Five expert tips for a stylish, stress-free dinner party

2024 has been declared the year of the dinner party. Thanks to the soaring cost of dining out, we’re rediscovering the joys of hosting at home – but in a more relaxed, easy-going way than the labour-intensive gatherings of old.

Whether you’re inviting a couple of old friends over for a casual meal, or planning something more formal for a bigger group, the last thing you want is to spend the evening fretting in the kitchen.

We spoke to Emily Gussin, chef and co-founder of 10 Miles Club supper club, which sources ingredients within 10 miles of the venue, to get her tips for throwing a dinner party you and your guests will remember for all the right reasons …

The menu
If the idea of cooking for a group sounds daunting, here’s some good news: the current trend is for simple, delicious food rather than fussiness. Individually plated dishes have given way to shared ones placed in the centre of the table, to which everyone can help themselves and each other.

“The interactive element of shared dishes is great,” says Gussin. “If everyone’s digging in and passing them around, it makes it more fun – and it makes your life a lot easier.”

She suggests one centrepiece dish, such as a roast chicken, fish or a big tart, accompanied by a vegetable side dish and a big salad. “For the sides, I’d choose a few key ingredients which are in season, meaning they’ll taste beautiful and won’t require you to do much to them,” she says. “The salad you can prepare in advance, and with the main and vegetable dishes, I’d want to take them out of the oven and put them straight down on the table.”

The cookware
When cooking for a group, nobody wants to worry about pots and pans that have seen better days and aren’t functioning as well as they could be. The right cookware can make all the difference, taking the stress out of the occasion and giving you more time to spend on what really matters: enjoying the food you’ve cooked with friends.

Joseph Joseph’s new Space range of oven-proof saucepans look so good that you can happily do away with serving dishes – and the extra washing up – by bringing the pans to the table so guests can help themselves. Place on heat proof mats or a trivet – Joseph Joseph does a gorgeous one in stainless steel that, when you’re finished, folds up neatly, making storage a breeze.

Smart storage is a big feature of the saucepans too. When you come to put them away, the handles fold cleverly in, on the saucepans and the lids, so they take up far less space than standard cookware – helping make tidying up after everyone’s gone that much easier.

And those good looks we were talking about? The Space pots and pans come sleekly designed in midnight blue, bringing a dash of Joseph Joseph panache to any kitchen.

Setting the scene
Don’t worry if your home isn’t interiors-magazine pristine: there are simple ways to ensure that everyone is wowed when they walk in.

“Lighting is really important,” says Gussin. “If it’s too bright, it’s stark and invasive; everyone feels a bit naked. Lamps or candles are more relaxing than using the overhead light.”

Music-wise, Gussin suggests going for nostalgia over current hits. “With modern music, people’s tastes tend to be more varied, but everyone tends to like songs they remember from the 80s, 90s or early 00s. The songs are also less obtrusive because they’re so well known.”

Laying the table
Tablescaping can sound intimidating, but needn’t be, says Gussin. “There are really small things you can do to make the table look beautiful,” she says.

Related: Bring order to a chaotic kitchen: seven expert tips from an interior redesigner

Instead of a tablecloth, she recommends using a simple runner in a neutral colour, and raffia placemats. “It doesn’t matter if the plates don’t match – in fact, it’s nice if there are a couple which used to be your grandmother’s, and a couple you found in a charity shop, because they have more character,” she says. “If there’s one matching element, such as the placemats, it will bring it all together.

“Adding a couple of candles, and maybe some tiny jars of dried flowers, is enough to make it pretty without encroaching too much when people are eating.”

Putting out the plates, napkins, cutlery, water and wine glasses before people arrive saves time and energy when the party starts.

The aperitifs
Making a big jug of cocktails beforehand means one less thing to do when your guests arrive. “It’s nice to make a base syrup ahead of time, and then you can add a spirit and tonic or soda water just before everyone gets there and have it ready to pour,” says Gussin.

Dotting small plates of nibbles around the space is a good idea for encouraging guests to mingle and perhaps chat to people they haven’t met before. “I like to make focaccia or flat-breads and some kind of dip, like taramasalata, hummus or baba ganoush, but if you don’t have time, these can easily be bought from a deli, along with some nice olives,” she says.

Remember, you don’t want people to fill up too much, so make sure everyone still has space for the main event. Then pour yourself a drink, and enjoy.

Shop now

Take a look at Space, Joseph Joseph’s first cookware range – designed to bring style, function and order to your kitchen