THE KIT
GARDEN TRADING
www.gardentrading.co.uk
Nobody does laid-back, elegant, well-made goods for the great outdoors better than Garden Trading. Head here for stylish bottle carriers, cutlery holders, picnic baskets and deckchairs. These people are so clever that they even stock a leather fly swot – could that be the chicest picnic idea ever?
OKA
www.oka.com
This, arguably, is the spiritual home of the melamine plate. Try to resist this summer’s range, which looks like real china and comes in two delectable colour-ways, “Azure” and “Forest Green”. While you’re on the website, check out their rattan picnic accessories and perfect plaid throws.
THE FOOD
COOK
www.cookfood.net
Cook’s “remarkable food for your freezer” is a poorly kept secret. More fool you if you haven’t got one or two of their lamb tagines up your sleeve. Few people know how good their picnic offering is, however. The “Picnic for Four” – which can be delivered in a cool bag to your door – contains salmon pate, sausage rolls, a quiche, a beetroot and mint dip, a fruity couscous salad with green harissa dressing and plenty of chocolate brownies. Just add wine and a couple of baguettes and you are good to go.
BRINDISA
www.brindisa.com
Visit the famous Spanish food retailer’s excellent online shop for a delicious, and refreshingly original, picnic. Fill your basket with gazpacho, cheese, charcuterie, nuts (don’t miss the ridiculously moreish “salted Catalan almonds”) and olives – and we recommend a few almond biscuits or chocolate figs to finish off with. Brindisa.com is a brilliant source of unusual gifts, too.
THE DRINK
MAJESTIC
www.majestic.co.uk
Excellent deals, great advice and free next-day delivery (on orders over £120) – this one-stop shop is the answer to your picnicking needs. You can get all of your beer, wine and fizz from here – as well as soft drinks and water – and you won’t break your back in the process.
BEERHAWK
www.beerhawk.co.uk
Shop here for your favourite tipple by country, style or beer. The choice at Beerhawk is extensive, with a range of wheat beers, porters, bottled lagers, stout, barley ale, beer gifts and more. There are even mixed “Discovery Cases”, which provide a great way to explore specialist and world varieties. What’s more, they make the perfect conversation starter at a picnic.
July 2017