With city bonuses just around the corner and the chance to become a member of the ‘£10m Club’, many City Boys are paying heed to 2008’s status as a leap year.

With the potential for sudden marriage proposals on the cards, many of the affluent bonus boys approached me to style their homes for the ultimate boys’ nights in on 29 February.

And sure enough, on this day many of the city’s hot-spots were bereft of the cash-rich, who instead found fun ways of dodging the prospect of a rash marriage proposal. With mobiles and Blackberries switched off, the ‘boys only’ nights in proved to be lavish affairs with homes delivering the most extravagant corporate hospitality – all of which can provide great ideas for your event catering!

There was the ultimate ‘High Tea’, where gin-based cocktails replaced the nursery puddings – Jasmine tea and vodka citron, camomile tea with a mix of Hendricks gin, cucumber and vodka, or Earl Grey tea with whisky were just some of the cocktails our in-house mixologist created especially for the event.

Then for those who preferred a gathering punctuated with bite-sized pieces of food heaven, traditional themes were given a luxurious twist. There was seared sea bass on bubble and squeak potato cake with crisp pancetta, foie gras parfait with black fig and sauternes jelly on toasted brioche. Then for those who adore sweets, baby apple crumbles with calvados cream and mini bread and butter puddings were temptingly on offer.

Set against a backdrop of oak-panelled walls, high-backed leather sofas and Tiffany-style lamps, we created a racy and raffish atmosphere reminiscent of a private club. Other requests included a Scalextric grand prix and back-to-back private screenings of Tarantino’s finest.

We’ve had some odd requests before for events – celebrating a divorce seems to be de rigueur nowadays! But the leap year is clearly a time when some people want to lay low and steer clear of any sticky conversations about commitment. This is a completely new niche market for us, albeit one that comes along every four years – and it has pushed us creatively to deliver cutting edge menus that can provide inspiration for the catering at your event.

Damian Clarkson, managing director of Red Snapper, will be back shortly with more inspirational food ideas.