Five tips on hosting your own supper club at home

No doubt you’ve scrolled your Instagram feed or Pinterest for inspiration for your supper club and found photo after photo of twinkling fairy lights, delicate foraged bouquets and colourful grazing platters. Our tip: go with what you want in a supper club. Following a theme or sticking to a concept is a great way to get inspiration flowing: why not create an inventive plant-based menu, or a degustation made up of ingredients sourced entirely from your local farmer’s market? Alternatively, consider focusing on one cuisine; if you’ve always wanted to create a Spanish feast, now’s your time to make it happen. Then there are all the smaller details to consider; will you put name tags at the table? Greet your guests with a glass of cava on arrival? Curate a playlist? And hey, fairy light and floral decorations never hurt, either.

This is a big one at any supper club: who will you be breaking bread with at your table? Whether you’re inviting close friends or you’re expecting a group of people who haven’t met each other before, there’s never any harm in introducing fun ways to keep things lively. If you have the space for it, why not have your party move from one space to another over the course of the evening? You could even make things a little quirky by asking each guest to choose a song for the playlist, then have them describe what that track means to them. Let your imagination run wild; if your dream is to pair your meal with a side serving of live music from your talented friend, or if you’d like your guests to leave their phones at the door so that there are no distractions, than we say go for it.

Supper clubs are all about appreciating the small slice of calm that you’ve carved out for yourself and your loved ones. With that in mind, you don’t want to be putting the finishing touches on an elaborate spread when your guests are still arriving. Our tip: opt for simplicity when it comes to food. Plan your menu well in advance, and focus on high quality ingredients over intricate dishes. Visit your local farmer’s market to buy fresh and seasonal produce, and select dishes that you can prepare in advance. And don’t be afraid to share the story behind your meal with your guests; slowing down and taking the time to connect over great food and wine is part of the magic.

The concept of sharing – whether that’s conversation, food or wine – is the heart of any supper club; and that’s why Campo Viejo should be at the top of your list to serve at yours. The expert wine-makers of Campo Viejo have been creating wine designed for sharing since 1964. Each drop comes from their state-of-the-art, sustainable winery in the Spanish wine region of Rioja; an area which is known as the native home of the versatile tempranillo grape. What does that mean for your supper club, exactly? A bold, fresh red that will pair well with light dishes (for example, Spanish tapas). Looking for something slightly more robust for heartier meals during winter? Campo Viejo’s Reserva will hold its own with red meat and blue cheese – and the warm, smoky Gran Reserva matches perfectly with a roast. For a conversation-sparking innovative choice, go for the Garnacha; Campo Viejo’s fruity, envelope-pushing drop that would go down a treat with pasta or something a little more spicy.

Last but not least, remember that it’s the minute details that elevate a supper club to something truly memorable. Make sure you’re considering the dietary requirements of each guest. If you’re asking for your guests to contribute to the cost of the meal, you could sell tickets using a free online booking system to make things feel even more special. And if you’ve got your sights set on building your concept into a side-hustle, then ask your guests to post about the evening on social media. Who knows? Perhaps your little supper club could become the next event everyone’s talking about.