The Best UK Events for the Winter Months

Just because it is winter does not mean that you have to stop entertaining employees and clients, especially because there is so much to do in London during these months. As long as you know what is happening in the city during the winter, you will have no problem coming up with a number of great winter activities for those within your organisation.

ATP World Tour Finals
The ATP World Tour Finals is a major tennis event that is held in November at the O2 Arena. Since the event is held indoors, you will not have any problems keeping your guests warm throughout the event. This event officially ends the ATP season, which means that many of the top players in professional tennis attend. The format of the ATP World Tour Finals is slightly different from traditional events, as only the top eight singles players and the top eight doubles teams are invited. These players then participate in a round-robin tournament, which means that you can watch the top players in the world multiple times.

Autumn Internationals
The QBE Rugby Internationals is another major event held in London during November, as a number of the top national rugby teams in the world challenge the English side. These matches, which are held at Twickenham Stadium, are considered hospitality matches, but they get ultra-competitive and are a great place to bring guests. Remember that these matches take place outside, so be sure to dress for the occasion.

London Bierfest
London Bierfest 2012 takes place during the first week of October. Although it is a little bit earlier than other winter events, it is a great place to bring employees because of its laidback atmosphere and affordable prices. This is similar to the Oktoberfest that is held in Germany, although it does include a distinct English flavour that you will not find at these events in any other country.

Winter Wonderland
Winter Wonderland is a great place to bring your staff because there is so much to do there. Held at Hyde Park between the end of November and the first week in January, this festival features the largest outdoor ice rink in the world, markets, a Ferris wheel and all kinds of Christmas related scenery. This event is an especially memorable place if you have corporate clients visiting from another country, as they will be impressed by what the Winter Wonderland brings to London.

As you can see, London is a city with plenty to do in the winter, especially if you know where to look. Whether you want to take your guests to a sporting event or have them witness the outdoor spectacles that the residents of London already love, you can find the perfect retreat without leaving London's city limits.


The article was produced by supplier of autumn internationals 2012 tickets and hospitality - Keith Prowse.

Easy Meals for Big Parties

Throwing a successful dinner party is a major milestone of adulthood. It proves that the host has learned how to properly prepare a healthy meal. She will have cleaned and arranged her home so that her friends will be impressed by her station in life. Not everyone has the time, space and finances to host a large party, so being able to do so is a sign of high social status and career success. Even if the host is not hurting for money, she will still need to avoid spending too much money on food and drinks for her party.
 























Italian Family-style
Italian food is always a big hit at a party. Pasta is inexpensive and can be made in large amounts. Pasta can be upgraded if the host chooses a whole-grain variety and uses a unique sauce. For example, she can serve it with alfredo sauce or plain pesto. Another standard that always goes over well is a salad. A classic garden salad with Italian, ranch or vinaigrette dressing can be made in the minutes preceding the start of the party. If the host wants her salad to be the entree, she can make it more substantial with a few minor adjustments. Fruit and nuts can be added to mixtures of baby spinach leaves an other dark greens. A sweet salad can be tossed with apple cider vinegar or raspberry vinaigrette dressing. A basic Caesar salad is transformed into a full meal by simply adding chicken to it. Small pieces of cooked chicken can be placed in a dish next to the salad. This way, guests can add as much chicken as they want, and vegetarians will still be able to enjoy the salad.

Small Sandwiches
Small sandwiches are good for parties at which the guests will not be sitting down the entire time. The host can make three or four different kinds of sandwiches on different kinds of bread and cut them into quarters. The guests will be able to sample each kind. At least one type of sandwich should be meatless. Toasted bruschetta is a suitable appetizer.

Individual Desserts
Cupcakes and cookies are better than single large cakes when serving a standing group. Sticking with finger foods means that the host will not risk running out of clean silverware before everyone has finished eating. She can limit her flatware to small paper plates that she can just throw away. She should provide a few bottles of wine for her guests and advise them to bring anything else that they would like to drink.


This post was written by the event planning experts at ezCater.com. For more informationa nd to order Frederick catering among other locations visit ezCater.com.

