Thanks for ALL the replies everyone. Sorry if I don't address every suggestion but they are all appreciated.
I did have my own little private star party, well party of four as it turned out. Ages 7 - 73 and somewhere in between. Can I just say that I have a new appreciation for anyone who does this regularly, especially with kids! Tired, cranky kids who don't like being out where it's dark and every noise is a monster coming to get you especially
. Oh and adults of vastly different heights and abilities who can't necessarily reach the eyepiece without standing on something.. or insist on turning on torches before they take a step in case they trip over.
All that said (these were all my immediate family by the way) it was a very enjoyable, warm, cloudless evening and perfect end to the 1st day of the year. Just being able to see the Milky Way, point out constellations, spot meteors and satellites, plus a few easy targets like the Moon, M42, 47Tuc etc, made it enjoyable all round. I don't think it would have mattered if there was a telescope there or not! As I suspected, the attention spans were very short compared to mine, plus the prospect of an hour+ drive home, meant that I got to hang around by myself for a while after.
But I'm sure it'll happen again
Oh and I did find comet 45P just after sunset.. no tail, just a faint fuzzy ball. But noone else had arrived then to see it!