What you need for a bowling afternoon

A bowling afternoon needs more than bowling shoes and a booking. Plan food and drinks for the reception area, plus the tableware and equipment needed to serve them without delays. For a simple estimate, allow two to three drinks per person for the first hour, then one drink per person per hour after that. Check dietary requirements before shopping, pack special diet products separately, and chill drinks before guests arrive.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Reception desk
Buffet tablesqty 3
Chairsqty 36
Folding chairsqty 4

Tableware

Reusable drinking glassesqty 40
Coffee cupsqty 30
Platesqty 40
Cutlery setsqty 40
Serving traysqty 4

Kitchen

Coffee thermosesqty 3
Teapotsqty 2
Water jugsqty 4
Cutting boardsqty 2
Bread knivesqty 2
Serving tongsqty 4

Equipment

Coolersqty 3
Kettlesqty 2
Extension cordsqty 2

Registration

Clipboardsqty 2
Ballpoint pensqty 12
Name badgesqty 40
Scorecardsqty 40

Decorations

Tableclothsqty 6
Bowling banner
Balloonsqty 30
Balloon ribbonqty 2

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 3
Cleaning clothsqty 8
Washing-up tubsqty 2

Catering

Groceries
- Coffee - 3 packs
- Decaf coffee - 1 pack
- Assorted tea - 100 bags
- Sugar - 1 kilo
- Mints - 1 box
- Semi-skimmed milk - 6 liters
- Lactose-free milk - 2 liters
- Coffee creamer - 2 tubs
- Still mineral water - 48 bottles
- Sparkling mineral water - 24 bottles
- Cola - 12 bottles
- Cola Zero - 12 bottles
- Orange soda - 12 bottles
- Apple juice - 6 liters
- Orange juice - 6 liters
- Whole grain bread - 4 loaves
- White bread - 2 loaves
- Wholegrain rolls - 24 pieces
- White rolls - 24 pieces
- Gluten-free rolls - 6 pieces
- Butter - 500 grams
- Young cheese - 2 kilos
- Back ham - 1.5 kilos
- Chicken breast slices - 1.5 kilos
- Hummus - 1 kilo
- Egg salad - 1 kilo
- Vegan spread - 500 grams
- Lettuce - 4 heads
- Tomatoes - 2 kilos
- Cucumbers - 4 pieces
- Apples - 3 kilos
- Grapes - 2 kilos
- Bananas - 2 kilos
- Plain chips - 4 bags
- Paprika chips - 4 bags
- Salted peanuts - 2 bags
- Biscuits - 6 packs
- Mayonnaise - 1 bottle
- Ketchup - 1 bottle
- Mustard - 1 jar
- Paper napkins - 4 packs
- Stirrers - 100 pieces
- Paper towels - 4 rolls
- Toilet paper - 12 rolls
- Trash bags - 2 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Disinfectant wipes - 2 packs

Tips

Buy food for the reception area around your confirmed attendance list, not your original invitation count. Add roughly 10% extra sandwiches and fruit so late confirmations do not leave the buffet short.
Plan two to three drinks per person for the first hour, followed by one per person per additional hour. Include water as well as other drinks, and chill them several hours before the start.
Count tableware against the final participant list: one plate, cutlery set and reusable glass per guest, plus at least 10% spare. Keep coffee cups separate so they are ready when coffee and tea are served.
Separate dietary products into clearly marked bags before packing. Do this at least one day in advance, because identifying special portions at the reception table is difficult once the buffet is busy.
Pack registration and scoring supplies together rather than leaving them with the catering items. Prepare one clipboard, pen and name badge set for the reception desk, and print the lane layout and attendance list before leaving.

Frequently asked questions

How much food do I need for a bowling afternoon?: Use the confirmed participant list as your base and plan about two sandwiches and one portion of fruit per person for a light reception. Add around 10% extra, especially if the afternoon runs longer than two hours.
How many drinks should I buy for a bowling afternoon?: Allow two to three drinks per person for the first hour and one additional drink per person for each following hour. Include water and keep the drinks chilled for at least two to three hours before guests arrive.
What tableware do I need for a bowling afternoon?: Prepare one plate, cutlery set and reusable drinking glass per attendee, with at least 10% spare. For coffee and tea, provide one cup per person plus two coffee thermoses or teapots when the group is large enough to serve in batches.
When should I prepare the shopping and dietary items?: Check the shopping list and buy non-perishable items several days beforehand. Finish the main shopping no later than the day before, then pack dietary products separately and chill drinks on the day of the event.

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