A simple guide to hosting a fabulous dinner party

If it's one thing our hospitality management students know how to do, it's how to throw a stunning dinner party. Hospitality studies are not limited to the classroom environment and our students don't hesitate to show off their skills at prestigious international competitions, practical assessments or just for fun when their friends come over. Tapping into their energetic approach to dinner parties, we've stolen 7 of their top tips for dinner party success:

Step one: Create a checklist Don't be shy to use checklists because they are the easiest way to ensure that you get everything done on time. Get your list done in advance and include things like when to collect flowers, order wine, shop for ingredients and so on. Also include the preparation times for décor, food and drinks.

Step two: Ask for help Don't hesitate to rope in your family or friends to help you set up on time, or fetch things or help with the food prep. This also applies to activities that involve cleaning up, dishes and packing up at the end of the evening. Don't be the only one who gets lumped with all the work. Delegate!

Step three: Prepare what you can ahead prepare ahead fo the dinner partySome things can be made ahead of time, saving you precious moments on the day of your party to spend time with your guests. Things like marinades; veg prep (chopping, dicing and slicing the day before); garnishes or getting cutlery, crockery, glassware and napery all ready to be laid out - the more you can do ahead of time, the more time you'll have to socialise.

Step four: Cook something simple but delicious Use a recipe you know you are good with and make a dish that's easy to prepare, can be portioned well, is scrumptious and tasty and can be served hot. A roast dinner is always a crowd pleaser, as are individual gourmet pasta dishes, seafood parcels, shanks and other braised meat dishes and many of these foods can be prepared ahead of time. Make sure you also offer great side dishes with veggies, salads, potato bakes, breads and sauces to accompany your food. Keeping food hot is tricky. Keep plates warm in the oven and don't be afraid to use a hot plate or your microwave to reheat things at the last minute. Oh, and p.s. - don't forget the salt and pepper…its manners to offer it even if you have seasoned your food to perfection.

Step five: Décor darling Less is more when it comes to décor, but be sure to make an effort nonetheless. Clean table cloths and napkins are a pre-requisite, as are a few candles and/or a flower or two. If you're on a budget, make a herb box as a centrepiece and throw in a few edible flowers. It's pretty to look at and you will be able to use the herbs in your cooking or garden afterwards. Or, make the table theme shabby chic with mismatched place settings. Alternately, why not use recycled glass to display candles, flowers or fresh herbs? Whatever the theme, make an effort with the décor and impress the socks off your guests. For simple table décor ideas, click here.

Step six: Don't forget the drinks Have a variety of drinks on offer for the evening. If you are responsible for the drinks, ensure you have plenty of wines, soft drinks, fruit juices and water. If you've opted for a BYO drinks arrangement, have a dedicated space or table available for guests to place their drinks on so that they can help themselves without having to nip into the kitchen every 5 minutes to find their beverages. Also, ensure that you have a large supply of ice (with ice bucket and tongs) and remember to top up your guests drinks at the dinner table.

Step seven: Be the perfect host Being the perfect host means making your guests feel welcome. Make sure there's a welcome drink, play some background music, remember to introduce guests to others so that they can get talking and don't forget to have a good time yourself. Have some nibbles or snacks available and try and socialise as much as you can before you have to head into the kitchen to serve dinner. When the dinner is over, serve coffees or liqueurs and don't rush your guest's departure.

If you have any tips or helpful advice for a perfect dinner party, do drop us a line in the comments section below with your suggestions - we would love to hear them.