Advice for Christmas entertaining

Lucy Clayton considers what makes a party swing, with reference to Regency ballrooms, Salvador Dalí's cookbook, and Truman Capote's legendary Black & White Ball

Expert advice from the chef patron of Clarke’s Restaurant in Kensington

Is everyone descending for turkey and the trimmings? This is what to do – and not to do – to make it seamless

Our columnist reflects on the etiquette of hosting over the festive season, and how to treat your guests as you would wish to be treated

Throwing a festive bash? Ditch the blinis and go for something more on trend

Fiona McKenzie Johnston finds solutions for a reader who wants a traditional Christmas for her young children, but whose in-laws don't want to co-operate

Some people aren't natural hosts and others make terrible guests. As we all prepare to welcome and be welcomed into each other's houses this season, here's the ultimate guide to not being a pain, whether you're hosting or being hosted

Nicky Haslam may be best known for his interior design talents but his not-so-secret skill is being a consummate host who has thrown numerous memorable parties over the years. He lets Fiona McKenzie Johnston in on his formula

Our resident columnist Fiona McKenzie Johnston helps a reader stop panicking about hosting a magical family Christmas in a not-quite-big-enough house

Matthew Shaw, founder and creative director of luxury event planner Sauveur offers his top tips for stress-free entertaining

Interior designer Nicola Harding shares her pearls of wisdom on stress-free entertaining during Christmas

Fiona McKenzie-Johnston enlightens the holiday procrastinators and plan-averse among us as to how to pull together a last-minute Christmas… and who knows, it may just be your best one yet

Frohe Weihnachten! Henriette von Stockhausen tells us about her inspiring Christmas in the Austrian mountains, with the Krampus, the Christkindl, gluhwein, fondue, and Dinner for One

From sickly Christmas pudding to wasteful wrapping paper, coloured fairy lights to an extended build-up, these are the parts of the holiday season that we could do without

Lucinda Chambers and Serena Hood share their hosting tricks

Buon natale! Bianca Arrivabene lets us in to her family Christmas on Venice’s Grand Canal, with feasting, exquisite glass, regattas, and La Befana

Our columnist Sophie Dahl on the madness and joy of hosting at Christmas

Tips, tricks, hints and hacks to throwing a dinner party

Jelly moulds, cheese fondue, and plenty of martinis - sounds like a party to us! 

Chef Margot Henderson is a master of effortless entertaining, regularly hosting parties at home and professionally through her catering company Arnold & Henderson. She shares what Christmas day looks like at the house she shares with husband, chef Fergus Henderson of St John