Four Fun Party Favour Ideas

Throwing a party can be a stressful time for anyone, even a professional party planner that does it for a living. There are simply so many details to think of: venue, food, guests, entertainment, logistics and more. It’s easy to get lost in the details and forget one of the things that have the potential to make a lasting impression on your guests and to ensure that your occasion is one that they’ll remember: thoughtful and unique party favours.

The key to crafting a successful gift is thinking about what your guests might actually want to use and then finding a way to incorporate an element or reminder of your event into the items. There is no point of giving them a keepsake item that they’re not going to be particularly excited about or keen on keeping. You also want to purchase items from a website like InkHead.com, for example, where you can buy personalized items in bulk. Trying to buy from speciality shops may be very expensive and can drive your planning costs up higher than you want them to be.

Party favours make an impact on your guests. Whether it’s a 50th birthday party, a bat mitzvah, a wedding or a child’s birthday, you can help them remember the wonderful time they had at your event by giving them a small gesture or gift when they leave. The things you select need not be excessive or elaborate though. Sometimes small yet thoughtful is better than expensive but generic.
Here are some party favour ideas for unique, memorable and thoughtful gifts to give your guests.

• Picture frames

Personalised photo frames are a great way to thank your guest for attending your party. You can engrave them with the name and date of your event, and send guests pictures afterwards to put in their frame. In any case, a picture frame is something your guests are certain to use.

• Engraved lighters

Everyone, even those that do not smoke, can find uses for a lighter. From campfires to candles, your guests will most certainly find ways to use their present, and each time they do, it will remind them of your memorable occasion.

• Water bottles or mugs

Personalised water bottles or mugs will give your guests a fond memory each time they get thirsty. You can include a photo, a quote or the date and details of your party to remind your guests of what a great time they had.

• Candles

Candles are a great gift to give your guests, as it will add a special touch to their home or apartment. With a variety of colours and styles, you can be creative and create personalised candles that are sure to please your guests.

Samantha really enjoys writing about business. If you'd like to learn more about thoughtful and unique party favors, please visit http://www.inkhead.com/

Celebrate the Return of Autumn

After a couple of hot summer months (well, depending where you were...), the time has come for the autumn to come back and take us slowly in the winter and the festive season. Crispy cold mornings and early sunsets, nature changing colours from green to yellow and orange, warm flames in fireplace, what is not to like in the months of September, October and November? Everything seems quieter and homes are getting cosier, so let's celebrate this dramatic change of season.

Go out to the countryside

A walk on a Sunday morning in the cold countryside will do better than any exercise to make you feel better. Indeed, a bit of fresh air will get your blood circulate and will oxygenate your brain. You will be guaranteed to spend some quiet time after the agitation of the summer. Take the time to see how the nature is changing and how the wildlife is getting ready for the winter. An autumn walk has a certain charm and can be a very romantic time.

Eat seasonal

Forget the salads and other light meals you had during the summer, this is the season of pies and roast, perfect sustenance after a Sunday morning walk for example. Autumn food includes game such as venison and pheasant, as well root vegetables, mushrooms and of course pumpkins. Don't let the cold get to you, it gives you an excuse to eat richer meals than usual.

5 amazing ways to celebrate your anniversary

It’s important to always celebrate life’s special milestones, and in a relationship that means anniversaries.

Doing something special for your wedding or relationship anniversary is a great opportunity to take a break and show the special person in your life how much you appreciate them.

If you have an anniversary looming – whether it’s a paper right through to a gold – why not go the extra mile with something unique and romantic to really show your other half how much you care?

1.   Relive the honeymoon

No doubt we all loved our wedding, but it’s safe to assume that most people’s special day didn’t pass without a fair dose of planning and organisation. The stress-free part about getting married that we are all happy to relive, is in fact, the honeymoon.

Set off on a mini-break with your loved one and get away from the daily grind. You might retrace your footsteps from all those years ago, or perhaps discover a new part of the world entirely.

This is the perfect way to celebrate for couples who love and appreciate travel. If you’re looking to find people who share your passions, online dating is a great way to help you find highly compatible people.

