• Poll reveals the top hosting hassles that are taking the fun out of planning social gatherings
• Brits believe it takes a whopping 204 hours to plan a simple dinner for friends and family
• Tom Daley partners with Argos to inspire people to make the most of spare time with the help of the retailer’s Fast Track same-day delivery service

Time poor Brits could be missing out on making the most of moments with friends and family this summer, as day-to-day family life (38 per cent) and work commitments (29 per cent) put the squeeze on planning social gatherings.

Despite this, a poll released today by leading online retailer Argos shows we’re a nation of social butterflies, with nearly six in ten (57 per cent) wishing they could get together with loved ones more often - and a third (30 per cent) saying they enjoy nothing more.

The study of over 2,000 Brits revealed hosts get cold feet over the time it takes to plan, believing it takes, on average, 8.5 days (204 hours) of planning time to pull off a dinner party with aplomb.

For nearly a third (28 per cent), not having the right items to cater for guests, such as enough tables, chairs, kitchenware and tableware were major barriers.

Lack of creative inspiration in the kitchen affected one fifth (18 per cent), who struggled to know what to put on their menu to impress.

When asked what would make Brits more likely to entertain, guaranteed good weather (41 per cent), having more time (39 per cent) and getting everything you need that same day (19 per cent) topped the poll.

Olympic diver and food fanatic, Tom Daley, has teamed up with Argos to demonstrate how easy and quickly it is to entertain, surprising 20 of his followers at a pop-up supper club – created in just one day.

Diving in at the deep end, Tom surprises and delights his hungry guests with a selection of best-loved recipes from his hugely successful debut cookbook, ‘Tom’s Daily Plan’.

See if Tom is up to the challenge here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Rd2UktY7Xk

Tom Daley said: “My training schedule is so hectic, it’s hard to put aside time to plan for socialising – on the rare times I get a day off, I’m more likely to ring up friends and family and invite them round that day!”

“The Fast Track challenge was probably the quickest I’ve ever turned a dinner party around. It was a bit touch and go for some of it, but it just goes to show, with a little creativity and same day delivery it can be done as fast as you need it!”

Dan Elton, brand director at Argos, said: “Brits love nothing more than getting together with family and friends, but many of us find the planning and organising of it daunting. In reality, it can take just a matter of hours; whether it’s a new dining set, kitchen gadgets or sprucing up the garden – with our Fast Track same-day delivery service, if our customers want it today, they can get it today.”