fashion

How to host the perfect bank holiday party

Want to win “hostess with the mostess”? Before you unfurl the bunting and pop the Shloer? Let grazing platter experts Olive & Pickle (aka, Holly and Lauren) give you a few tips on how to win the crown. They specialise in putting together those perfectly arranged grazing tables (like the ones you’ve seen on Pinterest) – there’s no one else we’d rather take a masterclass from.

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What will you always find on an Olive & Pickle grazing platter?

Olives and pickles of course, haha! They are some of our favourite things. But also, a good selection of strong flavourful cheeses to enjoy with crackers and chutney.

What are your non-negotiables when celebrating something important?

A good selection of food, and our friends and family around us to really make the occasion as memorable as possible.

What songs are always included on your party playlist?

We love a real mix of songs. But between us, we love Frank Ocean, Cleo Sol, Wizkid and Tems.

Which is better, theme or no theme?

A theme is always good because when you’re at the event, and when all the different elements of come together, it really makes it special.

What’s your favourite dress code?

Holly and I both love a good simplistic outfit. When it comes to dress code, it should be more of a laid back, smart/casual vibe. That’s the best for us.

Indoor or outdoor?

Definitely outdoors, a hot summers day - picnic vibes are our favourite. We LOVE the sun, so any chance of getting outside and enjoying some good food with our kiddies we make the most of it.

Give us some delicious food and drink combos that always hit the spot.

Lauren: An all time fave that we occasionally bring back to the menu is a jerk chicken and plantain bagel.

Holly is vegan but her favourite thing to have is usually artisan olive bread and hummus.

Would you put all the food out at the start or stagger it throughout the day?

Depending on how long the event will be, we usually like to put everything out at the start for maximum "wow" factor. When everything is out and styled together it always looks so amazing. However, if the event is a slightly longer, we’d usually stagger it and put some platters in the fridge until later.

What always makes a grazing platter look extra fancy?

It’s always good to have a bit of height difference within the display. We like to use crates and place some platters on top of them, and some directly onto the table. That allows us to thread our foliage through the gaps and into the crates for a finishing touch. In the spring/summer months we also love adding edible flowers such as pansies to the platters. It really makes them pop with colour.