This occasion needs a short, sharp, loud and to-the-point display. We suggest a maximum of five minutes.

Keeping it short means setting off fireworks quickly, together or overlapped. This makes the display look better.

Many (if not all) guests will be, how can we put this nicely, "three sheets to the wind", "slaughtered", "out of their heads" (etc) with an attention span to match. They won't want to stand around for ages.

You'll want to clear up quickly and get down to some serious partying.

Your guests will want to get back to partying and/or drinking too.

It's late. Not everyone celebrates New Year (believe it or not!).

The weather is likely to be poor, or at the very least, cold. The audience will want to get back indoors pretty quickly.

See the noisy section for help picking loud items.

We normally recommend starting displays with sparklers but don't bother on this occasion. They're too tame for this type of display and are a liability if guests are a little "unsteady" through drink. If you must use them, do so about five minutes before midnight.

Single ignition boxes or "displays in a box" provide a hassle free way of staging some very good effects and are very suited to this type of short celebration. But you'll need more than one. Consider pairing them up, using a selection of cakes and SIB's, and some rockets too. Using just a few SIB's or large cakes, and some rockets has the added advantage of very little pre-display setting up, ideal if the weather is bad.

It's nice to start as close to midnight as possible with a big rocket. Try one before New Year and time how long it takes from lighting the fuse to the bang going off. Then light it that amount of seconds before midnight (use a portfire). While the rocket(s) is going up, light the first main firework straight away so it starts when the rocket has finished.

You may like to avoid quieter fireworks like fountains and wheels too BUT take into account your audience and your venue.

If you're popping a bottle of bubbly, a couple of indoor sparklers stuck in the cork is a nice touch (remove the spent sparklers and dispose of them safely before popping the cork!).

Party poppers always go down well and they're cheap too.

Take the confetti a bit further with indoor table top confetti bombs. With all this confetti flying about, keep the food covered!

Lightsticks are another popular distraction for guests. As they last up to eight hours they can be started in the evening and will still be going after midnight. Guests can take them outside in the dark during the fireworks as well as wave them around indoors because they're 100% safe and nontoxic.

Don't get carried away because of the occasion and use fireworks too big for the venue, or large rockets if you don't have a suitable fall out zone.

Bear in mind big cakes or single ignition boxes, once they start, may not stop for a minute or more. Check they're sitting securely (and the right way up) then double check, then check again, THEN light it.

Be careful if lighting more than one firework at the same time. Space them out and run from one to another or better still have someone help you.

Always use portfires for safety. Buy them with your order. These will be worth their weight in gold on a damp, windy night.

Rockets: Big display rockets are on the menu here. I wouldn't worry about too many smaller rockets unless you're an experienced team of firers and intend to multiple fire them. For an instant rocket salvo, consider a rocket pod or rocket volley. These are expensive but this is one occasion that can justify that cost.

Cakes and candles: The biggest and best you can afford. Go for fewer, bigger items if you can. Fan cakes look stunning and work really well, add to these with established Best Buy cakes from our review sections. Two big cakes together look even better, for example a fan cake plus another big cake can create a near-professional effect.

SIBS: Single Ignition Boxes or Displays In A Box are really just big cakes with a variety of effects, but are a key firework on New Year's Eve. Easy to set up and guaranteed to provide rotating effects in most cases all from one fuse. Again, refer to our reviews and remember that even a SIB can be improved by letting off two together.

Mines: Mortar mines pack enough punch to be worth a look. These are short-lived though so don't go over the top with them. These work well as an opener.

Lancework: You might want to end with some New Year lancework which can be found for sale around this time. Examples include the year in numbers, or a champagne bottle etc.