Hospitality School

Welcome To Miss Sue Flay’s Hospitality School

This is a workshop designed to be both practical and theory based to help you gain the confidence to create & host your very own events or parties, with the help and tutorage of afternoon tea hostess & self proclaimed domestic goddess, Miss Sue Flay – She’s the perfect “1950’s Housewife”, without the husband! 

You may already be an experienced host, tearoom owner, a pop-up event or Supperclub host. You might be a household manager, nanny, even a complete novice wanting to gain more knowledge or you may simply be a wannabe domestic goddess! No matter where your experience or passions might be, this course is guaranteed to help you to be the best possible host that you can be.

With over 11 years of experience in events and hospitality, teamed with experience in running her own afternoon tea catering and events business titled “The Secluded Tea Party”, Miss Sue Flay has gained a wealth of knowledge & experience as a teacher, blogger and writer, reviewer. She has even appeared on radio and national TV with shows such as ITV’s “The Alan Titchmarsh Show“, BBC’s “Escape To The Country”, “The One Show” and BBC Radio Cambridgeshire’s Mark Rumble Show of which she is a regular contributer.

With previous events such as “Dine Like Downton” with etiquette expert, William Hanson through to vintage-inspired afternoon tea events and even, “Breaking Bad” &  zombie themed parties, Miss Sue Flay currently manages private households in Cambridgeshire and reviews hotels, tearooms & spas with her “secret stays” and has many skills and tips to impart. This one-day master class you will leave feeling inspired and armed with new skills to host your very own events, no matter what your tastes.

You may be thinking about setting up a sideline or new project and need some help on where to start with the legalities & basic marketing, or you might just be looking to gain some unique ideas to make your own family events much more memorable or romantic for your guests, every student will have their own ideas for visiting & they are very welcome indeed.

Your day will start with a relaxed and informal conversation over some tea & toasted teacakes, getting to know each other around the table, followed by a jam-packed lesson plan to help you on your own personal mission.

Miss Sue Flay’s Hospitality School is run every Thursday (between 10am – 3:30pm)

£120 per person to include all materials, beverages, catering & homemade treats throughout the day, booking essential.

The Lesson Plan:

What Makes The Perfect Host/ess?… How to be the domestic god or goddess you’ve always wanted to be and hide the stresses that run alongside any hosting situation perfectly.

The Not So Glamourous Side Of Hosting… And how to overcome the less sensational obstacles of hosting an event. There are many and Miss Sue Flay is on hand to impart her wisdom and regale you with stories of her own most unflattering moments!

Theme Dreaming… How to get those creative thoughts going, there will be no stopping you! From vintage inspired themes, through to more “alternative” or gory ideas, you’ll be encouraged to get creative and not be scared to show your genius within your event planning.

Sourcing Venues & Props…  How to hunt down a bargain, approach venues and what to look for when hosting an event outside of familiar surroundings.

“The Dream Team”… Sometimes you just can’t grow a second pair of hands, however much you try! Learn how to perfect your “team” and how to make the most of the networks & resources around you.

A Lesson in Napkin Folding… You are going to get your geek on! From flowers, through to the bishop’s mitre, you will be learning how to gain the respect of your guests through the smaller touches of your table setting.

Starching Theory 101… Do you want to know how to get your napkins as clean or stiff as Miss Sue Flay’s?! Well, here it is, a perfected method to ensure no cut lips occur at your table!

Setting The Table… A lesson from the outside in! You will learn not only how to set the table, no matter what occasion you are planning, but also how to serve your guests correctly. We will be setting our very own table on the day, in readiness for the goodies served at lunch.

A Lesson In Table Manners… We will enjoy a delicious & homemade feast for lunch, whilst enjoying an interactive lesson in where to put those elbows, what to discuss at the table, how to eat your soup correctly and a crash course in afternoon tea etiquette as we dine.

The Lost Art Of Etiquette… Miss Sue Flay is far from perfect, but she is infatuated with good old fashioned etiquette and is on hand to discuss the basics of event managing and good guest & host etiquette – your manners will increase tenfold, she hopes!

Health, Hygiene & Basic Catering Skills… We will discuss the importance of basic hygiene down to public liability and other such needs you may want to put into place, dependent on your own personal requirements.

The Power Of Social Media… Handy hints on how to start blogging and how to use social media to fill your table or tantalise your prospective guests with your treats & plans.

The Humble Thank You… Letter writing is becoming a lost art, no thanks to the modern age of “thank you texts”. Armed with a pen & some beautiful stationery, will you be practicing your handwriting for the first time in a very long while?!…In fact, you’ll receive a handwritten surprise prior to your visit to ensure a fun start to proceedings too!

A Quick Lesson In Loo Roll Origami… No event, however big or small, is ready to rock without an elegantly folded toilet roll to add a splash of character to your guest bathroom. We will end the day folding and fanning loo rolls into shapes such as bows, flowers & fans to name but a few.