House Party services guaranteed to get your guests jumpin'

It wasn’t so long ago that I attempted to sleep to the strains of ‘Seven Nation Army’ banging below my head. I’m not unreasonable, and as it was only midnight (yes ok, so I wasn’t exactly having a wild one) I thought ‘let them party’ as I hunkered down. When I awoke at 1:30am to a rousing chorus of ‘What’s that coming over the hill?’ I lost some patience. When 15 strangers spilled into our collective courtyard and could be found hanging out of the windows of the flat underneath us screaming ‘Is it a monster, is it a monstaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa’ at 3am, I phoned Noise Line. What? I’m scared of monsters.

That said, a house party can be a marvellous thing. You’re almost always guaranteed to meet like-minded people and friends-of-friends, the sharing of alcohol is usually generous, and nobody’s going to kick you out at 3 in the morning. But why do it alone when a whole host of services are vying to get through your front door?

Rather than putting ‘Monster’ on repeat, get in touch with UJ’s very own mixmasters Audio Sushi, who will either send a DJ to your place or provide you with bespoke playlists for the night, from hard anthems to loungey pre-party tracks. Don’t know your Mule from your Mojito? Call up the Liquid Chefs, a cocktail service that comes with a variety of slick portable designer bars to choose from, bartenders, glassware, ice and drinks from the sexy Rose Petal Martini to a classic Manhattan. Soak it all up with canapés created by the likes of Scott’s, J Sheekey, Pizza East and Cecconi’s courtesy of Urban Caprice catering, and you’re set.

Just remember to invite your upstairs neighbour.

INFO
Audio Sushi
Liquid Chefs, 0208 952 5078
Urban Caprice

WIN AN OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY WITH LIQUID CHEFS
Fancy getting those jingle bells really ring-a-ding-dinging this Christmas? Liquid Chefs are offering one lucky Urban Junkies subscriber the chance to win a Christmas cocktail party for your office, tended by two of the team’s fabulous boardroom barmen. LiquidChefs will supply a pop-up bar, two bartenders, all glassware, ice and drinks ingredients; everything to make the cocktail party go with a swing. The maximum number of party guests is 30 and the cocktails will be served over a three hour time scale to be agreed with the winner. To be in with a chance of winning simply tell us: Which of the following is a traditional Christmas cocktail? A). Eggnog, B). Tom Collins, C). Mojito.

UJ's House Party Mix by Audio Sushi

Audio Sushi is kind of a house party every week, and according to head-honcho Jeffrey this playlist is about as close to his DJing style as he's ever done for Urban Junkies. Like the best parties, the mix is slightly mental, random, fun and eclectic - 'I asked my friends what they'd like to hear at the ultimate house party and this is what they've said.' From Tag Team's 'Whoop! There it is' and Prince's 'Kiss' to James Brown's 'Get on Up', LCD Soundsystem's 'Daft Punk is Playing at My House' and the classic Lionel track 'All Night Long', this is guaranteed to get your guests off the sofas. Or bouncing on them. Fancy something more chilled out? Check back in with us for the lounge mix.

Listen to the podcast…

UJ takes on… Barre!

Ballet, by its very nature, looks easy, light and fluid. Not much thought goes into the actual logistics behind flinging yourself around a room on your toes, nor into the strength needed to switch from a squat into a pinkie-pointed leap with a few arm flounces in time to music. As UJ donned our FRAME leotards, tank tops and token headband, we sized up the bars and thought ’Royal Opera House, keep your pants on - here we come.’

Read the Experientialist…

SKATE – Display your skating talents as the Somerset House Ice Rink Opens. Various times, Somerset House, Strand, WC2R 1LA. £10-£15.

DANCE – to the electro-pop sounds of the up and coming Viktoria Modesta, 8pm, Hoxton Square bar and Grill, 2 Hoxton Square, N1 6NU. £6.50-£8.

SEE – the hypnotic abstract artwork of David Wightman: Secret Name. 10am-6pm, Art Work Space, 31-35 Craven Hill Gardens, W2 3EA. Free.

WATCH – a spectacular performance of the fairytale classic, Cinderella. Tomorrow, 7:30pm, Royal Opera House, Convent Garden, WC2E 9DD. £23-£98.