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The French hostess’s guide to making your Christmas a night to remember. Plus drinks trollies, house gifts and more

How to add a little French fancy to your festive celebrations, plus the latest interiors news

AIMED AT THOSE who love to throw a party but hate the admin, Clos19 is a new company launched by Moët Hennessy earlier this year that focuses on ‘the art of hosting’. Services include ‘experience’ packages where the company basically does the hosting for you, providing an event planner, a chef, waiters and a sommelier to prepare and serve the food and drinks, and even people to decorate the table and put together the playlist.

Prices start from £1,100 for a spirits masterclass for 10 – but for those whose pockets aren’t quite that deep, founder Stephanie Watine Arnault has some advice for becoming the consummate party host…

‘Preparation is key, so that you are able to host your guests properly and are not doing last-minute tasks that take you away from them. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it, though – people like to contribute to the evening.

‘Stimulate all the senses with lighting, music and texture – and don’t forget fragrance, from scented candles to aromatic flowers, or even fresh herbs (although never have scented candles or heavily scented flowers on the table where you are eating).

‘Making cocktails adds a little theatre to the event. If you’re serving them yourself, chill the glasses in the fridge beforehand and have easy creative garnishes on hand, such as frozen citrus fruits.

‘Think about what you are serving – having stories to tell about the dishes or wines you have chosen helps to create a more memorable occasion.

‘Serving wines and spirits in unusual and surprising formats can add to the enjoyment – a magnum or jeroboam always adds to the party atmosphere, and personalised bottles can be fun.

‘Giving guests a physical reminder of the evening to take away is a nice touch – for example, bespoke name cards or menus, monogrammed plates, or individual gifts in Christmas crackers.’ clos19.com