Jack's Love List #20: Alfresco & Picnic
It is time to get ready for the summer season of Picnics & Alfesco Dining.
It’s bank holiday weekend and that time of year where the pull of the outdoors becomes irresistible — when tea in the garden becomes the norm, and impromptu picnics are no longer just a good idea, they’re the whole plan. Whether you're hosting a summer supper in the garden, heading to the park with friends, or just laying out a rug for a solo sandwich and a bit of peace, here are a few joyful pieces can turn a simple alfresco moment into something that feels like a mini holiday.
Sophie Robinson x Dunelm:
I believe I’ve mentioned this collection before, but I am obsessed with the Sophie Robinson collection at Dunelm. And don’t worry—it’s not limited to just picnic bits! There’s bedding, furniture, cushions, lighting... you name it, it’s there.



These melamine picnic plates and serving platters are just beautiful. They give off a vintage boho vibe and would look amazing in a vintage basket for a wholesome picnic day. I particularly love the platter—it reminds me of that hand-painted canal bargeware look I’m always in awe of when I see it. The detailing is phenomenal. She also has bowls in this collection in a gorgeous cobalt blue and lilac colour palette.



The pressed glass-effect acrylic tumblers, short wine glasses, and that beautiful coral serving bowl are also from Sophie’s collection and complement the crockery perfectly for that eclectic, vintage vibe. It brings back memories of childhood picnics for me.
Links:
Dinner Plate £5.00 each - Click Here
Side Plate £4.00 each - Click Here
Serving Platter £14.00 each - Click Here
Short Acrylic Tumbler £2.00 each - Click Here
Short Acrylic Wine Glass £2.00 each - Click Here
Acrylic Serving/ Salad Bowl £4.00 - Click Here
Marks & Spencer:
As you know, I’m a big fan of Marks & Spencer’s homeware, and they’ve got a couple of perfect picnic pieces too. I don’t think enough can be said for a good acrylic reusable champagne flute. There’s nothing I hate more than those thin plastic disposable prosecco flutes someone hands you on a train to a hen do. Not only are they bad for the environment, but you can guarantee they’ll crack on the first glass of fizz. One of my friends bought proper picnic flutes years ago, and they’ve come on so many trips with us—it just gives a nicer experience. M&S have a beautiful ribbed set of four flutes for £8.00, which is such a great price compared to disposables that end up in landfill.



Speaking of acrylic glasses, they also have some super cute fruit print tumblers. I’m obsessed with strawberry and lemon patterns in summer, so you can guess which two are my favourites from the set of four (£10)! And obviously, no picnic is complete without the perfect picnic basket. I’ve got a couple already, and we all know how hard they are to carry (always catching the back of your legs). So I really like this newer style with proper handles and a lid. It even has two dedicated bottle compartments—and honestly, I wouldn’t be offended if this was on display year-round in my home, ready for that perfect picnic moment.
Links:
Wicker Basket with Bottle Holders £40.00 - Click Here
Fruit Print Tumbler £10.00 set of 4 - Click Here
Ribbed Picnic Champagne Flutes £8.00 set of 4 - Click Here
TK Maxx / Homesense:
Talking of strawberry print—TK Maxx online has seriously come up with the goods. These vintage-inspired strawberry salad plates went straight into my basket, along with the dinner plates. Do I have a picnic planned? No. Do I need these plates anyway? Absolutely. I just love the scalloped edge and decorative border. I kind of wish they were ceramic so I could use them every day.



