To die for

Party on, dude

At last, a magazine that takes canapés seriously. And knows the value of a rotating chocolate display stand (I hardly need to tell you that it makes a stunning centrepiece). A magazine that believes in hiring a sushi conveyor belt (even if you're not having sushi) and in the time-worn yet daringly meaningless concept of "deceptively simple".

Party magazine was launched last June, and I'd hazard a guess that it has been the highlight of the month in homes where hostessing is performed with an attention to detail usually reserved for surgery, and where the kitchen cupboards heave under the weight of home-maintenance products. If you've ever wondered who uses net curtain whitener, Shake'N'Vac and limescale remover, it's likely as not the person with seven pre-prepared flan bases in their supermarket trolley.

Not that party hosting is an especially rare hobby these days. With our overdecorated homes dominating our lives, someone beyond family and neighbours has to be brought in to experience the focus of so much anxiety. Luring them hither with food and alcohol is fairly failsafe. So much so that one data monitoring group estimates that we host around 300m dinner parties a year.

Party's editor, Janine Furness (mission statement: "There is a party-goer and determined host in all of us"), tells me it's the little things that matter. We knew that, of course. But did we know that little things could include turfing your table-top? This will make guests feel as if you've made that extra effort. Or that you have taken things way too far.

For those who don't know where to stop, the back of the book is a directory of madness waiting to happen. You can hire magicians, full opera performances, hot tubs, people who look ever so slightly like Justin Timberlake, speciality skewers and tyre swings. If only you could hire perfect guests, even I might consider giving it a go.

· Party is on sale on newsstands at £2.99.

Today's best video

Today in pictures

The design expert turns the spotlight on cutting-edge homes