THE VIBE

Laura Jackson, one half of the supper club duo Jackson & Levine, reveals how to put on a good time

GIVE THEM WHAT THEY WANT

People are predictable. In December, what they want is to feel warm and cosy. You don’t need to crank up the thermostat to deliver on this. A few scented candles will do the hard work for you. Bright overhead lighting can feel stark and cold. Light the room with a few expertly positioned lamps instead.

FULLY COMMIT TO YOUR DECOR

If you have a theme, go all out. For a Christmas party last year, I decorated the house with giant homemade wreaths. Little touches – like sprigs of sage and rosemary – add to the atmosphere by creating a beautiful scent. Be sure to decorate the dinner table, too.

TRY NOT TO LOOK TOO BUSY

If you’re running around looking frantic, your guests will feel bad and it’ll limit their enjoyment. Minimise the on-the-day effort with good prep and easy wins. For a dinner party, a cold starter and dessert mean you’ll only be in the kitchen when the main is coming together. If you look like you’re enjoying yourself, your guests will, too.

MAKE SURE YOU KNOW YOUR NUMBERS

There is nothing worse than a late-night corner shop booze run for a few more bottles of red, except perhaps running out of food. Make sure you’ve got enough for everyone to have seconds and buy a few extra bottles of wine just in case. It will all get eaten/ drunk eventually.

DRAMATIC YAWNS AREN’T A GOOD LOOK

Nor is dropping in a, ‘Well, it’s getting late,’ when your guests just. Won’t. Leave. People will always stay if there is alcohol. So if you want to wrap things up, remove the wine and start offering coffee instead. And remember, if it all goes wrong, order pizza and play Uno. Remember, it’s supposed to be fun.