Yes, you CAN Classy throw a CHRISTMAS PARTY for peanuts!

Prue Leith’s chic, yet cheap, canapes Claudia Winkleman’s failsafe floorfillers Fool-your-guests wine for just a fiver

FoLLoWING two Covid Christmases, we’re all looking forward to this year’s party season. only now we’ve been hit with a cost-of-living crisis (sigh) and the word ‘budget’ hardly screams ‘party extravaganza’.

But, fear not, you can throw a posh party for peanuts — in fact, for as little as £5 per person — with the help of our stellar line-up of experts…

SET THE BAR LOW . . . By MARY KILLEN

MARY is an etiquette expert best known for appearing on Channel 4’s Gogglebox.

I haVe just been to a very stylish party for 50 which cost about £200 in total, or £4 a head. one reason for the success was the venue — a borrowed artist’s studio with an open fireplace and a log fire crackling. But the prime

driver of satisfaction was the low expectations of the guests.

Our host had contacted each household in turn saying he’d love to see us and had the chance to borrow a great premises for a party. He said we didn’t need to bring anything as he had some ‘reasonable’ wine, but would we mind if it wasn’t ‘very grand’ because he is fairly broke at the moment? Oh, and by the way, there would just be cocktail sausages, and so we should factor in having to go home or to a restaurant to eat afterwards.

It was a stroke of genius. I imagine the majority of the fellow guests were relieved, as we were, that we’d not be faced with displays of extravagant spending which would be impossible to compete with when we gave a party of our own.

We arrived expecting grotty student wine and cheap pink sausages and were pleasantly surprised to be given quality boxed wines from Waitrose (an average of £6 per bottle) and top-of-therange Notting Hill butcher cocktail sausages. These were so delicious, we all ate about ten.

Guests feel comfortable if they know what they’re saying yes to. And on this occasion we knew to expect that we would get a warm welcome from our popular host; would see other people we knew well; and that there would be no music and, therefore, no requirement to take part in Highland reels or karaoke.

The important thing to remember is that people are delighted that somebody else has had the mental stamina to organise a party. Everyone enjoys socialising — even if the men grumble that they can’t face going out, they always enjoy it when they get there.

The quality of food and drink doesn’t matter that much. All that does is the guest list — you know who makes you feel happy about life rather than small — the lighting ( must be flattering) and the time slot.

Don’t be over-ambitious. Just invite people for drinks from 6.30pm to 8.30pm and then make it clear they are welcome to stay as long as they like if they are enjoying it — and the wine hasn’t run out.

DECORATIONS FOR NEXT TO NOTHING By WILLOW CROSSLEY

DUBBED the uK’s Queen of Flowers, florist and author Willow created arrangements for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s wedding.

WHEN it comes to party decorations, more is more. But that doesn’t have to mean spending more. It’s just about putting in a little extra time and effort to create a sense of occasion.

At home in the Cotswolds, when I go to a party, whether the decorations are homemade or come from Harrods, what really matters is that you can see that the host has put the time and energy in.

Plants are a great, cheaper, alternative to flowers. Just pick up a selection at your local garden centre. I love scent at a party — cyclamens (£4.99, crocus.com) are a favourite of mine and amazing at this time of year.

To add a little party to your plant, take it out of the plastic pot, wrap it in a piece of baking parchment and tie it with a ribbon. This will give it a charming, rustic feel. I keep ribbon from presents throughout the year, but a spool of ribbon can be bought from as little as £1.85 on Amazon. You can source greenery without spending a penny by foraging for bundles of British evergreen foliage — holly, spruce and eucalyptus all last well without water.

This can be used to make a wreath: start with a wire coat hanger — the hook is ready-made — and mould it into the shape you want. Twist reel wire (£ 4.95, amazon.co.uk) round the hanger.

Make little bundles of foliage and twist them on to the wire ring and finish off with a big bow. Any leftover spruce can be put over your door or mantelpiece, or tied up your bannister with a ribbon.

When it comes to ‘ tablescaping’, there’s no such thing as ‘ too much’. Towering bowls of fruit always look decadent.

I pile up big bowls of tangerines and stuff them with cloves (you can get a tube of these for as little as £1 from Tesco). Tablecloths can be expensive — and there’s always the risk of wine sloshes. Charity shops are a great place to pick up cheapies — or you can use an old white sheet you don’t need any more. A runner will smarten it up.

I like to use brown paper or leftover wallpaper down the centre of the table and drizzle it with PVA glue, then douse it with glitter. You can then ask your guests to ‘graffiti’ this so you have a keepsake from your party.

Candlelight makes an evening feel special. You can buy the expensive hand-dipped kind, but regular tea lights and plain household candles (from as little as 50p from Tiger) produce the same effect. Pick one colour — I love bright red and gold. My ‘go-tos’ are H&M and Zara Home. n