Take advantage of the warmer weather by turning any of the UK’s beauty spots – beach, park or riverside – into your new dining room. It’s easy with our edit of the chicest picnic accessories.
Long gone are the neon melamine plates and the plastic cutlery of years gone by. For modern picnics, the desirable items are hand-woven hampers, portable Champagne ice buckets and crisp cotton napkins. Plus, the only way to combat waste from the dreaded disposable food containers is to bring your own sustainable options instead – think beeswax wraps and stylish bento boxes.
The secret is to invest in pieces you’ll use time and time again, whether your budget stretches to over £12,000 for a Hermès hamper or £10.50 for a set of bamboo cutlery.
Remember: today’s best picnics are classy, refined and eco conscious…
1
‘Kalas’ bowls, Ikea
You may have picked up your picnic from the nearby supermarket deli aisle, but nobody else has to know that. Decant your buys into these pastel-perfect small bowls from Ikea and the humblest of snacks will be instantly elevated. The bowls are plastic, so hardy enough to be used time and time again. £1.50 for 6, ikea.com
2
Bamboo picnic cutlery, Wild & Stone
Do your bit to combat plastic waste by bringing along your own bamboo cutlery (plus metal straw) with a handy fabric carry case. This set features a detachable carabiner clip so you hang it off your belt loop or bag. £10.50, wildandstone.com
3
Seagrass picnic mattress, H&M Home
A woollen picnic blanket may be the traditional choice, but on hot summer days you will welcome this more contemporary option made of natural seagrass. It’s a great option for beach lounging as well as outdoor dining, so that’s relaxation sorted for the whole season. £8.99, hm.com
4
Marbled enamelware mug by Bornn
Cool enamelware specialist Bornn’s practical but fun designs will be stocked at Mr Porter from 28 July. The contemporary coloured marbled pieces are especially eye catching – this large mug would be perfect for hot cocoa when the sun goes down and the temperature inevitably drops. £15, whitespacehome.co.uk
5
‘Park Pique-Nique’ picnic basket, Hermès
The height of al fresco luxury, this is a picnic set for the host that has it all. The hand-woven wicker basket, with details of smooth bull calf leather, contains everything you need for a party of four –crystal glasses, cutlery and ‘Passifolia’ china plates. £12,350, hermes.com
6
Food wraps by Wax Atelier, Toast
East London cooperative Wax Atelier’s handmade linen food wraps are a sure way to elevate your picnic. As well as eliminating the need for plastics, they’re made with plant-based dyes and the beeswax coating is naturally antibacterial. Each set comprises three reusable wraps in different sizes and varying subtle tones. £22, waxatelier.com
7
Cooler bag by Business & Pleasure, Amara
Keep your beverages at the perfect temperature whatever the weather in this nautical-look striped cooler bag. It has a canvas exterior with leather detailing and is available in a choice of seven colours. £78, amara.com
8
Mrs. Alice picnic collection, Matches
Alice Naylor-Leyland, founder of Mrs. Alice, loves a well set table, and this passion extends to outdoor entertaining too. Her picnic collection is inspired by classic films – think Lucy Honeychurch’s Florence picnic in A Room With A View or the ill-fated A Picnic At Hanging Rock. There is an immense attention to old-world detail and lashings of florals. From £38, matchesfashion.com
9
Folding knife, Labour and Wait
How are you going to serve saucisson or comté without a handy knife? The clever, foldable design of this classic French example dates back to 1890, so it’s a design classic you can be proud to whip out for slicing and portioning. £14, labourandwait.com
10
‘Grid’ bamboo picnic plates, Xenia Taler
Canadian designer Xenia Taler’s designs are almost too good to only use for outdoor dining. Made from sustainable bamboo, the pieces are sustainable and practical. Plus, the minimal design is great for those who shy away from picnic florals. Around £33 for four, xeniataler.com
11
Cocktail stirrers, Mouki Mou
A glass cocktail stirrer might not be the most practical of picnic items, but it certainly adds a touch of class. Now all you need to do is decide on your drink – we suggest Pimm’s for a classic English picnic vibe. From £30, moukimou.com
12
Liberty print cushion mat, Not On The High Street
Perch in comfort around the booze and snacks atop this Liberty print padded seat. Stylish and practical, these pretty designs have a soft, shower-proof base to protect them from any damp ground – no soggy bottoms! £35, notonthehighstreet.com
13
Deckchair, Raj Tent Club
Crown yourself the king or queen of the picnic by taking your place in this classically striped deckchair (or throne). Raised high above the fray you will be able to sink into full relaxation mode. £110, rajtentclub.com
14
Bento lunch box by Mepal, Oliver Bonas
Perfect for organised picnic attendees who don’t like to share, this dishwasher-safe reusable bento box makes it easy for you to separate your snacks. There’s even a miniature fork tucked into the lid. £14, oliverbonas.com
15
‘Call of the Wild’ picnic set, Sunnylife
Australian lifestyle brand Sunnylife’s ‘Call of the Wild’ picnic basket comes well stocked. It includes two bamboo cups and plates, wooden-handled cutlery sets and a bottle opener. Now all you need to do is hope for a setting as glorious as this shaded spot. £100, uk.sunnylife.com
