If you’re planning to throw a party for colleagues, friends or family this Christmas, but don’t want your home invaded, there are a range of options open to you.

There are a great many advantages to holding a party at a location outside your own home, not least of which is the sheer convenience.

You don’t have an army of people trampling about your private territory. You don’t run the risk of breakages, stained carpets, marked wall coverings and other damage. Choosing the venue depends on several things – how much you want to pay, what facilities you need, how many people you intend to invite etc.

The venue could be anywhere, with possibilities including a hotel functions room, a suite in a conference centre, a castle, manor house, community or church hall, sports club, restaurant, municipal facility, or afloat on a boat. But you have to be practical. Match your location to the number of guests. It is not a good idea to have too few people in too large a location or vice versa.

Toilets and cloakroom facilities are just as important. No one wants to have to queue for the toilets and your guests will not be able to relax if their outdoor

clothes are in an insecure or dirty area.

Depending on the type of party you are holding, and the amount you can afford to pay, you could well find the services of a cloakroom attendant, and even bouncers, are included – which could set everyone’s minds at rest!

One of the big advantages of choosing some venues is the catering facilities they offer. You can, of course, provide your own food and drink, but it takes time.

There is always the matter of clearing up afterwards. In some halls, this could mean doing it the same night after the party. Ask yourself if you will feel like

doing this, come the time?

Food prepared and served on the premises carries a great many advantages, and it need not necessarily cost the earth.

Even if there are no catering facilities attached to the venue, you can still call in outside caterers to handle the problem for you. They will need to have a range of menus, and you can choose according to the amount you want to pay.

The other catering consideration is the liquid refreshment. In licensed premises, a manned bar facility will usually exist. You can organise this as you like, of course. You could pay the bill at the end of the evening, set a bar limit and allow guests to buy their own when that is exhausted, or just buy the first drink and let your guests’ pockets and inclinations set the limits.

Some community halls have bar facilities installed which you can stock and staff yourself. But it is not a bad idea to ask a local pub to operate an outside bar for you.

Some may make a charge, others will be content to rely purely on the bar takings for the evening. Again, a potentially troublesome area is taken care of sensibly.

When it comes to entertainment, outside venues really score. Their locations usually mean neighbours are used to the sort of disturbances an influx of revellers can cause.