Q: When to have the Purim Seudah, when Purim occurs on Erev Shabbos, as it does this year?

A: The Rema, Orach Chaim, 695, 2, advocates scheduling the Seudas Purim before chatzos, which takes place, this year, at 1:25. The Aruch Ha’Shulchan in Hilchos Shabbos 249, 7 notes that the goal is to start the seudah, but not to necessarily finish it, before chatzos. While such an early start is the ideal option, both the Aruch Ha’Shulchan, loc. cit. and the Mishna Berurah, 695, 10, allow, if need be, delaying the beginning of the Seudah till approximately 5:30, i.e., the 10th halachic hour of the day and, if need be, till even after that. One eating their seudah so late should be prudent enough to leave room for the Shabbos seudah.

A minhag that is widely practiced in Eretz Yisrael ingeniously accommodates those who eat a late seudah. Those individuals daven an early Mincha. They begin their seudah before Kabbolas Shabbos; interrupt the seudah (without bentching!) for Kabbolas Shabbos and then return home to continue a seudah that they simply preface with kiddush. The al ha’nissim in the bentching that follows this two-pronged seudah, would, according to the Mishna Berurah 695, 15, be taken out if it’s usual place and said, instead as one of the ha’rachamans. A minyan for Maariv would then follow the Seudah.