Fantastic ways to plan a night out with friends

Planning a night out can be quite exciting, especially in this day and age when so often people are staying at home. With accessibility and convenience trumping just about everything else, it’s becoming less common for a group of friends to want to spend the night out and about.

There are plenty of ways to spice things up, though it might be a bit overwhelming for those with little experience. Fortunately, all it takes is a bit of brainstorming to get the job done. Here are some fantastic ways to plan a night out with friends.

Establish a budget

First things first: it’s important to have an idea of what it’s reasonable to spend, either as a host or for individuals in the group. There’s nothing more uncomfortable than a difference in opinion when the bill comes, and everyone will be happier knowing they’re on the same page. For example, for those interested in taking friends out to a concert will want to look for affordable tickets, and there are various sites online to help (www.top10.com/concert-ticket-sites gives a good rundown). A night on the town will also need to be manageable for all involved.

Add a theme

As with hosting or organising other kinds of events, one of the best things to do when planning a night out is to follow a specific theme. That way, everyone is on the same page and all of the surrounding choices have an easy direction to follow. Hosts can even go so far as to send out invites to friends to fit the overall theme. The host or guests can purchase clothing or accessories related to the theme, for example, the band they’re going to see, and all wear them on the big day for added fun.

Explore new places

A night out can become an unforgettable experience when friends explore something or somewhere totally new. It could be a restaurant that’s out of the way and provides something unique, such as this Sakaya in Belgravia (a little spot that offers all sorts of unique and exotic drinks), or a new activity such as trampolining or even axe-throwing to spice things up.

It also helps to brainstorm with friends about the best places to visit. The advantage of going to an unfamiliar locale is that even if it doesn’t turn out as expected, the fact that it’s a shared new experience makes up for any potential disappointment, and it might turn out to be a favourite topic of conversation for weeks to come.

Food, glorious food

It’s not a great night out without fantastic food, which means it’s best to plan things out as much as possible. While those organising events will have to worry about catering or cooking the food themselves, taking friends out means all one has to worry about is the location. As stated above, it’s great to try new places and cuisines en masse, and there are endless options to experiment with, from barbecue to novelty desserts (and those interested in healthy but delicious options can check out A Sweet Pea Chef for ideas).

Planning an excellent night out can be a lot of fun, and there’s no need to get stressed out finding fantastic ideas. After all, nights out with friends are about fun!

The editorial unit