 Perfect picnics – in your garden or on days out! Ideas for food, drink, games and (of course) throws and cushions!
Perfect picnics – in your garden or on days out! Ideas for food, drink, games and (of course) throws and cushions!
In true British style, the weather here in the Cotswolds went from a cool, rainy spring straight into a very warm and sunny summer. With the obligatory hosepipe bans that mark a spell of hotter weather in place for some, and lots of our favourite high summer events on the horizon, it’s time to prepare for that very British summer pastime – the picnic! From extremely posh picnics being enjoyed at Henley Regatta and in the owners and trainer’s car park at Royal Ascot this week to a quick pit stop for refreshments during a day hiking, picnics can be as complicated or as simple as you like. They can even be right in your own back garden to celebrate a summer birthday or allow time to just drift away on a balmy evening.
Here at Heugah Interiors, we know that a really good picnic needs a combination of delicious food and drink, some good company (perhaps accented by a few games!) and accessories to ensure you’re comfortable sitting on the grass. Here are some of our favourite elements for picnic success:
Classic English picnic foods include quiche (either a large one to be sliced or individual mini quiches!), sausage rolls, coronation chicken, pork pies, filled rolls or sandwiches, potato salads, coleslaw, cured meats and cheeses! If you’re aiming for a healthier picnic then hummus and crudites, fresh leaves, cherry tomatoes and cucumber, perhaps with some pasta or rice salad will hit the spot. A picnic isn’t complete without something sweet for afters, and that might be a British classic like strawberries and cream or a tasty Victoria sponge, or something even more indulgent like chocolate brownies or Eton mess. Traditional picnic drinks include lemonade, ginger beer and Pimm’s – depending on your age and the time of day!
After all such a feast there’s a temptation to snooze in the shade of a tree while the food goes down. If anyone has more energy, then some classic picnic entertainment in the form of a game of rounders or chucking around a frisbee will burn off some calories. When you are ready to flop on the floor and chill, here are some of our favourite throws and cushions designed for outdoor use. The clever range from Hug Rug Woven is crafted from a fabric material made from recycled plastic bottles. That means the resulting cushions, throws and rugs are very tough and resistant to fading, damp, mould and mildew, as well as being hypoallergenic. They won’t stain easily, and you can wash them at 30 degrees, yet they look and feel like soft real wool. Plus, they keep a lot of plastic bottles out of landfill and come in a huge range of colours and patterns. Make sure you take a closer look and perhaps snap up a blanket or two to keep in your car for picnics and use in the garden when you fancy sprawling out in the sun this summer!