Check all tasks on Preparing a Dinner Party Checklist completed

Check bathrooms for fresh towels/soap

Ensure that all bins, especially kitchen, have been emptied

Lay the table

Use your best china/glassware/linen, but not priceless heirlooms

Ensure salt/pepper pots full

Dress the table with a low centrepiece, so that guests can talk over it

Ensure you and helper can get easily from table to kitchen

Empty dishwasher/fill kettles before arrivals

Ensure   that you have 20 minutes to sit down before guests arrive

Have something small with protein to eat before they arrive

Light candles before first guest enters

Dim or extinguish electric lights

Start music before first guest arrives, low enough to allow conversation

Put all guests at their ease, ignore wrong dress code etc.

Ensure that guests are introduced to one another

Don’t run out of drink, or food

Keep pre dinner drinks simple & topped up

Don’t let you guests eat too many canapés/nibbles before they come to the table

Don’t apologise for anything

Don’t drink too much

Don’t say things like ‘I’m no good at cooking’

Don’t talk to one person for too long

Don’t delay sitting at the table for too long. Two drinks is about enough

Don’t overload guests plates, serve less and offer seconds

Serve ladies first from the eldest, then men the same

Serve food from the left, collect plates from the right

Don’t rush courses, allow time to chat between

Ask a guest to top up wine during meal, especially when you’re in the kitchen

Don’t refuse offers of help when people are leaving

Offer another drink and set people to work