Go Forth and Feast

In a country with such unhinged weather as ours, picnicking is by nature an optimistic pursuit. Just when it seems that the sun has settled, the grey clouds close and down comes an enormous torrent of rain.

But as any true picnicker knows, the weather is all part of the great charm of al fresco feasting – after all, our green and pleasant land wouldn’t be so, well… green and pleasant without a little drizzle from time to time.

Should the heavens suddenly open up, simply pop open an Umbrella and pour yourself a cup of tea from your Flask and laugh it off. You could even try sheltering under a hamper, although we admit that woven wicker – as lovely as it is – may not quite do the job. 

The key to any good picnic is all in the preparation and the truth of the matter is that you should always bring more food than you think is enough.

For this reason, slinging a precariously overstuffed tote over your shoulder just won't do. Investing in proper picnicware such as ours is the way forward (we're thinking of your posture, more than anything.)

When your Backpacker's Picnic Bag is picked, packed and ready for the park, for example, you will comfortably totter to your chosen destination and bask in the afterglow of your own organisational skills. 

An exceptional picnic requires a great many of things, and ensuring you have a good variety is key.

With Fortnum's classics straight from our famous Food Halls, delight the taste buds of each and every one of your picnic attendees with something scrumptious.

And don't forget the Condiments. Always ready to improve just about everything, a dollop of Piccadilly Piccalilli will transform anything, from sandwiches to cold cuts.

A good Picnic Rug marks your grasstop kingdom for all to see. It gives you an impromptu table-top on which to spread your picnic feast.

When the food is gone and you've progressed to lazy reclining with a glass of Bubbles in hand, it's somewhere on which to stretch out.

And should the rain begin to fall, it can even serve as a fluffy and temporary tartan awning to keep the shower at bay should you decide to remain outside. Magic.

A self-explanatory point, surely. Champagne is always an essential for a picnic. Just picture yourself enjoying a splendid glass in the beaming sunshine.

And to make sure this glass is chilled and refreshing, make sure you carry it in a suitably stylish Wine Holder. Designed to hold your favourite tipple of the sparkling, white, red or Rosé kind, all that's left it to sip, sip hooray!