The Season: Summer Serves
It turns out that the hottest ticket this season is your own back garden. As we collectively embrace the great British summer, our homes have become the venues of choice for everything from impromptu match-day gatherings to long, lazy Sunday lunches. The good news? Playing host doesn't require a degree in entertaining.
The Table Stakes
Let's be honest—a good-looking table makes even the humblest of meals feel fancy. This summer, tableware is having a moment with colourful glass that catches the light, plates in soft blues and greens, and serving pieces that do the heavy lifting for your cooking skills.
Don't worry about everything matching perfectly. Half the charm is in the mix—those blue tumblers next to the plates you've had forever, or the fancy salad bowl your mum gave you alongside everyday glasses. Chuck down a simple linen cloth and suddenly you're a tablescaping genius.
Garden-Party Ready
Outdoor eating calls for diningware that can handle being knocked about a bit. Nobody wants to be that person running after a napkin blowing across the lawn or having a meltdown over a chipped plate. Look for chunky ceramic dishes in colours that pop against garden greenery, serving bowls that can take a bit of rough handling, and glassware that won't tip over on uneven surfaces.
Those gold serving spoons might seem over the top for a Tuesday night dinner, but outdoors they bring a bit of sunshine even when the clouds roll in. The right pieces make simple food feel like an occasion, without giving you heart palpitations every time someone reaches across the table.
DIY Drinks
The smartest hosts know that a help-yourself drinks setup means they get to enjoy the party too. Set up a corner with a couple of pre-mixed options in nice bottles (nobody needs to know that gin and tonic was ready-made), an ice bucket that's actually filled with ice, and glasses that make everything taste better.
Those ribbed tumblers work just as well for fancy cocktails as they do for squash for the kids. Add a plate with some lemon slices and cucumber, maybe a few sprigs of mint from the garden, and suddenly everyone thinks you're a mixologist. Let them believe it.
Flowers Without the Faff
Not everyone has time for complicated flower arrangements that look like they belong in a stately home. The current mood is much more relaxed—bright ceramic vases that look good even with supermarket flowers, simple glass bottles with single stems dotted down the table, or even just some greenery snipped from the garden.
That blue looped vase looks just as good with wild-looking garden blooms as it does with fancy florist flowers. The trick is making it look like you haven't tried too hard, even if you absolutely have.
Sofa Sports
Summer eating should be easy on the host. Think British cheeses arranged on a wooden board with some crackers and chutney, dips transferred to your own dishes with a swirl of olive oil on top, or pre-prepared salads given a new life in your favourite serving bowl.
When the big match is on or Wimbledon reaches the finals, hosting takes on a different rhythm. You need food that can be eaten with eyes still glued to the screen, drinks that don't need constant attention, and seating that doesn't have everyone shuffling uncomfortably after an hour.
Find everything you need to host without the hassle this Summer at Fenwick.
