Top 10 best... party ideas for all budgets

1 Get creative

Themed nights provide customers with an excuse to get into outfits they wouldn't dare wear (or have the opportunity to) throughout the rest of the year. Try to use broad themes, such as '60s, '70s or '80s nights, as these will allow punters to be more creative. This will give more cautious revellers the chance to opt for a less way-out costume. But you could always offer a free bottle of champagne for the best outfit for those who need some extra encouragement.

For something a bit more sophisticated, you could always have a black-tie event. It's not only the women who will enjoy this several men also admitted to the MA they love an excuse to don their tuxedos.

2 Lookalikes

Any party that provides your pub with a point of difference or encourages people to reminisce and chat about a particular event is clearly a good thing. Why not hire a lookalike for a couple of hours at the beginning of a party? Imagine the surprise on your guests' faces as they arrive to be greeted by a favourite celebrity or sports star. A huge selection can be booked to appear at your event, from Sienna Miller to Tom Cruise, from Ali G to the Queen. They will keep everyone guessing until the last minute about how you managed to meet such an A-list celebrity. If your budget won't stretch this far, getting staff to dress up as a well-known face will provide a few laughs even if it's not quite as believable. Alternatively, a Christmas-themed costume is always very jolly.

3 Advertise

You've planned the particular events down to a tee but, if people don't know about them, it's not going to be much use. Advertise in the pub from October, on postcards or flyers. In the few weeks prior to the events use both indoor and outdoor blackboards, local papers and leaflets circulated around local venues to advertise the parties. Remember the most popular party times are Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

4 To charge or not to charge

While most pubs charge a small entry fee for events, be aware many of your regular drinkers might feel miffed at the idea of having to pay to go somewhere that is usually free. Obviously, charging customers for a set meal or other event inside the pub is expected, but making them pay for a regular night with no extras could be problematic.

5 Pub decoration

While for some people the word decoration may conjure up awful images of '80s disco balls and fake Christmas trees, you just can't avoid decorating your pub over the festive period. But this needn't be costly or time-consuming. Christmas lights are a necessity and also help transform dull and lifeless rooms into veritable palaces. Equally, if you live in the country, get your jacket on and go find some sprigs of holly or mistletoe (if you're very lucky). You can't go wrong it's free, real, and will bring some of the outside in on those days when it's too cold or rainy to go out.

Christmas trees are always fun, and you could wrap up a few boxes, or lumps of coal, to make it look a bit more authentic. Just make sure you leave those luminous green and gold fake trees in the loft they're tacky and certainly won't draw in extra customers.

6 Offer food at parties

The best way to ensure people don't get tanked up too early is to provide some sort of food offering. Most people won't have time to eat before coming out and drinking on an empty stomach won't do anyone any favours. There could be very simple bar food such as potato wedges or pizzas. However, if you do charge an entrance fee, you could think about providing a complementary finger food offering. If you want to offer something festive, no one is going to turn down a hot mince pie dusted with icing sugar. Mulled wine is always a winner too, for both men and women why not make up a big cauldron of it by the bar? This will prove popular in the few weeks running up to Christmas.

7 Music

Whether you choose to have a DJ, a live band or simply opt for a mixture of your own Christmas and non-festive CDs, music is an absolute must at a Christmas party. On New Year's Eve, both bands and DJs will time their sets to include a countdown to midnight.

You could also have a recording of Big Ben for added atmosphere. If you have a late licence you could kick off the post-midnight revelry with a rendition of Abba's Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight), or Prince's Kiss. You may be cringing now at the thought of it, but it will seem more natural at the time.

8 Use your outdoor space

Make the most of any outdoor space you have, especially if you're expecting large numbers. You could install a number of gas heaters to make it more appealing (and bearable) and some fairy lights, which will instantly get people in the festive mood. If you have a large front garden, you could build a brazier to welcome people on their arrival. But don't rely too heavily on outdoor space, bearing in mind the English weather.

9 Fireworks

Again, if space allows, fireworks are the perfect grand finale for your event. While they don't come cheap, you could always get customers to contribute £5 towards a display, payable before the day. If you are charging for entry into the pub, this could be included in the price.

10 Don't forget your staff

For a bit of fun among your staff, ask each member to write down their new year resolutions. Pin the notes to a board in the back office, taking them down as each one is broken over the following weeks. Whoever lasts the longest wins a bottle of bubbly or another prize of your choice.