Still with the vintage theme at TK Maxx, this ice master-style retro cooler is so cool—and at £14.99, it’s a total bargain. Just imagine pulling out your gin in a tin from this cutie! But if you want to go full hostess with the mostest, the metal Coca-Cola cooler trolley is the one. There’s just something about it that gives me a warm, fuzzy, 1950s Miss Marple moment. Not a fan of cream? It also comes in red and green—and it’s £20 cheaper.
Links:
Strawberry Salad Plates (four pack) £9.99 - Click Here
Strawberry Dinner Plates (four pack) £12.99 - Click Here
Icemaster Vintage Cooler £14.99 - Click Here
Coca Cola Metal Cooler £149.99 - Click Here
Matalan:
Onto another retailer: Matalan, and yes, another strawberry-themed piece. I’ve got the lemon version of this cake cover from a couple of years ago and it’s always a talking point. Last summer, it saved a birthday cake from sun flies on the beach. Now I’m asking myself... do I need the strawberry version too? (Yes. Yes, I do.) While we’re talking styling and beach picnics, this seaside runner caught my eye—lobsters are so on-trend, and this is the right side of whimsical for me. Stripes, print, and lobster? Yes please. They even do matching placemats for your outdoor dining—or drinking.



Speaking of which—glass drinks dispensers have been around forever and have become a party staple, from weddings to hotel lobbies. Matalan’s is just £22.00 for a proper Kilner one, which is great value. Just remember: once it’s filled with your homemade punch or lemon-infused water, leave the lid unsealed. That’s the biggest mistake with these—if the lid is sealed, the tap won’t work because of the vacuum. So remember: lid, tap, then drink!
Links:
Strawberry Cake Cover £8.00 - Click Here
Drinks Dispenser £22.00 - Click Here
Lobster Runner £20.00 - Click Here
Debenhams:
Over at Debenhams, you’ll find a bit of a treasure trove—if you're prepared to dig. These fold-down bamboo deck chairs are an absolute steal at £82 each, reduced from £328! They come in different colours, and you know you’re getting a quality piece. You’ve all seen my dining chairs—I love a bit of bamboo. These just offer a fun twist on the traditional fold-out deck chair, and they have arms, which is always a win.



Of course, no picnic round-up would be complete without a splash of gingham. It’s the print that screams ‘quintessential picnic’ to me. This roll-up blanket is the perfect alfresco accessory—just imagine your strawberry plates and fruit-print tumblers spread across it. And finally... this one’s a bit of a wild card, but I just love the extravagance. This hamper is designed to hold four bottles and twelve champagne flutes—definitely for the boozy picnic crowd! Imagine turning up to Proms in the Park with this in hand... I did say it was extra!
Links:
Perfect Proms Hamper £117.50 - Click Here
Bamboo Deck Chair £82.00 (reduced from £328.00) - Click Here
Gingham Picnic Blanket £30.00 - Click Here
John Lewis:
Last but not least, let’s talk John Lewis, which is full of stunning prints this summer. I couldn’t write this post without mentioning the blue and white melamine salad plates by Guzzini. They remind me of that Dolce & Gabbana x Smeg collaboration—pure Italian Riviera vibes. They also do matching dinner plates, bowls, and platters for the maximalists among us (yes, I include myself in that). From one gorgeous print to another—this extra-large picnic blanket in the Palm House print is perfect for those tropical British days. It’s a brilliant size too—there’s nothing worse than all your friends trying to cram onto one tiny square of fabric.



And finally—what’s a picnic without a stripe? The John Lewis Penny Day collection has a whole range of striped cooler bags. I love the 30L orange and white one, but they also do A 20L pistachio and white - £12.00 , a 4.5L yellow and white - £10.00, And a 15L blue and white backpack, which comes with plates, glasses, cutlery, and a bottle opener for two, all that for £32.00.
Links:
Guzzini Dinner Plate £10.00 each - Click Here
Guzzini Dinner Platter £16.00 each - Click Here
Guzzini Dinner Serving Bowl £17.00 each - Click Here
Anyday Cooler Bag 30l £15.00 - Click Here
Palm House Extra Large Blanket £30.00 - Click Here
From patterned plates to practical coolers, there are so many easy wins here to make eating outdoors feel a little bit special — without it being a whole production. And as ever, it’s the little things (a good seat pad, a great glass, a joyful tray) that bring the most joy.
Let me know if you're planning any alfresco get-togethers or garden table makeovers — I’d love to see how you’re styling yours.
What a fabulous selection, thank you so much for helping me to spend money on beautiful things!!
I’m making a list as we speak! What a great range of finds. Thanks so much