout the day and evening.

Underneath are a few simple ideas to make your BBQ party the highlight of the summer.

Hire some large outdoor games such as giant jenga, archery, giant connect 4 and even twister. This will keep your guests entertained throughout the BBQ party and will give them a chance to mix and mingle as well. Giant games are such an easy and effective style of entertainment that will definitely make your BBQ party the talk of the street. Other BBQ Party ideas could include bouncy castles, rodeo, or even bubble machines.

Beverages at a BBQ party are of high importance. Here are some party ideas to make your catering that little something different. To save you money and time ask your guests to bring their own drink. Or try out the new craze sweeping across the nation relating to beverage catering at BBQ parties, your very own Cocktail artist and bar. Hire a cocktail artist to greet your guests with some freshly made cocktails at your BBQ party. You could even name the cocktails to fit in with your summer BBQ. Trust me when I say this… you and your guests will love sipping on a cold cocktail in the warm sunshine.

Every BBQ party needs music. But sometimes a playlist being played on a MP3 player can be quite monotonous and played out. So why not put that extra spark (pun intended) into your BBQ party and hire a musician or a DJ. A classical guitarist would create the perfect atmosphere at your BBQ party and give it that extra wow factor… seriously, how many BBQ’s have you been to with a professional guitarist playing just for you. Not many, so get on it. Also hire a local DJ to provide the evening music, this gives you the chance to mingle with your guests knowing that the music is in safe hands.

So kick off the summer season in style with a fun and lively BBQ party. Take some inspiration from the above BBQ Party Ideas and enjoy the long evenings with your closest friends and family. Summer won’t last forever so if you’re going to have a BBQ party, have it in style.

You can do magic

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We thought we’d do the decent thing and show you a few magic tricks that you can do on your friends and family. It might not turn you into a brilliant magician overnight but hopefully with these few basic tricks.

Cups and Balls

A classic from many a Paul Daniels magic set, the Cups and Balls routine is a magic stalwart that you can get to learning with just a few basic props – a few cups and a few balls. Since they do an incredible magic performance and then tell us how it’s done, we thought we’d show you the cups and balls as performed by Penn and Teller. You’ll have to watch it through over and over again before you solve it, but that’s part of the fun. Magic!

Slop Card Trick

If you’re looking to learn magic, then YouTube is a great resource. There are many, many magicians and performers willing to take you through learning a magic trick or two and although the tutorial qualities vary, some really do seem to go the extra mile. Before trying a card trick, we highly recommend investing in a pack of Blue or Red Bicycle cards as it certainly makes the performance that bit easier.

Money magic

Jay Sankey is one of the best Canadian magicians out there, whose tricks have been performed by all of the finest illusionists around the world including David Copperfield and David Blaine (to name just two). Although he sells a lot of his magic tricks to the community, he also has a fascinating YouTube channel that is well worth a look if you want to stun your mates with anything from cards right through to paperclips. In this fab little trick, he changes a coin into a note. Well worth learning!

80’s themed party ideas

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With Stranger Things currently being talked about by almost everyone with their finger on the pop-culture pulse and a political landscape that looks similar to the rule of the Iron Lady, the eighties appear to be everywhere at the moment and we thought we’d help you out in looking to hire party entertainment for an 80s themed party by accumulating a few fab acts inspired by the decade that brought us Bananarama, The Bangles and Bros.

Retro Games

Let’s be honest, if you’ve arranged an eighties party and there’s no Pacman, Dig Dug or Galaxian, then someone’s going to have to apologise! Yes, some of those games may very well have been created in the 1970s but the 1980s are when they really took off. With our Joypad retro game hire, you’ll be able to play all your favourite 8-bit hits including Super Mario, Sonic, Tetris and more!

Comedy dance groups

Nothing quite says the 1980s like questionable facial hair and the rise of the shell suit, which dominated high streets for some bizarre reason. Why not hire a comedy dance 80’s act who bring a touch of comedy to a routine and can actually dress in pretty much any way that you require. We’ve

Canape Girls

There’s just something about the 1980s, isn’t there? When it comes to picking a party theme, it has the right mixture of questionable cool alongside the ridiculous. Canape Girls are available to present your guests with a variety of flavoursome foods, Canape Girls will look right at home at your event with a flamboyance that wouldn’t look out of place in a Peter Greenaway film.

Speed Cuber

Alongside video games, the Rubik’s Cube is a classic image that embodies everything we remember about the eighties. Rigid corners and sides, incredibly dull colour schemes and a finale that’ll leave you amazed and overjoyed. Yes, speed cubers don’t just solve the blasted puzzle but do it so quickly that you’ll be desperate to learn the tricks of the trade! You get to mess it up and less than ten seconds later, you’ll get it back in perfect condition! How? We have no idea but it’s crazily impressive party entertainment to have at your event!

Hula Hoopers

We were unsure if hula-hooping is more of a seventies or eighties thing, but whichever one you decide, we still think it’d look right at home at a 1980s themed evening. These amazing hula hoopers can revolve hoops around various limbs at the same time, all whilst chatting to you and posing for selfies. An incredible skill matched with a marvellous costume, Hula Hoopers make for tremendous party and event entertainment.

The smoothest way to host a party

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With these clever tips, you can keep your guests happy and occupied—and make yourself less stressed, from hello to good-by. Here are some handy ideas for planning a party to help make it an enjoyable and stress free experience for you too…

Guests go where the action is—besides, they want to socialise with the host. Be ready to make them feel welcome.

Welcome help. Reserve certain small jobs for early birds and those who shy away from being chatty. Offer the sorts of tasks you could give to an older child: setting out dishes and cutlery, plating hors d’oeuvres, filling the water jugs, or putting bread rolls in a basket.

Hide signs of stress. If anything makes a guest feel guiltier than watching the host do dishes after the meal, it’s watching her do them before the meal. Use the dishwasher as a hiding spot for dirty dishes even those you’ll ultimately wash by hand.

Go with the sort of low-key nibbles you would find in a classy bar: small bowls of nuts, Bombay mix, and olives.

Spirited conversation is a dinner party’s bread and butter, but sometimes it needs a nudge.
Manage moods. At holiday time, people tend to arrive hungry (and ready to indulge), so don’t make them wait too long for the main event.

Use a white tablecloth, white dishes, and just one or two rich accent colours and centrepieces should be tall enough to talk under or short enough to talk over.

A place card for everyone. Seating plans may seem formal, but they actually make guests more comfortable. Think about who would benefit from particular placement: small children (seat near a parent), couples (split them up to encourage mixing), and hearing-impaired guests (reserve a quiet corner chair or seat them front and centre, depending on personality). Then fill in the blanks.

Turn a table into a convenient, arm’s reach refilling station. Load it with wine, jugs of water, and spare utensils to eliminate supply runs.

Be present. Each time you get up to fetch something, you essentially abandon your guests. A host’s primary duty isn’t to feed people but to spend time with them. Serve family-style, and forget cleaning up mid-event. Carrying plates to the kitchen is one thing; but once you turn on a tap, you’ve dissolved the festivity.

To really spoil guests, set out the dessert —fancy chocolates or salted caramels—while you ready the baked goods. (Don’t forget the desserts that guests brought!) Sweet cheeses and nuts with a dessert wine provide the right coda for the sugar-averse.