Wimbledon! The Euros! School holidays! The starting gun for summer has officially been fired. Even better news for this year: it actually coincides with a (two week!) heatwave. Hurrah!
Start the group chat, set the date and dust off that BBQ. Here’s a guide to throwing the chicest garden party you’ve ever thrown.
Dress to impress
Set the scene with a fancy tablescape; the hashtag on TikTok has over 77 million views. First think about whether you want a theme or colour scheme. Investing in some quality basics is worth it in the long run. A gingham tablecloth is a timeless essential for picnicking and al fresco entertaining, as are florals, while neutral-hued linens go with anything. Look to homeware sites like Laura Jackson’s Glassette and Alice Naylor-Leyland’s Mrs. Alice.
Pair with a napkin in a clashing print or alternative shade of gingham — Summerill & Bishop does some of the best. Dress with jute or raffia table mats to add earthy elements; H&M, Zara and Anthropologie have excellent options and you can’t go wrong with Matilda Goad’s scallop-edged placemats. Lay bamboo-handled cutlery for extra style points.
Being outside is an opportunity to mix things up with coloured glassware. Issy Granger’s Blue Pom Tumblers are cute, as are Cabana’s Highball Glasses). Campbell-
Rey’s blue and green coupe glasses are ideal for margs. Stick some pastel-hued Lex Pott twisty candles in the middle (even if you don’t actually light them) then upcycle old jam jars and scatter over the table with tea lights in (this will stop them blowing out). Really want to impress your mates?
British homeware brand Maison Margaux offers personalised rentals of stunning plates, glassware, linens and cutlery for dinner parties and events and will even dress it all up for you so you can kick back and relax.
Flower power
Greenery adds depth to a tablescape. Wind eucalyptus around candle sticks, add fresh citrus fruit to decorate the table and tiny bundles of fresh herbs to add a fragrant element.
Try dried over fresh, they’ll last longer and are a more sustainable option. Statice last for months, as does lavender.
Throw a pizza party
What’s better than a garden party? A pizza party! And they don’t come much snazzier than the Gozney Dome. When it launched, it sold out globally in under eight hours and last month the brand officially landed in the UK. Choose from wood-fired or dual fuel (wood and gas).
They’re built to the exact ratios of traditional Neapolitan pizza ovens and can cook pizza in just 60 seconds. But the menu doesn’t have to be limited to pizza, you can pretty much roast, smoke, steam or bake anything in there, be it steak, slow-cooked pork or a sourdough loaf. Call it an investment.
Lights, camera, action!
If you haven’t already strung out your festoon lights for the summer then whip them out pronto. Lights4Fun has the most comprehensive collection we’ve seen.
Choose from coloured, warm white or fairy lights, plug-in, solar-powered or remote controlled and in varying lengths that will light up any space. Having a Euros party? You’ll be needing an outdoor projector — just don’t expect to be rid of your pals for the next month. Then you can also enjoy your very own al fresco movie nights all summer long.
Happy Hour
The Martini is officially the trending drink of 2022, but why not give it a summer spin by adding cucumber, watermelon or grapefruit juice into the mix. For something tropical, try Santo Remedio’s margarita colada, which combines tequila, coconut and lime to create a refreshing fruity drink that isn’t too sweet.
Mix 40ml tequila with 15ml of sugar or agave syrup, the same amount of freshly squeezed lime and lemon juice, and 25ml of both coconut cream and pineapple juice. Your guests will be transported to Mexican coast.
Play fair
Everyone loves a lawn game. Switch things up with something new this year. My mates are all obsessed with Kubb, a Swedish game said to have been played in the Viking ages.
It’s sociable as you play in two groups and doesn’t require too much concentration (so you can have a game over a tipple). It’s strangely addictive — you’ll never do a park cotch without it.
The foodie inspo
MEZCLA by Ottolenghi protégé Ixta Belfrage is one of the most anticipated cookbooks in the foodie world right now. Dedicated to bold fusion recipes inspired by flavours from Italy, Brazil and Mexico, the chiles rellenos with salsa roja risotto would make great summer garden party dishes.
Meanwhile, if you don’t know where to start with desserts pastry chef Anna Higham’s The Last Bite is a pudding and baking bible that will have you whipping up tarts and mousses in no time.
The ricotta ice cream and roasted peaches would be perfect on a hot day. Throwing a BBQ? You needn’t neglect your plant-based friends, try teriyaki tofu from Katy Beskow’s Vegan BBQ.
