Plan the perfect picnic

With National Picnic Week upon us and the summer months just around the corner what better time could there be to plan the perfect picnic.

There are lots of great places and open spaces where you can enjoy one of British Summertime’s favourite outdoor activities and the National Picnic Week website is full of ideas and inspiration.

Here at Bents we’ve taken a wander through our Food Hall and Outdoor Living departments and have put together some of our own picnic ideas, each to suit a very different occasion;

Party in the Park

Evening entertainment, live music, theatre and maybe even a firework finale.  Your picnic should be a grown up affair with fine dining and the odd glass of wine.  Put a hamper together filled with the finest foods, and our Deli Counter is the perfect place to start. Choose from a selection of olives, cheeses, pate and nibbles for the perfect picnic platter before moving into our fresh food area to stock up on juicy strawberries to pop in your fizz or enjoy with a dollop of cream.  The experts at Reserve Wines will help choose the perfect accompaniment for your food and our selection of stylish picnicware will ensure you eat, drink and enjoy your occasion in style.

Child’s Play

Family and friends gathered together for a day of fun and games.  Laughter and chat should be punctuated with delicious treats for grown-ups and children alike.  Let the littles ones create their own sandwiches with a selection of our fresh bread loaded with cold meats, cheeses and fresh salad.  Throw in a few pastries and pies from the award winning Toppings Pies and finish off your hamper with fresh fruit and organic choices as well as tasty crisps and a variety of sweet delights.  And no children’s picnic would be complete without a selection of outdoor games and we’ve got a great range to choose from.

Beach BBQ

The sun is shining and the beach beckons.  A lazy afternoon soaking in the warmth, feeling the sand between your toes and enjoying the sounds of the sea as you lie back and fire up the BBQ.  The new Everdure Cube by Heston Blumenthal is a perfect portable option for charcoal lovers or the Weber Go Anywhere is ideal for those who prefer to cook on gas.  Fill your cool bag with cold cans of craft beer or sparkling juices and a selection of mouthwatering delights from Honeywell’s Butchers with homemade burgers, marinated meats and delicious kebabs.  Decorate your picnic area with pretty solar powered lanterns and let your beach BBQ linger a little longer into the evening.

However you choose to picnic this summer we hope the sun shines for you, the laughter flows and your food tastes fresh and flavoursome!