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Times
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Times
Don't say garden party — how to ‘outdoor host'
Beers in the fridge, wine in the cooler, hostess on the most rickety of the folding chairs — summer entertaining used to be simple. Alas, since the advent of social media, Meghan's Netflix series and, yes, weight-loss drugs, having people round has become more complicated. They aren't called garden parties any more, for instance — here are the latest tips for 'outdoor hosting' in summer 2025. Jennifer Aniston might have had what is known as a 'garden lounge', complete with armchairs and coffee table at her former Beverly Hills house, but if, like me, your choice is between table on the patio looking at the shed or by the shed looking at the patio, you're going to need plenty of festoon lights to set some mood — but good luck trying to find any still in stock online. You can try your luck at Screwfix or Wickes, or you can pre-order Garden Trading's solar string bulbs for delivery in mid-August (£65, In their absence, dot around rechargeable lamps such as Zara Home's £49.99 lantern — or, like the opening credits of Friends, see whether the flex on a standard lamp will stretch on to the terrasse. It's easier to find LED strings right now — lace them through trees to give glow. And Ikea's chunky Fenomen candles will sit on tables without dripping wax (£5 for five, 'Invite people over for brunch,' says Laura Jackson, Insta-host extraordinaire, founder of the homeware site Glassette and the voice of those who just want a good night's sleep these days actually. 'A 'start early, finish early' vibe — frozen coffee cocktails, whether alcoholic or not, are this year's frozen rosé.' Take inspiration from Barbarella, the latest opening from the hip Italian chain Big Mamma, in Canary Wharf, where the classic espresso martini comes laced with 50g zeitgeisty pistachio paste (Black Milk Pistachio Cream (£5.95, to 40ml vodka and 10ml freshly made espresso. Sprinkle a couple of beans on top to finish. At this point in the heatwave there are shortages and delays on the most sought-after garden furniture and accoutrements. John Lewis's £149 striped Marcy chair sold out back in April, and there's a backlog on the metropolitan elite's favourite slatted metal Palissade table from Hay (£799, down from £999, Yeti's £300 camping cool box is a cult buy among the surf set and competitive barbecuers alike, while the £1,995 Big Green Egg kamado BBQ remains a hypey favourite but (whisper it) Aldi's £299 version is just as good — although it sold out as soon as it hit the shops in May. Habitat's £600 version comes with glowing customer reviews ( Don't feel the need to fix everybody a drink as they arrive. Instead, take your lead from 2025's viral self-help tome, The Let Them Theory: set up a self-serve bar with ice, glasses and bottles in coolers for guests to pick and pour from, then leave them to it. This isn't the recipe for disaster it might once have been because … Recent market research (Saturday night at a friend's 40th) indicates that so many people are now sober or 'on the pen', ordering the amount everybody used to consume will leave you with gallons spare. My sources report that rosé was the least consumed and advise serving beers — normal, alcohol-free or perhaps functional mushroom-laced Colliders ( — alongside cocktails that can be made either virgin or not. The fashion crowd have moved on from the Hugo spritz now that the Ocado classes are clamouring for its main elderflower ingredient. Instead, the Select spritz, made with the traditional Venetian liqueur almost certainly being served at the Bezos wedding, is a good halfway house between ubiquitous Aperol and challenging Campari. Plus, way fewer people have heard of it. Tequila, grapefruit and soda palomas are still just edgy enough; Crodinos and Botivo for those on the wagon. • Meghan to release rosé wine under As Ever brand Do yourself a favour and elevate picky bits rather than making a meal the main event. 'Serve crudités and berries in massive bowls on ice,' Jackson says. 'Or set out baguettes, cheese and ham — big piles of one thing always look beautiful and are easy to do.' Another trend is the EBYGH invite (eat before you get here), which comes in response to most dinner parties only really getting going at the moment it is time for everybody to leave. Cubes of feta arranged with cubes of pink grapefruit, watermelon, cantaloupe or nestling Nocellara olives, then herbs, chilli or black sesame seeds sprinkled on top: TikTok's top summer snack. • Can you freeze cheese? 