Sure, you can throw a gathering with a selection of the local offie’s finest, some Twiglets and a Spotify playlist; but the year is 2023, and you’re better than that! At home, you’re unlikely to be able to hit the levels of Secret Cinema or the immersive theatre Punchdrunk (though you may have fun trying) but there are still ways to make your party a truly interactive experience.
Rest easy, as the entertainment aspect can all be taken care of by Sky Glass, a smarter than smart TV with all of Sky’s services inbuilt – so there’s no need for a satellite dish or box – and which offers all the major streamers and sports.
Once you’re armed with the goods, here are some further tips on how to be the host that throws the most fun shindigs this winter:
The best of TVs for get-togethers
Sky Glass is an inspired choice of smart TV for festive get-togethers, starting with the beast of a television set. With a 4K HD resolution and a Dolby Vision-enabled screen, the picture truly comes alive across 8.3m pixels; which means more than 1bn colours for your eyes to feast on. Alongside the 360-degree Dolby Atmos sound – with six inbuilt surround-sound speakers – and the auto-enhance function, Sky Glass is a truly front-row-worthy experience from your sofa, so don’t gatekeep, and get your nearest and dearest involved too.
The best guest-list
Forget Santa’s naughty or nice list, the most important roll call is that of your guests. If anyone’s a dab-hand at Photoshop, now’s their time to shine and help create a fun e-invite; making sure to send it out early enough for people to add your event to their busy festive diaries. Of course, with Sky Glass, partygoers aren’t just limited to your neighbourhood; through Sky Live – a camera that sits on the top of the TV that’s exclusive to Sky Glass – and the Watch Together feature, friends and family can be beamed in via video call to join the festivities from anywhere, and they can see your screen; allowing you to watch together when you’re not together.
The best entertainment
With a multitude of options for entertainment for events; it’s best narrowed down to one of three ideas:
Film and TV night
While you might want to WhatsApp-poll pals prior to the event about what to watch, another option is to leave it to the night. There’s no scrolling into oblivion across multiple apps with Sky Glass because having all your apps in one place and accessible using voice functionality make it easy to choose. By simply saying “Hello Sky”, you can search for films by using an actor’s name, a genre or even a film quote. If you only saw one half of Barbenheimer this summer, say “Margot Robbie”, “new comedies’’ or quip “I am Kenough”, and that’s enough to take you through to the pink riot that is Greta Gerwig’s Barbie.
Sports night
Everyone can pile into yours to watch the match on your new 4K HDR TV, but even those who can’t make it can share the fun when you all use the Sky Live Watch Together feature. Streaming the week’s match while seeing friends in their homes on your screen means sharing real-time reactions; whether that’s leaping for joy, or sobbing into the screen.
Gaming night
In a world of multiplayer games, why not bring a competitive edge into it and host a tournament? There’s much hilarity to be had with the Fruit Ninja game, which, using the body motion sensor on Sky Live, is controlled by your body, or Whack-a-Mole, which will also likely end in hysterics. There’s the option to have a dance-off with the Starri game or, for the more serious-minded, play a remote board game such as Monopoly, sharing the video-calling screen with friends online. Note: Sky can not be held responsible for any accusations of cheating or post-game fallouts.
The best home preparations
As we’re officially into the hygge time of year, lean into the creature comforts. A few simple high-gloss twist candles such as those you can get from Hay lit around the rooms will give a cosy ambience, and favourable lighting for any photos, as will a scented candle – try a Winter Solstice classic from This Works. Have a few extra blankets or throws on hand, and think about seating; a few affordable large floor cushions or bean bags will be welcome. Set the TV to Netflix’s Fireplace stream: new snug levels unlocked.
The best food and drink
Whether you’re shaking up the cocktail of the moment (the Aper-fall Spritz is all over TikTok) or just want to crack open a few beers or soft drinks, the food and drink offerings should be tailored to the guests. The food could also be around a theme. If you’re rewatching the Sicilian-based The White Lotus series two, available on Sky, honour Tanya McQuoid with a big pot of spaghetti vongole, or for the upcoming final series of Netflix’s The Crown, an afternoon tea could be quite spiffing. If a “girl dinner” of picky bits isn’t enough, don’t be scared to delegate food duties: suggest a potluck meal, where every guest brings a plate of food. Failing that, someone usually has a discount code for one of the major food delivery services.
The best for little ones
If the get-together is a family affair, think about a space for any children, or give them their own dedicated room. Depending on their age, lay out some sticker or colouring books; or perhaps a table on which they could ice their own cupcakes or biscuits. If the adults are enjoying a games night, the kids could watch family friendly content such as Paw Patrol or Trolls.
Another winner is to let them watch a separate movie using a Sky Stream puck, a handy little gadget that connects to a different TV in another room, with all the same services on Sky Glass. If after all that the kids are still full of energy, make like the iconic Liz from Motherland: “Tell them you’ve hidden a quid somewhere and relax. Then for the grand finale: play ‘Gangnam Style’ and give them undiluted squash.” Could work for the adults too, to be fair.
If you’re ready to step up your game and become the ultimate host this winter, and beyond, get yourself a Sky Glass TV
