How To Create The Perfect Great British Picnic – The Accessories
BREAKING NEWS! The sun is out! When we have more than 1 day of absolutely scorching weather us Brits go mad for it while it lasts! So, with easing restrictions inching us closer to ‘normality’, we wanted to bring you our top tips for creating the jewel in Great British culture – the humble picnic.
In true British spirit, come rain or shine, we will sit out and make sure we enjoy those sandwiches, no matter if, in the words of the fabulous comedian Rhod Gilbert, we are “throwing life buoys to bread rolls” as they escape in a storm. (And if you have 2 minutes to spare today, I urge you to invest them in the unrivalled joy of watching Rhod discuss the Welsh weather – it will make your day)!
So, just what do you need to enjoy a summer of alfresco dining? Firstly, choose the location – from parks and riversides, to beaches and mountains, you choose the place where you feel completely relaxed. Then proceed to walk around for 10 minutes, inspecting every inch of grass for the comfiest spot, before billowing out your tartan blanket with a flourish.
Then it’s time to unpack all of the goodies you’ve prepared in the hope that you have not left the box of scotch eggs on the kitchen worksurface (because that would indeed, be terrible)! If you’ve hiked up a mountain to find your spot, then you’ve probably gone for the very practical rucksack.
But if you fancy the finer things in life, then a quintessential wicker basket may be the perfect choice. We love this stunning hand-woven hamper, complete with ceramic plates, corkscrew and cutlery (though fingers are whole-heartedly permitted at a picnic)! And if you haven’t got room for a big basket, these cute cutlery and napkin rolls are perfect for tucking away in your bag.
Dibor, Not On The High Street
We’re all for sustainability here, so we would encourage you to purchase reusable picnic ware where possible. For your drinks, why not try these eco-friendly cups hand-crafted from sustainable bamboo, perfect for whatever beverage gets the laughter flowing. And if you’re feeling extra boujee, bring along this marvellous foldable table, complete with holders for a bottle of wine and two glasses – now that is fancy!
Mitostrendy, Etsy UK
However, the picnic is not over once the food and drinks have been heartily enjoyed - it’s now time for the all-important games! You could stick to football, frisbee and badminton, but why not try out a few traditional games such as quoits, croquet and boules (yep, I’d have to Google how on earth you play them too, but that’s all part of the fun)!
If all of that activity and sunshine wears you out, you can shelter under a delightful lace parasol, channelling your inner Lady Edith from Downton Abbey, whilst sipping your Pimms. And don’t forget to capture the memories – we all have phones, but sometimes it’s a little more exciting to experiment with Polaroid cameras (you can even link them to your phone to create fancy double exposure shots).
Our final few tips to ensure that you have the most splendid of picnics are:
Make sure you check the weather before you go – if it’s a total washout, then that’s really no fun at all!
Likewise, if it’s wall-to-wall sunshine, go adequately prepared with suncream (no one wants to return home looking like a lobster).
Always offer to take food or drink to the picnic, it’s nice to add a little extra to the spread, but equally, if you don’t drink alcohol or have dietary requirements, you want to make sure there’s something for you.
Bring musical entertainment, whether that’s speakers (though always be respectful of the volume) or an instrument – a spot of impromptu karaoke always goes down well.
Take your rubbish with you!
And finally, enjoy spending time with friends and family in the great outdoors!
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Written by Charlotte Bird