16
Pack and carry fireplace, Snow Peak
Planning on staying put in the great outdoors long after sundown? You can cosy up around this fire as the night falls. Designed and made in Niigata, Japan, its stainless-steel form is lightweight but seriously strong. £99, snowpeak.co.uk
17
‘Grid’ tablecloth by Oyoy, Smallable
Ideal if you want to protect your picnic blanket from spillages, this simple cotton tablecloth looks just as perfect indoors as it goes in the great outdoors. £47, smallable.com
18
Enamel tumbler, Falcon
Falcon enamelware is a key guest at any picnic, where its reliable sturdiness makes it endlessly useful. This tumbler in the cheerfully modern ‘Spring Green’ would make an especially attractive addition to any outdoor dining set. £7, falconenamelware.com
19
Fringed canopy, Cox & Cox
Keep the beating sun away while you dine with this striped canopy. No need to worry about sun burn and your wine will remain cooler for longer. Plus, set this up in your local beauty spot and passersby will know you take picnic style seriously. Larger gathering? There’a a fringed gazebo available too. £360, coxandcox.co.uk
20
‘Keep Your Cool’ Champagne bucket, Wolf & Badger
Nothing signals your picnic as a cut above the rest quite like arriving with a perfectly chilled bottle of bubbles swung over your shoulder. This handy Champagne bucket comes with an extra-long strap and is brought to you by Heating and Plumbing, a brand which also produces blankets and wicker hampers. £89, wolfandbadger.com
21
‘Sowden’ bottle, Hay
Created by George Sowden – one of the founding members of the Memphis Group, known for their fun and colourful designs – this water bottle for Hay is an affordable future classic. Plus, it will keep cold drinks cool and hot drink warm, so is ideal whatever your chosen tipple. From £35, hay.dk
22
‘Balad’ lamp by Fermob
Summer days may be gloriously long, but if you are still enjoying your picnic when the sun goes down, this handy portable lamp by Fermob will ensure the party doesn’t have to stop. With three light modes to choose from – cool, natural or candle – you can create natural evening ambience. £73.60, selfridges.com
23
Picnicware, John Lewis & Partners
Catering to all your picnic needs, the John lewis & Partners’ ‘Summer’ collection is the place to find a great selection of wicker baskets full of picnic ware as well as cheerful lemon-print cool bags, blankets and cushions. You’ll also find a vast range of reusable bento boxes, glassware, plates and more. From £10, johnlewis.com
24
‘R1 Mk4’ Bluetooth radio, Ruark
No picnic is complete without some appropriate tunes. Create your own soundtrack to summer with this portable radio that also boasts Bluetooth connectivity so that you can stream playlists from your devices. Pictured here in new limited-edition ‘Beach Hut Blue’, it’s a sure-fire hit. £229.99, ruarkaudio.com
25
Wax wrap refresher bar, Zero Living
Beeswax wraps, such as the ones by Wax Atelier (above), are a sustainable and stylish alternative for keeping food fresh in transit, but they do need to be maintained if they are to last. A once over with this refresher bar from eco-conscious website Zero Living will keep them in tip-top condition. £6, zero-living.com
26
Food jar by Stanley, Anthropologie
Able to keep food or drink warm or cool for up to seven hours, this practical piece of picnic kit would be just as comfortable on a camp site or as part of your lunchtime kit for days in the office. It even comes with its own steel spork attached. £42, anthropologie.com
27
Blue and red seersucker napkins, Host
These bold and jolly cotton napkins have a sunny, nostalgic quality to them. They are sure to brighten up any picnic (no matter what the British weather has in store). £18 for 4, hosthome.co.uk
28
Portable barbecue, Graham and Green
If cucumber sandwiches simply won’t cut the mustard when it comes to your picnic spread, take along this portable barbecue to create a tasty chargrilled lunch on-the-go. Its compact size and stand mean it’s easy to store, carry and keep stable on the grass. £80, grahamandgreen.co.uk
29
Extra large basket, Summerill and Bishop
If you're less of a planner, more of a ‘throw it all in and go’ type of picnic-er, this extra large basket made from hogla seagrass is just the ticket for carrying everything you'll need for a fabulous feast. Outside of the summer season, use it to store linens or other things around the house. £255, summerillandbishop.com
30
Rainbow waterproof wool picnic blanket, Heating and Plumbing
Heating and Plumbing's bright picnic blanket looks the business, but combines classic style with modern day functionality. Its polyester backing makes it waterproof (ideal for laying on damp grass) while the lemon yellow leather carry handle means packing up is a cinch. £124, selfridges.com
31
In- and outdoor cushions, Benuta
Kiss goodbye to sitting on hard ground by arming yourself with a few of Benuta's ingenious cushions, suitable for inside and out. Made with easy-care, water-repellent synthetic fibres, they'll withstand whatever you throw at them. From £22.95, benuta.co.uk
32
Striped tablecloth, Zara Home
A well-priced cotton tablecloth in a classic-yet-summery stripe is a picnic staple that will last you for years. Use this Zara Home number as a light, easily transportable rug on which to lay out a spread, throw it over a fold-out picnic table or wrap it around chilly knees when the sun goes in. £49.99, zarahome.com
