How to host a book club

There’s something timeless and comforting about gathering around a table with good friends and a good book. Whether you’re hosting your first book club or looking to add something special to your regular catch-up, creating the right setting can turn a simple meeting into a truly memorable occasion.

Here’s how to host a beautiful, bookish get-together, with a touch of timeless charm and creativity thrown in for good measure.

A little styling can go a long way. Start by taking inspiration from the book you’re reading - perhaps a particular setting, colour palette, or era. For our latest gathering, we leaned into a traditional British tea theme using Spode’s iconic Blue Italian collection.

The classic blue-and-white tableware brought a sense of occasion, without feeling overly formal. To add a creative literary twist, we crafted a DIY table runner using pages from old books, layered and overlapped for texture and character. It’s a simple yet striking detail that sets the tone.

For our blue and white themed table, we dressed each place setting with: 
Spode Blue Italian teacups and saucers 
Coordinating plates and cake forks  
Woven placemats to add softness and structure 
Pale blue napkins, looped through Blue Italian teapot-shaped napkin rings 
Each place setting felt like a personal invitation to relax and unwind. A cup of tea in hand, ready to dive into discussion! 

The little things matter. For this book club get-together, we made custom book rating bookmarks, printed in a Blue Italian-inspired design in keeping with the overall theme. These doubled as both place cards and conversation starters, giving guests a place to jot down their thoughts on the book and rating out of five stars. Recreate the look and download the bookmark template below: 

A floral centrepiece of hydrangeas and eucalyptus, arranged in a Blue Italian Jumbo Vase, brought height and freshness to the table without distracting from the setting. It’s details such as these that elevate the atmosphere and make guests feel truly considered.

Tea is essential, of course, but a few well-chosen treats make the spread complete. For an extra pop of colour we served a checkerboard snack plate of watermelon and feta, alongside mini Battenburg cakes, all served in matching Blue Italian serving dishes. For a more traditional option, you could offer scones with clotted cream and jam, a plate of buttery shortbread, or seasonal fruit tarts.

The key is simplicity, small bite-sized foods are a great option for a book club, as you’re concentrating leafing through the book, reading segments and discussing your favourite chapters. Delicious foods that are easy to snack on enhance the experience, rather than hinder.

Once everyone’s settled, it’s time to talk books. Begin with general impressions before diving into themes, characters, and moments that stood out. Some guests will come armed with opinions; others might appreciate a gentle prompt. Consider printing a few discussion questions on the back of your bookmarks to help steer the conversation if needed.

Before everyone leaves, share a few takeaways:

Let guests keep their bookmarks as a memento 

Recommend a shortlist of titles to vote on for next time 

Snap a photo of the table and share your favourite quote from the book

A beautiful book club isn’t about perfection; it’s about creating space for connection.

And when you gather around timeless tableware like Spode Blue Italian, the occasion feels all the more special.