Whether you're heading to Tesco to dine al fresco, or you're more into cocktails and canapés on the lawn – the summer brings about a myriad opportunities to entertain. You might have months to plan a lovely dinner party, or perhaps you're spontaneously whipping up a salad after a long day in the park. Whether your budget stretches to caviar and champagne, or you're looking to make a cheap bottle of white go a long way, we've got you covered.
Decorating
“Flowers can be an expensive addition to your table, but they elevate any dinner party occasion and no table is complete without a beautiful display or displays in my opinion," says Paula Sutton of Hill House Vintage. Her solution? "To keep things practical, I will often purchase a selection of plants that I want to plant out into the garden afterwards, ensuring that the beauty lives on and nothing is wasted.” If you're feeling generous you could also gift the plants to any green-fingered guests too.
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Influencer and prolific summer hostess Tanya Burr recommends simply dragging the dining table out into the garden if you can. This is a useful solution for UK entertainers whose minimal time outside might dissuade them from committing to garden furniture: “Cover it in a big white tablecloth, dinner candles and flowers of different sizes down the middle." She adds that “personalisation” is key to a special dinner party, “so if you're having a sit-down dinner with friends I love handwritten notes which you can add to people's place cards. You can add a little thing that you love about that person.”
“Linen napkins are both useful and practical and create less waste however simple the occasion,” says Paula. “They can also bolster the colour theme of your tablescape and should never be an afterthought. I love to use vegetable-dyed vintage monogrammed napkins bought from French brocantes and I've collected various antique silver and brass etched napkin rings over the years for an elegant but non-matching look.” An eclectic feel always works very well outside; nothing needs to be perfectly matching or ironed if you don't want it to be. Ebay and Vinted both have lovely collections of vintage tablecloths and napkins that are both affordable and sustainable.
Ambience
Lighting is as important outside as it is inside, and if you're having a dinner party outside you'll have to think about lighting “to add extra interest and elegance” as Paula says. Fairy lights are a nice antidote to a dark and slightly overgrown garden, but they can look a bit lifeless. Paula recommends “using a row of vintage brass candlesticks for casual dining, but cordless lamps with coordinating shades add a touch of formality to any al fresco dining area.”
“When the sun is set then a fire-pit is so fun if you have the space for it, you can gather around toast marshmallows and tell stories into the night,” adds Tanya, who fondly reminisces on summer nights as a child in Suffolk spent fireside in the garden.
She also reminds us that a “really good playlist is absolutely essential.” Why not start a playlist on Spotify and then share the link with friends for minimal effort and maximum eclectic listening?
Recipes
“If catering for yourself, try to organise your menu so as much as possible can be made in advance," recommends Paula. “Cold starters, pre-cooked dishes and assembled puddings are a must. Your guests are there to see you, not the sight of you running back and forth to the kitchen whilst you prepare the next course.” Trendy London wine bar Hector's is famous for their almost ludicrously simple small plate dish which would work well for a hungry group: simply a pile of salted crisps with prosciutto on top. Don't ask why, but it's kind of perfect. For fear of sounding too like a contemporary cliché, a tin of anchovies is also a very affordable, delicious and elegant snack.
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“Growing up in the Middle East means that I feel most at home when the sun is shining and the world is suddenly a lot brighter,” chef and author Noor Murad told House & Garden. “This also means I like to minimise time spent in the kitchen and maximise time spent outdoors eating juicy, sweet tomatoes, sliced thick and sprinkled with flakey sea salt and freshly cracked pepper. I’ll make a simple vinaigrette of lemon, dijon mustard, maple syrup, olive oil and freshly chopped coriander and pour this all over the top then I’ll finish with a liberal amount of sumac and some finely grated halloumi. It’s pure joy, and tastes much better when shared with friends.”
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“A barbecue is perfect for a low-maintenance party. It's also nice because it gets the guests involved.” You could ask your guests to bring something to stick on the barbecue for an American pot-luck feel that won't cost you too much, Tanya has a more refined list of BBQ go-tos: “I love doing seafood skewers and a big tomato salad, Greek salad or a panzanella on the side. And corn on the cob is a must." She recommends a classic Tiramisu to follow, “it's indulgent, special and there's no baking involved which is great.”
Whilst eating outside is a rare treat in the UK, we shouldn't forget that we're intruding into natural habitats. Try to avoid over-lighting your garden as it can upset the wildlife of your outdoor space. Similarly, you might need to take some precautions to protect your food when eating outside. “Bugs and insects are a necessary hazard of eating outdoors”, reminds Paula, “so I like to style my table with cake stands with fitted domes or lidded tureens and dishes. Apart from looking beautiful and creating visual interest by adding height, having your cheeses, fruit or puddings displayed on a stand and seen through an elegant dome adds drama to a table and creates an almost ‘old masters’ style vignette.”
Drinks
Tanya agrees with Paula that a laidback host is key to entertaining outside. We so rarely enjoy sunny evenings in the UK, it shouldn't be spent inside cooking or pouring drinks whilst your guests enjoy the garden. “I like to fill my sink with ice and then put lots of beers, rosé and soft drinks in it,” says Tanya. "If you leave your glassware out then people can help themselves. You can buy beautiful vintage glassware on Vinterior too, which doubles up as decoration."
Amber Guiness' Pink Wink cocktail from her recipe book ‘A House Party in Tuscany’ is our go-to for this summer. Alternatively, a ‘Bicicletta’ (the lesser-known cousin of the Campari spritz) is also a super simple cocktail that won't break the bank. All you'll need it a bottle of Campari (around £16), and ask your guests to kindly bring a bottle of white wine. Combine one part Campari to three parts white wine and top up with a little soda water for a chic aperitivo.
