I have hosted a number of mixers and I’ve really enjoyed it.
Highly recommend the book The 2-Hour Cocktail Party: How to Build Big Relationships with Small Gatherings by Nick Gray! It really gave me the confidence to get started. And the strategies worked.
I love this idea! I used to host an event called Breakfast with Tiffany. It was for spiritual high achieving women to gather and connect. I've been debating whether to bring it back in 2026 and the challenge in this post feels like an invitation to.
I am obsesseddd with this! I’ve done lots of this when running my recruitment agency for ten years and it always gravitate towards it as a way to bring people together. When I was single I also had the idea of running a singles supper club but ended up meeting my now fiancé which scuppered that haha
But yes, I’m in a career redesign at the moment and I am inspired to bring this into whatever the next era is 🙏 Also very keen for Sydney dins too ✨
Love this idea, Phoebe. Thanks for sharing your approach! A practical question: Do you charge folks ahead of time or split the bill - and if you charge upfront, how do you manage this as taxable revenue? In the spirit of keeping all this low-fi, I can imagine avoiding gnarly tax stuff is ideal...
Great questions! For tax it depends on the country where the host is tax resident — we don't make profit, it's just to cover the cost of the event itself, so it doesn't involve too much gnarliness! And yes we always charge ahead of time. We'll usually look at the menu and figure out a good order based on the number of people we're inviting, and then divide that predicted cost between total number of attendees to get the ticket cost. We also include a bit of buffer for tip & drinks. We'll always pick a restaurant where you can share food: Vietnamese, Lebanese, Indian, Tapas etc all work great.
Great tips - I really appreciate how practical your suggestions are. And how transparent you are about what's worked for you. Lots of inspiration and hands-on ideas to get me started. Thanks, Phoebe! 🙏
If you ever want to host a dinner/event in Amsterdam, let me know! I am just starting out in the big wide world of networking and making connections but I absolutely love hosting and connecting (with) people!! I am a little bit of an introvert but the usual feedback I get as a host is that I am calm, warm and positively present. 🥰 And I am based in the Netherlands so I'd be more than happy to give you a helping hand as your hosting assistant 🤲🏻✨️
I love this idea. Most of the events in my area are bleh so I never thought of hosting something myself until you posted it. Though earlier this year I had the idea to host a thrift trip because people love thrifting with me. =) I just have not done it yet. This is the push out of my comfort zone I need for the coming year. =)
OK, you've inspired me to pull my finger out and do this in 2026. I already host writing retreats in Suffolk and I completely agree with you on the network front – a delightful outcome I hadn't really given much thought before I started them, but I've now had work opportunities come my way, and new friendships with the fantastic people I've spent time with on those retreats.
My partner is a chef and I've been dreaming up an idea of turning our house into a 'restaurant' for one night. Moving all the furniture upstairs and doing flowers and white tablecloths, purely for fun. So this was the nudge I needed to do it, ty. PS, love the sound of your gatherings and would love to come if you have any London / England ones on the cards next year.
Thank you so much Stevie! That sounds like a genius idea... send some photos if you do! And we'll definitely share the link to any London events coming up
Phoebe - What a great idea and so simple and accessible! If you ever host a dinner in Seattle, I'd love to join! In the meantime, I'm taking you up on the challenge to host an event in Q1.
Phoebe, I can’t tell you how game changing being an attendee of the food for thought dinners has been for me 🥹💙 honoured to be a part of it all and loved reading this!!
Hosting is such a great idea! Now that my family has finally settled into our new home, I think this is something we are now ready to try but on a small scale. How do you decide how much to charge? Do we just start with say a free potluck event?
In this post-COVID age, I’ve found that people are starved for connection and any way to provide an easy way to do that, folks do appreciate and show up.
I have hosted a number of mixers and I’ve really enjoyed it.
Highly recommend the book The 2-Hour Cocktail Party: How to Build Big Relationships with Small Gatherings by Nick Gray! It really gave me the confidence to get started. And the strategies worked.
