For the Famous Five lashings of ginger beer, a slab of cherry cake and a hard boiled egg were all they needed to have a jolly good picnic. Many of us will realise this is not the case. All too many times I’ve had an idea of an enchanting outing tucking heartily into good grub only to find I’ve forgotten a knife to cut the cheese, that my cloudy lemonade is lukewarm or I’m sitting on my brand new cardi because I’ve left the rug at home.
After many disappointing outdoor dinners I’ve compiled a rather comprehensive list of things to make the perfect picnic. It doesn’t include a kitchen sink but practically everything else….

Pick Your Spot

Little piece of trivia for you here, if you’re dining al-fresco in France you are actually having a pique-nique. How very sophisticated! My favourite place to picque-nique is Jardin de Luxembourg in Paris but unfortunately it doesn’t seem to happen very often.
So if you’re in Blighty, where are you going to have your picnic? You might be going to an outdoor concert, relaxing on the beach, playing in the park or visiting one of our many stately homes or country houses. Anyone who follows me on instagram will know I have a love for Chatsworth in Derbyshire. I spent many an afternoon as a child munching on my sandwiches and supping ‘pop’ near the monumental house. Last Summer we even brought our own afternoon tea-style picnic to have by the river with clotting cream and everything. Over the last few years the clientele has shifted here slightly (sorry to sound like a snob but effing and jeffing when little ones are around isn’t my thing), however the views more than make up for it.
Where you’re planning on picnicking with have some degree of impact on what you choose to pack as it may be a bit of a trek from the car to your eating spot. My choice often depends on a few things; proximity to cow pats (I like to stay away from them), proximity to toilets (I like to keep them nearby) and the cost of all day parking. How glamorous.

Plan a Mini Party

Paper plates just won’t do here. There are some terrific melamine and enamel ranges around at the moment which are altogether more environmentally friendly and stylish than a soggy plate. The rather special drinking vessels you see here aren’t pressed glass, they are Zara’s plastic equivalent. I know aren’t they fancy?
Once you have picnicware gathered together don’t forget a few more essentials; cutlery, a sharp knife, napkins, a bottle opener, plastic containers for transporting leftovers home. A thin chopping board is always good to bring along as from past experience it’s not a great idea to try and cut a piece of cheese in your hand.
Picnic baskets are great for transporting all the non-perishables and crockery. They also make a great surface for setting up your make-shift serving area however as we all know it’s obviously a good idea to bring a cool bag too to keep food cold. Never EVER forget a rubbish bag.

As with any party don’t forget the ambiance. How about taking along a few stems for a floral centrepiece? And if permitted, a few candles to keep away bugs. Solar powered lanterns are also a good shout too if you’re planning on dining into the dark. My parents went to an outdoor concert in Sheffield’s Botanical Gardens a few years ago and packed a few fancy posh appetisers to enjoy the show. When they got there the group next to them unpacked deck chairs, a trestle table, threw on a tablecloth and then out came a candelabra(!) followed by champagne. Folks are really stepping up in the outdoor shindig stakes…

Sit Down

Whether it be a rug, throw, blanket, towel or quilt, make sure you bring something to sit on! Our black and white striped throw was from Ikea and there are loads of gorgeous blankets and cushions over on the H&M website.
For a picnic in the UK it’s advisable to pack for every type of weather so don’t forget a parasol (or perhaps an umbrella would be more useful?!), lashings of sun protection and a wide brimmed hat.

Bon Appétit

By now all your picnic guests will be sat comfortably in some fabulous location with their snazzy empty plate perched on their knees waiting to be fed. If you’re the one serving out the picnic this is nothing short of annoying so perhaps bring along a few nibbles; olives, bags of nuts, or my favourite, kettle chips or better still, give them a job to do.
Hopefully you’ll have avoided any food that needs cutting and this is why sandwiches are so good for picnics. The photos you see in our slider were taken at Iscoyd Park and for this picnic we opted to pack layer our food in mason jars to make them easily transportable. This works really well with salads, couscous, pasta and lots of different types of desserts too.
Quite frankly our gorgeous pavlova here probably isn’t the most perfect food for a picnic but I defy anyone who doesn’t want to eat it, however individual cupcakes, macaroons and brownies are all more picnic-friendly.
Providing it doesn’t get too warm I also think cheese and crackers are ideal for eating outdoors in bite sized portions, as well as fruit and crudities.

And Relax

Providing you’re not dining at an organised event of some description after lunch (or perhaps after an outdoor breakfast or an evening soiree) it’ll be time to pack away the rubbish and enjoy your surroundings. Don’t forget to bring a good book, your favourite magazine, maybe some outdoor speakers or a few games to relax and while away the hours.

Who’s going on a picnic this weekend? Where are your favourite places to dine al-fresco and what do you like to eat and drink?