40th Birthday Party Planning Tips
Celebrating a 40th birthday soon? Or organising one for your wife, husband, partner, friend, family, etc. We have years of experience planning momentous events like a 40th birthday party at The Normanby Hotel. Here are some tips to help you create a fun and memorable event.
And if you’d like more information about having your 40th Birthday party at The Normanby Hotel, email us at functions@thenormanby.com.au, call (07) 3831 3353 or scroll to the enquiry form at the bottom.
Why is The Normanby Hotel such a popular place for a 40th birthday party?
The Normanby Hotel has a wonderful relaxed, down-to-earth atmosphere that puts people at ease straight away. As soon as you walk through the entrance, people often comment that it feels like home. And for many it is…after all, it’s been in the same place for over 130 years! People also like the ease of access of The Normanby. It’s not a hassle to get here, being just outside of the city but close enough to make it convenient. And we have parking on-site for about 80 cars, right next to the pub. This all makes for a great function location for your guests. But for the host, it’s a popular venue because of the variety of rooms available to choose. We can cater for parties of all sizes, big, small and in-between.
Which room at The Normanby is best suited for a 40th birthday party?
The Public Bar and The Lounge Bar are our most popular spaces for a 40th Birthday party. They’re our biggest spaces and great for a cocktail party. What makes both of these rooms ideal is their openness, allowing people to move around easily, making it good for mingling. And they have outdoor undercover balcony space, to give people some fresh air.
- The Public Bar can have up to 150 guests and the Lounge Bar up to 120 guests
- For a smaller space, we recommend the Valentine Room (50 guests) or the Cabana deck if you want it outside (80 guests)
- For a super casual, outdoor party, we have the Garden Bar (50 guests)
For information about all our spaces, download our functions package.
I’m looking for something private and intimate.
We have two very private rooms in our upstairs area. The Valentine Room accommodates up to 50 guests. Or for something really intimate, we have The Nicholson room, for 20 guests. This is a dining room set up with its own private balconies.
What are some ideas to make a 40th birthday party fun?
- Create a slide presentation with photos – ask people attending for some old photos, especially fun, party ones
- Make up your own playlist of songs from back in the day – get people reminiscing through music
What’s the best food for a 40th birthday party?
We always recommend small, bite size pieces that are easy to handle with a drink in your hand. Most of our platters are designed with this in mind.
Our most chosen items are the sliders (our #1 choice!), pizza slabs (fills people up), mini meat pies, sausage rolls, and our big bao buns especially pulled pork.
Download our Food & Beverage package to see the options menus we have available at different price points.
Do you have gf and vegetarian options?
Yes, we always include gf and vegetarian options. We can do gf and vegetarian pizza. Our arancini and spring rolls are gf. And if you have other dietary requirements just let us know.
How much food should I order?
Each platter feeds 6-8 people which is roughly 2-3 pieces each.
Should I do a bar tab or a drinks package?
For a 40th birthday party we recommend a drinks package. You then know how much you’re spending and for how long. After that time people can then order their own drinks at the bar.
Can I play my own music?
You can create your own Spotify playlist. We have the sound system to easily hook that up. Make it at least 4 hours long. Or we’ve done Spotify playlists for many parties if you aren’t sure what is the best for an event. Let us know some of your favourites and we can add it to the playlist.
For a tip on your playlist, include hit songs of the early 2000s – the guest (or you) were in their early 20s and probably hitting the dance floor. Here are a few favourites to consider. Even if you don’t like them, they’ll get the crowd pumped up!
- Toxic – Britney Spears
- Rolling in the Deep – Adele
- Gnarls Barkley – Crazy
- Cry Me a River – Justin Timberlake
- Lose Yourself – Eminem
- Crazy in Love – Beyonce
- “Hey Ya!” – Outkast
- Since U Been Gone – Kelly Clarkson
What information do you need from me?
- Budget
- Timing especially arrival time
- Number of guests
- Bar tab or drinks package
- Which food platters
- What time you want to come and decorate (if you are doing to decorate)
And let us know who the birthday is for so we can put up signage around the venue to help direct people.
When should I book?
If your birthday is in the first 6 months of the year, book at least 2 months out.
If it’s the second 6 months, especially closer to the end of the year, book at least 4 months out to secure your date. We get very busy with functions as the end of the year approaches…
Can I have speeches?
Of course! You’ll probably have many who would love to say a few words off the cuff. We have a wireless microphone and AV system for speeches. Let us know and we will set it up and show you how to use them.
Do you have parking?
Yes we have parking for about 80 cars on site. It’s right next door to the hotel. For directions, the address for parking is 18 Kelvin Grove Rd, Kelvin Grove.
I have some more questions.
Please email us or call (07) 3831 3353. Or send us an enquiry with our event form below.
Booking your 40th at The Normanby Hotel is easy and affordable. We have a variety of spaces to work for you. Please email us or call (07) 3831 3353. Or send us an enquiry with our event form below. We can help plan your 40th birthday party without any hassles or stress.
