Hosts serving shared drinks
If water will sit alongside party food and other drinks, decide whether guests need still water, sparkling water or a choice of both in bottles they can pour from.
Who this helps
Hosts buying larger quantities
Compare a single 2-litre bottle with a multipack by checking both the bottle count and total litres. Tesco and Sainsbury's list 6 × 2-litre still-water packs as well as single bottles.
Brand-focused shoppers who need 2 litres
Check the exact bottle size before choosing by brand. Highland Spring lists a 2-litre still bottle, while the cited Buxton, Evian and Volvic ranges show 1.5-litre or smaller options.
What to check before buying
Settle the bottle size and total quantity first, then choose the mix of still and sparkling water and check how you will store opened bottles.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Bottle and pack size | Read the volume per bottle and the bottle count. A 6 × 2-litre pack contains 12 litres; allow space to carry and store it. | Am I putting out one shared bottle, or do I need several bottles for guests to pour from throughout the party? |
| Still or sparkling | Check the still or sparkling designation on each listing. Tesco and Sainsbury's list own-label 2-litre bottles of both types. | I'd like still water available for guests who do not want fizz, with sparkling water as an additional choice. |
| Exact branded format | Confirm the volume of the particular bottle. Highland Spring lists 2-litre still water; the cited Buxton, Evian and Volvic options are 1.5 litres or smaller. | If the brand matters more to me than a literal 2-litre bottle, a smaller format could work—but I need to plan the quantity accordingly. |
| Opened bottles | Read the product's refrigeration and use-within instructions. Keep enough fridge space for bottles that will be opened. | Will I be able to chill any water left in opened bottles after guests have gone? |
| Empty bottles | Check the packaging information and your local collection rules before sorting bottles for recycling. | I want a straightforward way to deal with the empty bottles after the party. |
Common buying mistakes
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Assuming every brand sells a 2-litre bottle
A 1.5-litre family bottle holds half a litre less. Highland Spring lists a 2-litre still bottle, but the cited Buxton, Evian and Volvic ranges show smaller formats.
If 2 litres per bottle matters, check the volume on the exact listing rather than substituting by brand name.
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Reading “6 × 2L” as 2 litres in total
Six 2-litre bottles contain 12 litres altogether, which changes how much you need to carry, chill and store.
Check the bottle count and total volume against the drinks you plan to serve.
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Making sparkling water the only option
Fizz is a matter of preference. The NHS suggests sparkling water as an option for people who do not like the taste of plain water, not as a replacement everyone will want.
Keep still water available and add sparkling bottles if they suit your guests.
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Applying one storage rule to every opened bottle
Instructions differ by product: Sainsbury's Brecon Carreg 2-litre listing says to refrigerate after opening and use within three days; Joybuy's Highland Spring 6 × 1.5-litre listing says seven days under refrigeration.
Follow the instructions on the bottle you buy and make room to refrigerate it where directed.
Water brands and retailer ranges
Use these listed formats to narrow your search, then check the exact product and pack size before buying.
Tesco
Tesco Groceries lists own-label 2-litre still and sparkling water, alongside larger packs.
- Its listed formats include a single 2-litre still bottle and a 6 × 2-litre still pack.
- Check the specific listing for the bottle count and drink type.
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's lists own-label 2-litre still and sparkling spring water.
- Its water listing also shows a 6 × 2-litre pack.
- Check whether the chosen listing is a single bottle or a multipack.
Highland Spring
Highland Spring lists a 2-litre still-water bottle in its manufacturer range.
- A named-brand still-water choice when the 2-litre bottle size is important.
- Its listed sparkling formats are 500ml, 1.5 litres and 6 × 1 litre; check the size rather than assuming a sparkling 2-litre counterpart.
Buxton
Buxton's still-water range lists 1.5-litre, 1-litre, 750ml and 500ml bottles.
- A Sainsbury's listing shows a 6 × 1.5-litre pack for shoppers open to that format.
- Those listed sizes are not a like-for-like 2-litre bottle choice.
Evian
A Sainsbury's Evian listing describes 500ml bottles and refers to a larger 1.5-litre format.
- Consider the listed formats if choosing Evian matters more than bottle size.
- Confirm the volume if each bottle needs to hold 2 litres.
Volvic
A Sainsbury's Volvic listing identifies a 1.5-litre sharing bottle.
- The listed bottle offers a sharing format for shoppers who do not require 2 litres.
- A 1.5-litre bottle is not interchangeable with a 2-litre bottle when planning volume.
Joybuy water options
This Joybuy option is a multipack of 2-litre still-water bottles for sharing at a party, rather than a single bottle or a sparkling-water choice.
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White Rock Still Spring Water 6 × 2L
For shared party drinks, this pack contains six 2-litre bottles of still spring water, or 12 litres altogether; check that you have space to carry and store the full pack.
Questions about party water
Should I serve still water, sparkling water or both?
Put out still water as a shared option and add sparkling water if guests may want fizz. Tesco and Sainsbury's list own-label 2-litre bottles of both types, so check the drink type as well as the size when ordering.
Are Evian, Volvic and Buxton bottles equivalent to a 2-litre bottle?
Do not treat the cited 1.5-litre formats as equivalent to 2 litres. Buxton lists still bottles up to 1.5 litres in its cited range, while the cited Sainsbury's Evian and Volvic listings refer to 1.5-litre bottles. Check the exact listing if 2 litres per bottle is essential.
How should I store a large bottle after opening it?
Follow that bottle's label rather than a general time limit. Sainsbury's Brecon Carreg 2-litre listing instructs refrigeration and use within three days after opening, whereas Joybuy's Highland Spring 6 × 1.5-litre listing specifies refrigeration and use within seven days.