Readers… today I’m talking restaurant and venue booking! Why? Not only is it currently the most
wonderful time of the year, but, for anyone doing party planning it’s sometimes
a struggle to work out where to book, how to book and find something that keeps
everyone happy – be that friends, family or being handed the responsibility of
the work Christmas social. Ahhhh.
I’m a regular fan of eating out plus am a bit of an event
organiser having done a series of big(ish) charity events, balls and
fundraisers all requiring me to find a venue. Yes, there’s Google and you can do
it yourself or you can find a platform like the Square Meal website, which will take some of
the hassle out of venue sourcing for you.
Square Meal operates across London, Manchester, Bristol,
Edinburgh and Birmingham and can help you with anything from finding a restaurant
or a pub to sourcing your wedding venue (anyone who’s recently got married will
understand how painful this research part is…) There’s even a concierge service to help you
with all those traumatic work jobs like finding a meeting room in a different
city last minute or finding a private dining room for 20 people you’ve never
met, that that your MD has decided must be taken out for dinner in 2 days’
time.
Square Meal is all about making your life that little bit
easier by taking some of the stress out finding a venue and giving you the time
back to work on the parts of the organisation that really matter, you know, like
finalising the cocktail menu.
In the spirit of it currently being the season of giving, today
I thought I’d share with you, my top 5 tips for organising and planning a great
event (I’ll even tell you that these are tips for life, not just for
Christmas).
1. Start Early
Venues book up quickly – especially wedding ones – some are
booked 2 years ahead in peak season. If
you’ve got your heart set on somewhere, as soon as you have a date for your
event, start researching venues and contacting your preferred choice(s).
2. Know Your Numbers
It’s impossible to predict exactly, however, most venues will
want a final total 1-2 weeks before (depending on how big your event is). Prepare for call offs, but also prepare for
people to be so disorganised, they appear last minute and expect a seat at the
table.
3. Set Expectations
You’ll never get a 5* private dining room in Mayfair, for the
price of a function room at your local pub.
Work with your team to set expectations about what is and isn’t achievable
for their proposed per head budget.
4. Don’t Forget Dietary
Requirements
People are veggie, vegan, lactose free, coeliac, gluten
free, have nut allergies and more… please don’t forget to ask your guests or
party goers if they have any dietary requirements and make sure the venue knows
– there’s nothing more disappointing than being presented with something you
can’t eat.
5. Check in A Few Days Before
Whether it’s the team Christmas lunch or a large-scale
event, make sure you check in with your venue 48 hours before to confirm any
last minute details, changes to plans or provide any information that can help
your night run smoothly… once you’ve checked everything off your list, don’t
forget that you’re there to enjoy yourself too!
This post is a paid collaboration with Square Meal.
