A Solana-Inspired Theme Dinner Night
When date night turns into an all-inclusive holiday… without leaving the living room.
✨ Theme Snapshot
Theme: Benidorm (with Eurovision Grand Final energy)
Inspiration: Solana Resort chaos, poolside bingo vibes & Euro-pop sparkle
Mood: Sun-soaked silliness meets glittery afterparty
Dress Code: Tropical prints, leis encouraged, “two cocktails deep at 8pm” aesthetic
When most people think romantic date night, they think candles.
We thought… Solana Resort.
This was our very first themed dinner night — pulled off while house- and dog-sitting, with no bedtime routines and absolutely no shame. Eurovision happened to fall on the same night, which only made the chaos more iconic.
And honestly? It set the bar dangerously high.
📝 The Official Holiday Menu
Before diving into each course, here was our “all-inclusive” blueprint for the evening.
Every dish had:
- A dramatic name
- A printed place card
- Just enough flair to make Madge proud
It wasn’t just dinner.
It was a resort experience.
🍽 The Menu Breakdown
Now that the sun loungers were metaphorically reserved, it was time to serve.
Each course became its own mini holiday moment — complete with props, umbrellas, and unnecessary sparkle.
🧀 Starter: Madge’s Mobility Bites
Crispy cheese and bacon potato skins — golden, melty, and perfect for pre-Eurovision snacking.
Finger food that required zero dignity and maximum dipping.
🍗 Main & Sides: Mateo’s Cheeky Chicken Parm + Proper Chips
If there’s one thing Benidorm understands, it’s comfort food done loudly.
Breaded chicken smothered in tomato sauce and cheese, served with crispy chips (the proper chunky ones) and — theoretically — salad.
The salad did not survive the planning phase.
We move.
Cocktail umbrellas were placed in the chips because subtlety is not part of the Solana experience.
Comfort food. But make it holiday.
🍨 Dessert: Solana Chocolate Sundaes
Sometimes you don’t hold back.
Towering glasses layered with chocolate and vanilla ice cream, crushed cookies, chocolate sauce, bon-bons, wafer rolls, cherries — and yes, foil sparklers.
Dramatic? Yes.
Necessary? Also yes.
Even Joyce Temple-Savage would’ve approved.
🍹 Drink: Neptune’s Knockout
Holiday Question: How extra is too extra?
Answer: Not in Benidorm.
Blue raspberry lemonade, lemon-lime soda, optional vodka — served in bright fruit-shaped glasses with umbrellas.
Fizzing. Bright. Completely unnecessary.
Perfect.
🌴 Holiday Setup & Table Design
Our dining table officially became the Solana Resort.
We kept it playful but immersive:
- Tropical flamingo tablecloth
- Printed Solana resort sign
- Mini inflatables (Disney princesses living their best pool life)
- Leis for instant holiday transformation
- Cocktail umbrellas & stirrers
- Glow sticks and fairy lights around the edges
- Tropical confetti everywhere
When the lights dimmed and the fairy lights glowed?
We were no longer in a UK living room.
We were on holiday.
🐶 Bonus Guest: The Resort Mascot
Even the dog got involved.
Lei secured.
Dignity questionable.
Performance? 10/10.
🎤 The Eurovision Afterparty
Once dinner plates were cleared, it was time to fully embrace the sparkle.
The Eurovision Grand Final was ON.
We stretched out on the sofa, cocktails still flowing, snacks ready, dog wedged between us — and judged songs we absolutely could not pronounce.
There’s something ridiculously comforting about watching nostalgic chaos while eating themed food.
It’s silly.
It’s simple.
But it works.
💛 Why This One Meant More
This wasn’t just another themed dinner.
It was the first proper time we’d been kid-free in a long, long while.
The boys were off enjoying the real Benidorm on holiday with family — sun, pool, all-inclusive chaos — while we were house- and pet-sitting for them.
So instead of feeling left out…
we made our own version.
No flights.
No wristbands.
Just fairy lights, cocktail umbrellas, and a living room turned Solana Resort.
It felt a little bit rebellious.
A little bit restorative.
While they were soaking up the Spanish sunshine, we were soaking up something just as important — quiet, laughter, and uninterrupted time together.
And honestly?
That’s what made it special.
Sometimes the best kind of getaway is the one you create yourself.
📦 Recreate This Night
Want to bring the Solana to your own living room?
🧾 Free Printable Pack Includes:
- C5 Menu Card
- 10x15cm Food Place Cards (Starter, Main, Dessert, Drink)
- Cocktail & Mocktail Recipe Cards
- Solana Resort Sign & image of the Solana pool
- Theme Night Master Plan
✨ Designed to print at home and laminate for reuse.
👉 Download the Benidorm Theme Night Printable Pack below
🛍 Holiday Props & Essentials
Here’s where I sourced most items for our DIY Solana takeover:
Decor & Table Props
- Hawaiian Leis (10-pack) – Buy here
- Tropical Tablecloth – Buy here
- Mini Pool Inflatables – Buy here
- Disney Princess Toys – (borrowed from my niece’s toybox!)
- Cocktail Umbrellas (cocktail accessories set) – Buy here
- Fairy Lights (Battery Operated) – Buy here
- Tropical Napkins (20 pack) – Buy here
- Tropical Confetti – Buy here
- Glow Sticks – Buy here
- Printable “Solana Resort” Sign – Included in Free Pack (just glue onto some thick card for stability
Serving & Tableware
- Funky Fruit Glasses (strawberry & lemon) – Buy here & here
- Serving Tray (2 pack) – Buy here
- Sundae Glasses (2 pack) – Buy here
- Foil Sparkler Cake Toppers – Buy here
🌅 Until the Next Theme…
Theme nights don’t need perfection.
They don’t need big budgets.
They just need commitment.
From our living room to yours — may your table always be a little chaotic, a little creative, and full of stories worth retelling.
Made with love by
Between the Pages & Pixels 🍽✨
Between the Pages & Pixels 