How To Lay A Table In The Sun

Days for sun-dappled feasting are here. And there’s nothing lovelier than laying a table for long lunches with friends.

We have waited patiently – and increasingly not so patiently – all year. Finally, the moment to decamp breakfast, lunch and dinner to the great outdoors is upon us and we’re seizing it by the horns. As every weather-obsessed Brit knows, we have to: who knows how long a sunny spell will last? And whilst the whole point of going al fresco is to shake off formality and relax, the pleasure of it all is also enhanced by channelling our efforts into making it really beautiful. Lovely linen tablecloths; jugs festooned with cascading blooms cut fresh from the garden; collections of sweet glassware; lovely carafes for water or wine; and suitably rustic oversized salad bowls: all enhance our enjoyment, making this one of the sweetest spots of the year. These are the pieces that we think would add dash and beauty to your all-afternoon repast at the sun-dappled garden table.

By Nancy Alsop
June 2023

Tablecloths

Nothing dresses up a table like draping it in a linen cloth – and the best bit is that the more crumpled and lived-in it gets, the better looks.

Napkins

Proper napkins are not only more sustainable than a throw-away option; they’re far chicer too.

Salad Bowls

An array of salads – the heartier and packed full of seasonal bounty the better – atop an al fresco table always makes our hearts sing. And we really do love a good salad bowl.