Ooh amazing thank you so much Ksenia! I'll add it to the list
I love this idea! I used to host an event called Breakfast with Tiffany. It was for spiritual high achieving women to gather and connect. I've been debating whether to bring it back in 2026 and the challenge in this post feels like an invitation to.
what a great idea! Definitely bring it back for 2026 — you never know where it will take you
I am obsesseddd with this! I’ve done lots of this when running my recruitment agency for ten years and it always gravitate towards it as a way to bring people together. When I was single I also had the idea of running a singles supper club but ended up meeting my now fiancé which scuppered that haha
But yes, I’m in a career redesign at the moment and I am inspired to bring this into whatever the next era is 🙏 Also very keen for Sydney dins too ✨
Oh no way hahah I love that !! Did you see the Sydney event on 4 December? I'll send it your way!!
I can't make this date as I'm away but very keen on future ones!!
Also Dishoom 🤤
Love this idea, Phoebe. Thanks for sharing your approach! A practical question: Do you charge folks ahead of time or split the bill - and if you charge upfront, how do you manage this as taxable revenue? In the spirit of keeping all this low-fi, I can imagine avoiding gnarly tax stuff is ideal...
Great questions! For tax it depends on the country where the host is tax resident — we don't make profit, it's just to cover the cost of the event itself, so it doesn't involve too much gnarliness! And yes we always charge ahead of time. We'll usually look at the menu and figure out a good order based on the number of people we're inviting, and then divide that predicted cost between total number of attendees to get the ticket cost. We also include a bit of buffer for tip & drinks. We'll always pick a restaurant where you can share food: Vietnamese, Lebanese, Indian, Tapas etc all work great.
Great tips - I really appreciate how practical your suggestions are. And how transparent you are about what's worked for you. Lots of inspiration and hands-on ideas to get me started. Thanks, Phoebe! 🙏
Love this Phoebe and had the best time when I came to one of your food for thought dinners ✨✨✨✨
ah you're the kindest !!
Absolutely love this idea!☀️
If you ever want to host a dinner/event in Amsterdam, let me know! I am just starting out in the big wide world of networking and making connections but I absolutely love hosting and connecting (with) people!! I am a little bit of an introvert but the usual feedback I get as a host is that I am calm, warm and positively present. 🥰 And I am based in the Netherlands so I'd be more than happy to give you a helping hand as your hosting assistant 🤲🏻✨️
ooh amazing, glad to hear! Are we connected on LinkedIn?
Yes we are! ✨️
I love this idea. Most of the events in my area are bleh so I never thought of hosting something myself until you posted it. Though earlier this year I had the idea to host a thrift trip because people love thrifting with me. =) I just have not done it yet. This is the push out of my comfort zone I need for the coming year. =)
So glad to hear this Laura! Try it out and see what happens...
OK, you've inspired me to pull my finger out and do this in 2026. I already host writing retreats in Suffolk and I completely agree with you on the network front – a delightful outcome I hadn't really given much thought before I started them, but I've now had work opportunities come my way, and new friendships with the fantastic people I've spent time with on those retreats.
My partner is a chef and I've been dreaming up an idea of turning our house into a 'restaurant' for one night. Moving all the furniture upstairs and doing flowers and white tablecloths, purely for fun. So this was the nudge I needed to do it, ty. PS, love the sound of your gatherings and would love to come if you have any London / England ones on the cards next year.
Thank you so much Stevie! That sounds like a genius idea... send some photos if you do! And we'll definitely share the link to any London events coming up
Yes your events are the best. Great piece
Ugh you are the best!!
Phoebe - What a great idea and so simple and accessible! If you ever host a dinner in Seattle, I'd love to join! In the meantime, I'm taking you up on the challenge to host an event in Q1.
Seattle is a must! Thanks so much Kristen, and let me know how you get on!
Phoebe, I can’t tell you how game changing being an attendee of the food for thought dinners has been for me 🥹💙 honoured to be a part of it all and loved reading this!!
Ahhhh Monica one of our favourite guests ever !! Can’t wait to have you at our dinners forever
This thumbnail photo is great lol. Legitimately also so helpful reading this. It’s great perspective.
Thanks so much Max!
Hosting is such a great idea! Now that my family has finally settled into our new home, I think this is something we are now ready to try but on a small scale. How do you decide how much to charge? Do we just start with say a free potluck event?
In this post-COVID age, I’ve found that people are starved for connection and any way to provide an easy way to do that, folks do appreciate and show up.
Thank you Alisa! It really does work a treat