ALFRESCO ENTERTAINING

With summer looking like it’s going to be glorious, now’s the time to plan some summer dining in your garden, in the park or at an event. We’ll get you ready

Garden Glamour

It was love at first sight when we saw this Cox & Cox blue stripe gazebo. The fringing had us at hello. And you can get matching deckchairs too. Heaven in a sunbeam. Gazebo, £460. Deckchairs, £250 each. coxandcox.co.uk

Alfresco ENTERTAINING

Low maintenance

We’ve seen a big trend for woodbased garden dining sets teamed with hardwearing plastic and we’re all for it. this set by scandinavian brand jysk is actually faux wood, so No need to varnish AND YOU CAN give it a quick wipe CLEAN. Not heard of JYSK yet? You will. for designer looks at a fraction of the cost, check out the rest of their home and garden ranges.

RANGSTRUP Table + 4 RAVNEBAKKE white chairs, £399.95. jysk.co.uk

SHADES OF SUMMER

The style. The colour. The decorations. Is there anything that Birdie Fortescue does that we don’t instantly desire? She has a way of getting it all just right. The shade of green on this woven rattan furniture for a start is just gorgeous - and the seating is also super-comfortable.

Sofa, £1,300. Rattan chair, £450. Cushions from £60. birdiefortescue.co.uk

bring the indoors out

Outdoor rugs are getting better and better and this cute design by Sass & Belle is one of the reasons why. Not only does it look great but as it’s made from recycled plastic bottles it doesn’t matter if it gets rained on or dirty - you can just pop it in the washing machine, and it’ll come up like new.

Small Blue Tile Print Rug, £33. sassandbelle.co.uk

BEE HAPPY these cute tumblers, wine glasses and carafe from Maison Cherie are a must for summer 2022. Bringing French style to Uk homes, they are Perfect for a relaxed alfresco lunch.

Tumbler, £7.50. Wine glass, £8. Carafe, £20. All from Maison Cherie. maisoncherie.shop

Bottoms up!

Made from silicone, these wine glasses and tumblers are literally unbreakable. The fact they are also foldable makes them perfect for picnics in the park. Super-light and dishwasher safe, they come in loads of beautiful shades.

Two Tumblers, £18. Two wine glasses, £22. quinceandcook.co.uk

go bold or go home

Big, bold patterns are a huge trend we’ve been seeing within interiors this year and now they’ve reached our alfresco settings too with this fabulous cheetah tablecloth from welovecushions.

Tablecloth, £89. welovecushions.co.uk

Softly solar

How pretty are these wild fennel, solar-powered garden lights from Rockett St George? They look equally good day or night. We think you need a few to create a really stunning night-time e ect, but at 100cm tall and 35cm wide, they’re not small. Wild Fennel Solar Light, £42. rockettstgeorge.co.uk

Sitting Pretty

Eye-catching and seriously comfortable, this garden floor cushion will brighten up any alfresco seating area. It’s also showerproof and made from recycled PET. Fabulous Florals Outdoor Floor Cushion, £120. joebrowns.co.uk

CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE

When it comes to creating the perfect look and feel for an evening gathering you can’t beat the soft glow of a bamboo lantern. These ones from The White Company come with a glass inner to make lighting your candles easy. Once summer is over, they’ll look great inside too. Large Lantern, £75. Small Lantern, £30. thewhitecompany.com

Pour-fect

Whether it’s for orange juice, Pimms or homemade lemonade, this pitcher is the perfect way to add a little colour to a table setting - indoors or out. Azur Wiggle Stripe Jug, £22.50. oliverbonas.com

are you sitting comfortably?

Want to make an instant impact with some jazzy cushions? Whether they’re for your beach house, garden lounger or to add comfort to your alfresco dining chairs, these outdoor cushions from Jonathan Adler will inject some easy style. They’re also made from fabric suitable for a light shower.

Positano Border Outdoor Cushion, £87.60. uk.jonathanadler.com Tiger Moth Placemat, £25 each. Tiger Moth Tablecloth, £260

Natural Beauty

There’s something special about setting up a beautifully laid table for a garden lunch. These nature-inspired, hand-drawn placemats and tablecloths by Bell Hutley for Bertioli are just the right balance of pretty and elegant. In four designs, each a celebration of pollinators, these lovely designs are sure to inspire conversation around the table. bertioli.co.uk

Nothing beats the flavour of food cooked outside on a sunny day. Here are three of our favourite ways to add instant sizzle. 3 ways to cook alfresco this summer

Best for keeping you and the bangers warm long into the night. Cyrus Fire Pit, £265.

abigailahern.com

Best for sourdough pizzas at home. Ooni Koda pizza oven, £299.

dobbies.com

Best for big BBQ gatherings. Performance Pro S 3 BBQ, £579.

charbroil.co.uk