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2.   Kick the bucket list into shape

Why not use your anniversary as an excuse to do something that the pair of you have always dreamt of? Bungee jumping, skydiving, rally car driving, taking a wine tour of New Zealand, dining at that fancy restaurant – the options really are endless. This is a great way to tailor the special day to your personal taste and really make the most it. 

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3.   Do something symbolic

Obviously wedding anniversaries are all about symbolism – a beautiful reminder of your first day as a married couple. So why not create something that acts as an enduring reminder of your time together?

Planting a garden together is a practical project to share together and one that continues to be rewarding as time goes by. Inner city couples could instead opt for a herb garden, or if you have less of a green thumb, why not take a class together or learn a new skill as a pair?

4.   Dine like a star

If you like the idea of a traditional ‘dinner date’ anniversary, then why not transform the meal into one that your partner will never forget? Every city has a renowned restaurant that you’re sure to have admired from afar. Bite the bullet and book two seats for a dinner experience they will cherish.

If you’re partner does the bulk of the cooking, why not read up on a delicious recipe and surprise them with your new found culinary skills and a delicious home prepared feast?

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5.   Make a romantic gesture

If you and your partner have been together for a long time, maybe it’s time to brush off the cobwebs and prove you’re still a romantic at heart.

Romantic gestures might seem a bit cheesy, but they’re a sure-fire way to show your loved one how much you care. For anyone dating in Australia, you can’t look past a romantic dinner by the beach or charter a sunrise hot-air balloon ride with champagne. 

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Plenty to Celebrate on the First Week of Olympics

The world have been watching plenty of sports that they would possibly never normally tend to watch; it turns out my father is now a Handball guru despite the fact that he’s never actually watched a game before this week. It just goes to demonstrate the influence of the Olympic Games and how it can hook a brand new audience into so many different sports.

London has had a lot to celebrate about; hosting the largest sporting event in the World, with public transport running smoothly and welcoming visitors from across the globe. 

Great Britain has a lot to celebrate; British fans have represented Team GB with so much pride & enthusiasm, whilst being great sports and supporting many athletes- not just British- such as Niger's Hamadou Djibo Issaka who received an overwhelming reception from the crowd after crossing the line 80 seconds after the winner.

The World has many reasons to celebrate; athletes have trained so hard for years and have finally been able to show their skill and athleticism to the World. All of these countries have – like The Beatles’ song – come together! We’ve watched USA’s Michael Phelps win his 20^th Olympic medal (which was his 16^th gold medal) and a 15 year old girl win Gold in swimming. USA and China have a lot to be proud of, as they’ve flown ahead in terms of total medals.

At times like this, it’s so nice to see the globe cheering on their nation’s top athletes with pride, passion and sportsmanship. The next week will most definitely be packed full of excitement, joy & despair. But if there’s one thing we can take out of these games, it’s the wonderful support and spirit the Olympics has carried not just in Great Britain, but around the World.

So cheer your nation.. Get behind them.. And celebrate!

End-of-year-trip

This is one of the most exciting moments in your life. You and your mates have just finished your long degree and now it’s time to spend a vacation far from home- you deserve it!!

As you are still a student you are probably broke, so it’s important that you focus on a cheap trip without taking too much away.

A really good option is to fly to Tunisia because it’s not so expensive if you contract a holiday package from any travel agency. The most usual is that they offer you a 4-days-package, which is enough to find some relax combined with nights of guaranteed fun.

In Tunisia you will find wonderful beaches with hot temperatures, which have nothing to envy compared to the Caribbean ones. I strongly recommend the beaches from Tunis and Melloula in which you will find a wide range of different beaches: rocky, white and fine sand and wild beaches.

Do not miss the opportunity to take a walk on the back of a camel on the hot dessert, it is quite funny!

If your holiday package doesn’t include a visit to the Termas of Saint Anthony in Cartago or the Amphitheater in Djem, ask for them because it’s definitely worthwhile.

The night life in Tunisia is quite entertaining; you will find numerous artistic and cultural spectacles. Musical gigs are habitual in cities such as Tunis, Yasmine, Hammamet or Djerba.