How To Throw Your Mates A Brilliant New Years Party

Up Your Game As A Host

Legendary parties don't just happen. They require a little planning and forethought.

To give yourself the confidence to orchestrate a memorable evening it helps to dress the part.

The secret to feeling comfortable is to notch it up a couple of degrees from how your crowd dresses for a party. If they are strictly jeans and fleece then obviously you don't want to wear a suit and tie. However, a roll-neck jumper with dark jeans and cool brogues will let everyone know you're the man with the plan.

Be sure to have a warm hunky jacket on hand if you plan to have fireworks.

The following checklist will keep your party flowing with bonhomie. This is such a simple plan you will barely break a sweat. Your mates however will be dead chuffed and their wives and girlfriends will clamour to know your secrets.

Create A Local Atmosphere

Let’s be honest many of your mates would be happiest spending New Years down the pub. For wives and girlfriends however this is a big no no. A sure sign of social failure.

To create your party as the perfect compromise go with a local pub theme. Spread around the beer mats and bar towels (also a great way to protect your furniture). Neon lights and chalk boards also add to the vibe.

Most importantly be sure to have a couple of beer kegs. Thornbridge Brewery has an exceptional line with something for everyone, available as kegs or mini-kegs.

Set Up The Ultimate Home Bar

Take an inventory of your booze and mixers to be sure you have the essentials.

How about the mixologists tools;

1. Jigger

2. Strainer

3. Bottle Opener

4. Cocktail Shaker

3. Ice Tongs

4. Corkscrew

Serve Manly Food

Fancy finger foods are for the birds. When it comes to filling the stomach and soaking up the booze what could be better than a meaty mushroom burger?

Barbecue is another easy to cook favourite. Baste the chicken in hot sauce, slaver the corn with butter and you are all set.

As New Years Eve is predicted to be -2 C, focus on oven barbecue or pile on the sweaters and parkas.

Play a few ice breaker deduction games

Deduction games are a lot of fun with large groups.

The great thing is there is no preparation as many can be played with an app on your phone.

Two of our favourites are SpyFall and Werewolf.

Deduction games are best played early on as a certain amount of mental acuity is required.

Liven Things Up With a couple of fast moving games

For later on in the evening fast simple games keep every one on their toes. Here are a couple of options

1. Two resolutions and a lie

This game usually results in wild laughter. Each player picks 2 New Year’s resolutions they are considering and one that is wildly out of character. They give the monitor a piece of paper with the lie written on it. The other players try to guess which is the lie. The monitor tracks the results and declares the best guesser the winner.

2. Birdie on a perch

Birdie on a perch is an adult form of musical chairs. This is a great way to wake everyone up.

All players are asked to find a partner. Upon finding a partner, the facilitator should find some way of distinguishing who is the "birdie" and who is the "perch".

The "perches" then form a circle and the "birdies" form a larger circle around them. When the music starts, the circles walk opposite of one another so that partners are no longer together the whole time.

The facilitator then stops the music and the "birdies" and "perches" need to find their corresponding partner as fast as possible. The "perch" should get down on one knee and the "birdie" should sit on the "perch's" raised knee.

The last 2 pairs to find one another and sit in the "birdie on a perch" position are eliminated from the game.

Set Up youtube Karaoke

No need to hire an expensive Karaoke machine. Nowadays all you need is a computer and a mike. After a few drinks who does not want to steal the show. Thanks to YouTube’s huge playlist everyone can find their favourite songs and inner diva.

TechLifeGeek has a helpful set of instructions for how to set this up.

Fire It Up

Think of all the New Year’s traditions involving fire. The Vikings believed that fire could cleanse the air of the old spirits making way for the New Year. From the Flamborough Fire Festival, Yorkshire to the Hogmanay Fireball Procession, Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire fire is an integral part of New Year’s celebrations.

Join in the tradition by gathering around the firepit and warming up the garden with slow burning torches. Now the scene is set for the midnight countdown.

The Midnight countdown

Gather your guests in the garden and be sure everyone has a glass of champagne or seasonal cocktail.

With your Karaoke set up, lead everyone off in a roaring addition of Auld Lang Syne.

Have a single ignition firework in a safe area 25m or more from your guests. If your garden is small consider a small cake firework.

Lead the crowd in the traditional countdown and then light the firework.

Wow you did it! what a fantastic end to the evening. What a night. It will go down in history mate.