Dining alfresco on the cheap

Graham and Green makes your summer picnic super stylish
© Graham and Green

Grab your Frisbee and your sunnies – with summer around the corner, it’s time to eat al fresco. From wooden cutlery to retro bottle holders and pretty lanterns, find all you need for a jolly garden party. Do summer on a shoe-string budget.

1. Pretty picnic

Nothing says summer like bright bold colours. Snap up these Acrylic Filigree Tumblers (£14.95) from Graham and Green. Made from tough acrylic the vibrant colours will give your picnic a funky feel. Just add colourful melamine plates (£7.50) and bowls (£7.75) and if it's an evening picnic, don't forget to pack some acrylic filigree wine glasses (£6.95) all from Graham and Green – perfect summer fun.

  • 36 piece wooden cutlery set

    2. Use disposable

    The best part about a picnic is not having to do the washing up. Take full advantage with this disposable wooden cutlery (£2) from Habitat – it’s better for the environment too. Plastic is so last year.

  • 4 Tulip Flute Champagne Glasses

    3. Pop and fizzle

    Celebrate the sunshine and pop open some bubbly – safe in the knowledge that there’s no risk of breaking your fine cut glassware. These tulip champagne glasses (£9.50) from M & S are elegant but practical. A posh picnic.

  • Bicycle Picnic Pannier Set of Four

    4. On yer bike!

    Work for your lunch and cycle to your destination with your picnic stuff on your bike. This bicycle pannier set (£59) from Purves & Purves contains cutlery, plates and serviettes for four, plus salt and pepper shaker, wooden cutting board, cheese knife and bottle opener.

  • Cream Chill Bottle Holder with Bottle Opener

    5. Scattered colour

    Get back to nature and lay out a spread straight on the grass. We call it hippy chic. John Lewis' Ella Doran rose and petal large plate (£3.50)each piece from the range features pink rose petals against a soft blue background and is made from tough melamine for durability. Time to brighten up you picnicware.

  • Weber Compact Kettle Barbecue

    6. Sit up

    Don’t fancy the grass? Maintain your dignity and perch on this cardboard picnic stool (£21.22) from Made in Design. Decorated with a grassy pattern, it blends right into the environment and can be used as a seat or mini table. The ideal choice for older guests who find sitting on the ground difficult to negotiate.

  • Picnic Rug/Carrier Bag - Dual-purpose Picnic Rug/Carrier Bag

    7. Cool bottles

    Keep drinks looking cool in this retro style Chill Holder (£20) from The Contemporary Home. Perfectly suited to beer or old-fashioned glass Coca cola bottles, even the men in your family will show an interest.

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Katy K

Katy K

Posted | 24th June

Horay for outdoor dining. Even if it is a bit chilly outside, us Brits always manage to brave the elements. I think that the bicycle pannier set is awesome. It combines two of my favorite things: Bike rides and picnics.

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Anniej

Anniej

Posted | 8th April

Great article- I love dining al fresco- I am going to snap up one of those garden lanterns-it is so true as soon as the lights go down and the evening arrives all picnics start to disappear- now if I invest in one of these lanterns my picnic party can continue long into the night.

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Harry

Harry

Posted | 1st May 2008

Excellent - once again mydeco hit the nail on the head

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