Ashtead Secret Supper Club

Frequently Asked Questions

I registered, but I haven't heard anything

You should receive a welcome email within a week of registering. If you haven't, then please try registering again or send an email to

How often are suppers held?

Currently, we generally hold one supper per month, but miss out August and December as people tend to be too busy. Other events may be held in those months instead: for example a pub meal or a barbecue.

I don't want to host, is that a problem?

No! It's not a problem at all. Many of our members come along to suppers but have never hosted. There is no pressure at all to host.

How and when will I get an invite?

This generally occurs in three steps:

1. Once someone has agreed to host, it will be announced on Facebook and Twitter and we send out an email to registered members giving general information (i.e. the date and type of menu). This email will also inform people that an invitation email will be going out soon.
2. Once the supper is fully planned - usually about two weeks before the event - we send out an 'invitation' email including the full menu and cost. Note that receiving the invitation email does not guarantee you a place! If you want to come, you need to reply to that email by a specified date.
3. Most suppers can host between 4 and 8 guests and are generally over-subscribed. If too many people want to come, then we pick names from a hat. However, we do give priority to new people who haven't previously been to a supper. We then inform people whether they have been successful and the lucky ones are sent the remaining details (like the location!).

Is it really a swingers' club?!

No!!!! It's quite amazing how often people have said they were a bit concerned about joining as they thought it might be a swingers' club in disguise! We can assure you (or maybe disappoint you?) that it isn't!

What happens if I've booked but can't attend?

We all know that there are genuine reasons why people may have to cancel attending a supper. However we ask two things of you:

1. First, suppers are almost always over-subscribed, so please give us as much notice as possible so we can offer the place to someone else.
2. Second, remembering that suppers are not run for profit and, unlike many other supper clubs, we do not ask people to pay in advance, if you have to cancel less than 48 hours before an event and we are not able to fill your place(s), please offer to make a donation to the hosts to cover their expenditure.

If you cancel on a regular basis (3 or more times in succession), then you will be given very low priority and will not be considered for over-subscribed suppers.

I am thinking of hosting - what do I have to do?

We ask people to provide at least three courses and you ask for a donation of between £10 and £20 to cover the cost of ingredients - most meals have been about £15. Often people provide a 'complimentary' aperitif or glass of wine on arrival.

You need to let us know a date you can host and the type of food as early as possible - at least three (preferably four) weeks in advance - together with the number of people you can host. Most meals have a total of 8-10 people (including the hosts), but it's fine if you can only accommodate a total of 5 or 6.

You need to let us know the menu and the requested donation at least two (preferably three) weeks before the supper so we can send out the invitations.

What sort of food do people serve?

All menus are posted in the 'Menus' album of the Facebook page and are linked to on the Menus page of the web site.

Is membership only open to couples?

No! We have lots of single people who are members as well as couples. Please indicate on the registration form if you are signing up as a single person or as a couple to help us with numbers.

Can I come with a large group?

Not really. We do not encourage larger groups as the supper club is mostly a social club to encourage people to meet each other over a good meal. Unlike many supper clubs, we are not a mini-restaurant in someone's house. Different people host a meal each time. Most hosts can accommodate 6 guests - sometimes only 4 and sometimes 8.

We only allow members to attend - you sign up to the club as one or two people (i.e. a single person or a couple) and, in exceptional circumstances, it might be OK to bring a third person along as a guest if a supper is not over-subscribed.