3-Minute Read

With the weather perking up and the recent easing of lockdown, we thought it was the right time to impart our top tips for hosting the ultimate garden gathering to you: from preparing your garden to the best refreshments to serve.

1. Spruce up the Setting

Your set up can make or break a gathering. Not having enough comfortable seating is a faux pas as even with only 6 people it is nice to be able to move around and catch up with different people. In terms of aesthetics, some small potted plants, and a nice tablecloth work well on the table. If you have a proper garden, mowing the lawn, some weeding and pressure washing will neaten up the area. Lighting is also important because it allows the party to go on longer; you can’t go wrong with a couple of candles and a strand of string lights.

2. Food Without a Time Frame 

We prefer an aperitif style set up for outdoor dining, simple and elegant food that doesn’t require a specific time for eating. Check out our list of 5 mouth-watering Aperitivo here for some Italian inspired ideas. If the gathering is an all-day affair, throwing a few things on a BBQ works a treat. Nevertheless, try and veer away from the standard burger and chicken thigh or give them a flavoursome twist with a tasty marinade. Supplement these with big colourful salads and berries for pudding. Hungry guests are not happy guests!

3. Easy Access to Drinks

This one might be obvious, but chilled alcohol is essential - a case of Pale Fox really lifts the mood and celebrates the near return to normality. A fun idea is to have a small drinks table where guests can grab themselves a glass or even prepare a spritz to their liking, just remember to stock up ice and garnishes. You can check out our list of signature serves here for some inspiration. The drinks table saves you, the host, from spending time running to the fridge and not with your guests. Save over £15 when you purchase a case of 6 bottles here. 

4. Be Prepared For Any Weather 

The weather is cheering up and we’re all for it. Find the spot in your garden that keeps the sun for the longest, but an umbrella can sometimes be useful during the peak of summer.  However, at the moment the temperature drops significantly later in the evening so a fire pit or an outdoor heater is always appreciated by guests. If this isn’t possible, throw a couple of blankets and throw pillows on the back of their chairs to create a cosy vibe. 

5. Forms of Entertainment  

We’ve curated a playlist of all our favourite spring tunes on our Spotify account (found here), which will pick up the mood throughout the day and right into the evening. On a side note, think about your guest list: who are you going to enjoy spending time with? Will the group mesh well? Will there be good conversation? These are all important considerations for a smoothly run event. Keeping a few packs of cards at hand can provide some fun later on, however, if there are children attending some games or arts and crafts need to be provided. Remember to document your evening, a few disposable cameras are nice to look back on a couple of weeks later.