By Kelly Peak Robertson – founder of Peak & The Pantry.
Hosting during the festive season should feel joyful, not stressful. With clever planning, simple self-serve stations, and make-ahead dishes, it’s easy to create abundance without overcomplicating things. From effortless desserts to grazing boards brimming with pantry staples, these tips ensure your celebrations feel elegant, relaxed, and filled with laughter.
1. Start with a Clear Plan
The festive season is filled with opportunities to gather, but hosting can sometimes feel overwhelming. The secret is preparation. Map out the evening in advance: menu, timings, and the flow of your space. Ask guests for dietary requirements early – it avoids awkward surprises and ensures everyone feels included.
2. Create Self-Serve Stations
One of the simplest tricks is to set up stations so guests can help themselves. A fizz-on-ice bar with fruit purées for spritzes feels celebratory, while a gin-and-tonic corner with citrus, herbs, and spices adds theatre – add some beers and a soft offering and your good to go.
3. Set Up a Snack Bar
Alongside your drinks station, create a snack bar with bowls of nuts, spiced popcorn, crisps, or festive nibbles. It keeps guests fed and watered the moment they arrive, takes the pressure off your timings, and gives everyone somewhere to gather while you finish last-minute preparations.
4. Build Abundance from the Pantry
Informal gatherings are easily elevated with a well-stocked cupboard. Cheese, charcuterie, tinned fish, crackers, chutneys, and pickles can be arranged on large boards in minutes. Grouped generously, they look indulgent while requiring little effort. Having the right staples to hand gives you instant solutions for grazing tables that feel thoughtful and abundant.
5. Choose Make-Ahead Mains
For a sit-down dinner, pick dishes that improve with time. A beef stifado – rich with red wine, cinnamon, cloves, and allspice – brings festive warmth and can be made the day before or frozen weeks ahead. Pair with mezze plates such as hummus, tzatziki, olives, breads for an easy starter that can be set out in advance.
6. Keep Desserts Effortless
Desserts should impress without demanding hours in the kitchen. A lemon posset, made with just three ingredients, sets overnight in the fridge. Or try an affogato-style finish: a scoop of quality ice cream topped with either hot espresso or rich hot chocolate, served with crisp biscuits for crunch. Both feel elegant while keeping things simple.
7. Buffet Style for Sharing
Christmas is about generosity, and buffets work beautifully for larger groups. Bake a Camembert and top with pecans and cranberries for scooping onto warm bread. Add trays of mini roasted potatoes with sour cream and caviar, or meats, sausage rolls, and Scotch eggs from a good local butcher. Farmers’ markets are ideal for fresh breads, quiches, and seasonal salads. Don’t forget condiments – chilli jam, relishes, pickled onions, and jalapeños add brightness and balance. Presented on sharing boards, this style of eating encourages guests to graze, chat, and linger.
8. Add a Social Element
A few conversation cards or table games can spark laughter and connections between guests. Simple touches like this ensure the evening feels lively without you needing to orchestrate every moment.
9. Prep the Table the Night Before
Laying the table in advance is a simple step that makes a huge difference on the day. Set out glassware, napkins, candles, and serving dishes the evening before so you can focus fully on cooking and welcoming guests when they arrive.
10. Presence Over Perfection
What guests remember isn’t flawless potatoes or perfectly timed courses, but atmosphere. With a little planning, pantry staples, and make-ahead dishes, you’ll create a relaxed, welcoming table where laughter and conversation take centre stage.
About the expert
Kelly Peak Robertson is the founder of Peak & The Pantry, an online destination for nostalgic cooking kits and pantry staples sourced from independent producers across the UK. She began her career with Selfridges and Harrods before spending a decade as Director at Cool Chile Co., where she helped bring authentic Mexican flavours to British kitchens. Kelly has taught Mexican cookery classes, developed products for retail, and now specialises in helping people cook and host with ease, bringing flavour and flair to everyday occasions. Find out more at peakandthepantry.co.uk
