The Downton Abbey Guide to Entertaining
Even if you aren’t hosting crowned heads, there’s no reason your party guests shouldn’t feel like royalty. Take a few hosting tips from the cast and crew of the Downton Abbey movie.
How to Host Like the Crawleys
In the previous Downton Abbey film, the Crawley family welcomed King George V and Queen Mary to their Yorkshire estate. But what does it take to host a pair of VIPs? Leave it in the capable hands of the Crawleys and their devoted downstairs staff! If you’re thinking of throwing your own celebration, whether it’s an afternoon tea or chic al fresco soirée, take a leaf from the Downton Abbey playbook—and a tip or two from the film’s cast and crew.
“The key is in the planning.”
Neglect the details and rue the day! In the world of Downton Abbey, the double-act of Mrs. Hughes and Carson are a pre-planning, troubleshooting, detail-oriented powerhouse, ensuring that—most of the time—Downton’s events go off without a hitch.
In an exclusive interview with Reader’s Digest, Phyllis Logan, who portrays Mrs. Hughes, says her character’s secret to a successful event is delegation. Jim Carter, who plays Mr. Carson, notes that his beloved character “does everything by the book, so it’s all about timing.” For everything to be right in Carson’s world, he must see that “all the knives and forks are perfectly placed. The wine is decanted. Everything’s done to the dinner gong.” He even brings out a ruler to ensure that each place setting is evenly spaced.
Check out more life lessons we learned from Downton Abbey.
Consider the setting
Your venue will set the tone for your entire party, so choose wisely. In Downton Abbey, that backdrop is Highclere Castle, a 19th-century country house in Hampshire, England, where the series and films were shot. The house is “one of the leading characters,” notes writer and creator Julian Fellowes, and it had to be extraordinary so viewers could understand why the characters would live their lives in its service. “I felt that Highclere was that special house. It’s like a piece of sculpture sitting there. I think it commands a kind of authority over the characters.”
A proper welcome shows respect
Bust out your best butler and your most competent footmen. Now isn’t the time for second-rate service! In contemporary Canadian terms, that translates into greeting your guests at the door with a warm, welcoming hug and the offer of refreshment. Throughout the festivities, make the rounds, and show every guest your undivided attention for as long as you can muster.
Much like Carson, Jim Carter believes in the importance of courtesy. “I’m of a generation where politeness and manners were drummed into us,” he says. Downton Abbey portrays “a polite society where people are given respect.” And yes, that means ignoring your phone while in the company of your guests.
Here are 17 etiquette rules we should never have abandoned.
“Chilled soup should be an exquisite mouthful, not a bucket of slop.”
If you ask the downstairs staff—and Mrs. Patmore, in particular—the food makes the party. Whether you serve crudités or stuffed chicken, ensure that your dishes are well-crafted, fresh and served at the appropriate temperature. Sophie McShera, who plays assistant chef Daisy, and Michael C. Fox, as Andy the footman, couldn’t agree more. “A well-stocked fridge” is essential, says Fox. “And maybe keeping everyone’s drinks topped up,” notes McShera.
Don’t miss our exclusive interview with Mrs. Patmore herself, Lesley Nicol!
The perfect (gin) cocktail makes the party
“You have a drink! And you have a drink! I want everybody to have a drink!” That’s a slightly paraphrased quote from a drunken Lord Grantham—a man who believes that the key to a happy gathering is a balanced drink. Though Carson might not approve of the cocktail trend (he’d prefer everything in his world stay “locked in aspic in 1912,” says Jim Carter) there’s now an entire book dedicated to bevvies fit for a special event: The Official Downton Abbey Cocktail Book: Appropriate Libations for All Occasions.
Craft this pink concoction, the Clover Club, when you’re looking to impress:
- 1 fl oz (30 mL) gin
- 1 fl oz (30 mL) dry vermouth
- ½ fl oz (15 mL) fresh lemon juice
- ½ fl oz (15 mL) egg white (about ½ egg white)
- ½ fl oz (15 mL) raspberry syrup
- 1 ½ barspoons simple syrup
Combine all the ingredients in a shaker and shake hard for 10-15 seconds so the egg white froths and emulsifies. Fill the shaker with ice, re-cover and shake hard for about 10 seconds longer. Strain into a chilled coupe glass. Cheers!
Check out more refreshing summer cocktails worth adding to your repertoire.
“A house party can be so flat if there’s no special moment.”
Cora makes this observation in season four when a buzzy Australian singer performs at Downton, but the same could be said of just about any party scene from the series or film. Whether it’s a performance, a much-awaited announcement of good news, or an epic waltz with full orchestra, at least one memorable moment is a must to differentiate your event from the dozens that have come before it.
Take a look back at the style secrets we learned from Downton Abbey.
“Nothing succeeds like excess.”
There’s a time and place for cutting corners and saving costs, but—if you ask the Dowager Countess of Grantham—a once-in-a-lifetime celebration isn’t one of them. When an important visitor (or a significant occasion) calls for a party, display your best silver, take your tiara out of its velvet box, pop a bottle of Veuve and hire a jazz band. The only place you should rein yourself in? Redecorating. As Princess Mary says of her royal parents before their arrival at Downton, “Just don’t paint anything. They’re sick of the smell of new paint.”
Next, check out the best Downton Abbey quotes to live by.
