Help please with husbands retirement party

scubaleopard

Well the time has come for husband to retire.

There are a few plans in the melting pot for work colleagues but I have been thinking of a special meal for us plus kids plus partners -- 8 in total. I had thought it would be great to go to a really nice restaurant in town and push the boat out-- this is probably what we shall dO.

BUT

I walked by yesterday and when you do a rough tot up of the prices it will come to well over £300.
Obviously we could choose a cheaper restaurant but we livw in a small town and we use the Italian for "ordinary" celebrations and DD2 works in the other nice one and I want her to have a break from that 1.
We could go to the next nearest town but that would incur a large taxi fare.

So I am in 2 minds should I just book it?

I am quite happy to do something at home but I would like it to be really different we often have meals together barbies etc etc.

I was wondering whether to take a trip to M&s and pick up some really lovely starters like lobster or something equally fancy and something we dont have.

Has anyone got any ideas for a menu that would be really special or should I bite the bullet and go for the posh restaurant

tranmererovers

Go for the posh restaurant. You will enjoy it much more if someone else is doing the cooking

sandieb

If you want to keep the cost down and avoid some of the preparation - get the kids and partners to pitch in with some of the dishes for a buffet at home - then you can afford the champagne and special cake if needed and decorate the dining room/wherever.

pusscat

How about getting a company to do the hard work - you just stick it in the oven?

http://www.banquet-in-a-box.co.uk/dinnerpartymenu/dinnerpartymenu.asp?Cat1=Dinner%20Party%20Menu

Top price seems to be about £20 per head - so £120 in total, plus a couple of nice bottles of wine (Aldi do a really drinkable Pinot Noir for about £3 a bottle - no one who has it in our house ever believes it is a £3 wine)
http://www.aldi-stores.co.uk/

For a white wine the Chablis 1er Cru is also fantastic value
http://www.aldi-stores.co.uk/

I am not a fan of Aldi champagne - not dry enough for me, but this is a nice "all rounder" on the sparkling wine front http://www.aldi-stores.co.uk/

I would also ask your DD if any of her waiting staff friends fancy earning a bit of cash and then getting them over to serve the meal for you - that way you can enjoy the meal too!

Have a great time!

Puss
xx