The Dinner Party is Alive and Well in London – Just Don’t Talk About Politics

New research of London residents has revealed having friends over for supper is still as popular as it ever was, with the average household throwing at least one dinner party a month – this could mean as many as 900 menus planned, tables carefully prepared and meals cooked for our nearest and dearest in our adult lifetime.

According to the research, London cooks spend a whopping 9.4 hours preparing for and clearing up after every dinner party planned.

We now prefer to refer to our foodie gatherings as “kitchen suppers”, with 73 percent feeling the term “dinner party” is out dated.

The survey into London’s entertaining habits, commissioned by kitchen appliance manufacturer Stoves, also revealed a modern-day etiquette guide for throwing the perfect soiree.

This includes NEVER talking about UK politics (23 percent), never allowing people to smoke in your house (43 percent) and making sure no one has any allergies before serving up dinner (41 percent). 

More than a third (28 percent) feel gossiping about people who are not there is a faux pas, and nine percent said getting everyone out of your house by midnight is essential, as nothing good happens after that.

Almost 15 percent (14 percent) said posting unflattering pictures of your guests on social media is the height of bad manners, while taking pictures of your own food and posting online is also seen as a bit naff by 15 percent.

Other rules for a successful party in the modern age include never serving drinks in jam jars (26 percent), thinking carefully about pairing the wine (20 percent), having a vegan option (19 percent), and under no circumstances should a host text guests asking them to hurry up. (12 percent felt strongly about this). 

However, according to many of those polled, it is perfectly OK to discuss what Netflix series everyone is watching.

Some 44 percent of those attending a dinner party thought that letting your host know if you’ll be late is the first rule of being a good dinner guest, while 42 percent added that they must remember to compliment the host’s cooking. In a modern twist, 15 percent believed it is a must to thank your host on social media the next day.

A spokesperson for Stoves said: “The research shows that simply staying in and getting a take-away won’t suffice. We are going the extra mile to impress our guests and rather than just ‘staying in’ we’re ‘staying in-in’ by bringing a restaurant-style experience into the home – and with that comes new rules to live by. “

When asked about dream dinner party guests, the research showed that a quarter (25 percent) of London residents would like to invite Ant & Dec to their party, while a further 22 percent would choose David Attenborough and 21 percent fancied inviting Ed Sheeran.

The survey also showed that hosting a dinner party is a time-consuming affair. On average, home cooks in London spend an hour and a half cleaning after a dinner party (89 minutes), an hour (58 minutes) making a playlist and another hour (58 minutes) planning a menu.

Hosts spend almost two hours (115 minutes) cooking for their guests, an hour and a half (92 minutes) cleaning before the party and an hour (63 minutes) shopping.

The worst thing about hosting a dinner party is doing the cleaning up according to 48 percent of respondents, while more than a third (37 percent) hate it when people don’t eat their food.

However, half (57 percent) of hosts enjoy getting their friends together and chatting most of all, while 45 percent prefer being able to relax at home instead of going out.