'The Scruffy Hosting trend is transforming dinner parties – and I'm leaning into it'

Lauren sitting at a dinner table with crisps and olives in front of her and two lit candles and a bottle of wine on the table too

By Lauren Potts

Full disclosure: I’m the opposite of a scruffy host. I plan an elaborate menu. I tablescape with foliage. I hide the cat’s threadbare toys and light expensive fragranced candles.

In short, I make a meal out of having my friends over for dinner.

As you might imagine, this gets exhausting – especially at this time of year, with party season in full swing.

Enter Scruffy Hosting – the refreshing trend that’s transforming the way we gather and making stress-free dinner parties more attainable.

This movement has been percolating for a decade or so, but over the last year I’ve noticed it gaining real traction and filtering into my social feeds. Perhaps something to do with these high-pressure, cash-strapped times?

As Laura Jackson, interiors guru, former supper club host and creator of Instagram series The Art of Hosting, puts it, “Scruffy Hosting is about prioritising a warm welcome over striving for perfection.

“It’s opening your door before you’ve got everything spotless, letting friends come in even if they’re bound to step on Lego or spot the pile of laundry in the corner. Think company, conversation, authenticity – not a picture-perfect house or fancy menu.”

I’m keen to jump on this laid back bandwagon, but anticipate a significant internal struggle when D-day arrives.

So I talked to the pros about how exactly to pare back the whole shebang of having people over – and whether there’s such a thing as going too scruffy. (Spoiler: there is.)

Play the hits

That old-faithful one-pot recipe you can cook with your eyes closed? Now’s the time to wheel it out.

“Pick something to share that’s easy to prep and easy to serve,” says Jackson, who usually turns to her signature hake curry.

And whatever you do, don’t use the occasion to try something new, warns Alexandra Dudley, host of the Come for Supper podcast.

“This isn’t the time to start cooking some recipe you’ve never made before. Do whatever it is that you do really well, like spaghetti bolognese. The point is to feel comfortable.”

Related stories:

Put your guests to work

Don’t leave your guests marooned on the sofa while you’re stuck in the kitchen – put them on drinks duty or in charge of the playlist, suggests Jackson.

“Dedicating roles to guests will turn the whole evening into a shared ritual, not a performance by the host. People talk more, laugh more and feel part of something, which is ultimately what makes a gathering memorable.”

As well as helping guests to relax, this takes the pressure off the host, adds Dudley.

“Being a host can be really overwhelming and it’s unrealistic to expect anyone to have everything ready before guests arrive,” she says. “Scruffy Hosting is about having all the elements there then delegating.”

Don’t let scruffy turn into chaotic

And herein lies my fear.

But Jackson says that taking a more relaxed approach doesn’t mean you should do zero prep. Spend 10 minutes prepping for your guests before they turn up, so that your chilled-out attitude lasts.

“Open wine, fill a jug of water, put snacks in bowls, light a candle.

“A touch of structure makes the whole evening feel intentionally laid back rather than accidentally messy. It makes things far less stressful than if you leave everything until people arrive, with no drinks chilled, no glasses out, no firm idea what you’re cooking.”

Let your home be imperfect (to an extent)

It might go against your instincts (it definitely does mine) but to embrace Scruffy Hosting you’ve got to lean into your house’s lived-in aesthetic, says Jackson.

“Don’t worry about the slightly wonky lampshade, the pile of books you keep meaning to reorganise, the toy dog your child insists lives under the dining chair.

“This is your home, and all these lived-in details tell a far more inviting story than a perfectly staged room ever could.”

Dudley adds, “People like to see how people live – they don’t want to go into a sterile home.”

Just don’t take this mantra too far, she warns: “Always make sure your bathroom’s clean and that there’s loo roll. That’s a given.”

Don’t overthink it – just send the invite

It’s tempting to think Scruffy Hosting is just for celebrations. But it’s exactly the sort of thing you should embrace in everyday life.

“I always think the nights that are last minute are often the most fun. Scruffy Hosting means an element of spontaneity. It relieves the pressure of thinking everything needs to be perfect, which often means some invitations never happen,” says Jackson.

So, the next time I want to see my friends on a Wednesday night, I think I’ll forgo the vacuuming and feed them pasta and supermarket wine. And I reckon we’ll have a great time.

Published November 2025

Want more? Visit BBC Food on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest or watch the latest Food TV programmes on BBC iPlayer.