Entertaining outside has its own rules

For the last few days I’ve searched for a website I browsed recently where I saw a clever but very simple idea for outdoor entertaining. 

It was one of those moments where you think, why hasn’t someone thought of this before?

My search has been unsuccessful but prompted me to think how eating and the minding of guests out of doors is a very different type of presentation and organisation for the host or hostess.

We all know eating al fresco is one of the loveliest pleasures. Even a sandwich and a cup of tea taste better in the fresh air with the sun shining and birds singing.

It can be formal too, but it doesn’t need to be fussy. Good food, of course, is the priority, but comfort is more important than most of us consider.

Garden furniture has to be some of the most uncomfortable around, so get liberal with cushions.

The thicker they are the more guests will be encouraged to linger. For large numbers, bench seating at the table is ideal as you can always squash in an extra person or two.

Don’t be tempted to use your best white tablecloth, especially if you’re firing up the barbecue.

Spare ribs and shelling of seafood make for sticky fingers that will naturally gravitate to the table cloth for cleaning rather than the stack of paper napkins.

For convenience with chic, spread a roll of brown paper the length of the table as an improvised tablecloth and add your white plates.

It’s a simple but beautiful combination, especially if you put some garden foliage or stems of herbs in glasses or jars — or try marigold and peony heads floating in a shallow bowl of water as a centrepiece.

Weight the corners of your cloth, paper or otherwise, so an unexpected gust of wind doesn’t whip it, and your meal off the table.

You can buy little weights on bulldog clips which attach to the corners and keep everything in place. Put napkins under cutlery so they don’t blow away either.

After everyone has gone home and you’re left with the after-party carnage, all you have to do is scrunch up the brown paper and pop it in the recycling bin.

If you have more than one garden umbrella, use it. Providing shade is essential for anyone eating, but also to keep direct sunlight off food and to prevent guests squinting across the table at each other.

Portable room dividers can also help provide shade and privacy between you and your neighbour, if fences are low.

Swathes of fabric above the table is an affordable option but will require some DIY as they’ll need to be attached with batons to the house wall at door height and stretched to a wall opposite. Or, they can be hung on a washing line or tied from patio to wall – very Glasto.

Taking the pressure off while organising, and to stop guests dropping into the chaos of your kitchen, set up different areas in the garden to encourage them to walk about. If you have a trolley on wheels, use it as a drinks’ bar.

As supplies run down you can just wheel it back to the kitchen to replenish rather than dashing back and forth trying to keep everyone topped up.

Another option is to buy a drinks’ dispenser with integrated tap. Just fill it with a typical summer drink like elderflower cordial with slices of citrus fruits.

Guests can help themselves (to top up gin and vodka, even), and will enjoy the novelty.

With larger stand-around parties you’ll need extra ware, especially glasses. One of the trends at the moment is to get empty jam jars and pierce a hole in the lid into which you slip a straw.

Children in particular love the novelty of these and you’re unlikely to find dead flies, or worse, wasps in the drinks, attracted by the sugar content.

At twilight have plenty of paper lanterns hanging from trees, and tea lights in jars or glasses, but don’t forget some citronella- scented torches to keep biting insects away.

In the event we don’t experience hot, steamy nights, have a few throws and rugs at hand for chilly knees.

And as for that idea from t’internet – If you have a window that opens into the garden, ideally from the kitchen, place a shelf underneath the outside sill. Place stools beneath it and voila, you have an outdoor bar.