In search of ideas to mark the millennium

People are beginning to ask how we plan to celebrate the millennium. Horrendous prices are being charged for such celebrations, we hear, although the reports are conflicting.

The date on which the world is preparing to celebrate the change to the new century is 31 December 1999. And yet the purists tell us that, technically, the new century starts on 1 January 2001. But the argument is already lost - if we organise anything, it must be on 31 December 1999.

What can we do to make it special? What will our potential guests expect, and what on earth will they be prepared to pay for it?

For a normal New Year's Eve party, we provide a first-class meal, followed by the inevitable disco and a party atmosphere. Staff are not usually a problem, for we always get some help from relatives and friends who stay over the New Year. After the meal, we wash up and clear the kitchen, and then our staff and helpers join the party.

Our staff are paid until they come off official duty, and then they enjoy a free party. So instead of leaving us during the evening to go into town, staff save themselves entrance fees to night clubs, and avoid having to pay inflated drink prices elsewhere.

I have already suggested this strategy for our proposed millennium party, and so far most of our staff have agreed to it.

What about the music, though? Throughout the year we usually work with one or two regular discos, which we then pay a premium for on New Year's Eve.

However, we cannot get anyone to give us a firm quote for 31 December 1999, although we have heard of one chap who is charging £1,000 for the evening. If that is the going rate, we will buy some gear and organise our own disco.

Apart from the meal and the disco, patrons will still be looking for that something special. Fireworks and balloons would probably be included, and we also want to give everyone a memento - perhaps an engraved glass or the like.

When you add up the costs of staff, a good meal, a disco, fireworks, and a suitable memento, the minimum is about £70 or £80 per head. And even that price will bring in no more profit than would a normal New Year's Eve party. Any comments or suggestions?

I think we'll all go into town, or go and work for that hotel in Surrey featured on TV, where the staff are demanding £1,000 to work for the evening.

Colin Hillyard is proprietor of the Priory Hotel, Louth, Lincolnshire

Next diary from Colin Hillyard: 3 December