34 cheese questions answered by an expert 'Drizzle it on vanilla ice cream,' says Sarah Vachon, sommelier at the UK's first olive oil cocktail bar in Notting Hill. She recommends Citizens of Soil's Sicilian small-batch (£35, In influencer circles there are those who mould it, using silicone trays, into leaves and seashells, and others who add a bit of water or milk to whip it into gargantuan mounds that act partly as a tablescape feature, surrounded by a generous heap of fashionably leafy radishes. This is part of a trend for … At Copenhagen Design Week placement cards for dinner were slotted into asparagus stems, broad beans and mini aubergines — a great solution for all those unwanted courgettes in the veg box too. Fruit also works: the cookery writer Skye McAlpine dots a summer table with bunches of grapes, while fashion industry dinners are using oranges and grapefruits as everything from ice cream dishes to candle-holders (just shove them in the top). John Lewis's £10 ceramic lemon version and tangerine salt and pepper shakers will do the trick too (£12, Also seen in Copenhagen. You will need: a recycling bin's worth of different-sized glass bottles, each with just one flower in — ranunculus was the preference — then arranged on an oversized linen tablecloth, such as Secret Linen Store's vibrant lime green (£149, 'Let it drape naturally rather than aiming for crisp and traditional,' says Gem Boner, ex of Soho House and proprietor of the beau monde's favourite farm-stay venue, Restaries in Suffolk. Other must-have tabletoppers include H&M's Palm Heights sandstone candle-holders (£24.99, and retro-looking silver steel serving platters. The experts are all in agreement on this one: Cleo Sol, Addison Rae, Beka, Zach Bryan, Bonobo. One beauty insider's go-to is simply five hours' worth of Madonna remixes — no complaints here. • The best albums of 2025 so far 'One low-effort trick is to make a hole in a watermelon and fill it up with a liqueur,' Jackson says. Gabriel Boudier's Crème de Rhubarbe would nod to this summer's other trendiest vegetable (£14.75, Leave it to infuse for 12 hours, then serve in slices — and with a warning.
Daily Mail
09-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mail
This 'great value for money' garden furniture collection looks so much more expensive than it is - and we have a DOUBLE discount
For classic dining garden lounge sets and sofa sets at industry-rivalling prices, scores have discovered one under-the-radar brand. And we have an exclusive discount code. Mint Outdoor is a great place to source classic garden furniture designs at competitive prices. Specialising in stylish lounge sets, their bestselling designs are available for home delivery directly into your garden in just 5-10 working days. And with up to £100 off for MailOnline readers, it's the perfect time to order a set for summer. Summer is just around the corner, and Mint Outdoor has revealed a range of classic garden furniture designs for entertaining over the warmer months that won't break the bank or skimp on style. As a certified B corporation, the Mint Outdoor furniture prioritises quality material, helping avoid cheap products that end up in landfill. By balancing profit and purpose, you'll get the best of both worlds, and thanks to the live sale you can get them for even less. Our top pick for the summer? The Palma Grey Corner Rattan Garden Lounge Set 9 Seater. Classic, versatile and timeless, the brand's Palma is popular for a reason and MailOnline readers can get an extra £100 off, taking it home for just £599. The Palma Grey Corner Rattan Garden Lounge Set 9 Seater is already on sale for £699, was £1,299, but MailOnline readers can save an additional £100 with the exclusive discount code DM100 , taking the price to just £599. With the majority of 9-seaters priced between £700 to £2,000, at under £600 this summer-ready piece packs a punch well above its price tag. Whether you're sipping your morning coffee alfresco or hosting friends for a lazy BBQ, the garden lounge seat is sure to give your outdoor area a quick refresh ahead of your summer activities. Its practical design is great for families, too. The polyrattan material means it can be left outside all year round so you won't have to continuously lug it in and out of storage, plus it's weather resistant so will hold up against rain showers and wind. Generous in size with a space-efficient yet luxurious 6-seater corner sofa and a single and double stool, the Palma Grey Corner Rattan Garden Lounge Set is a winner for families or for extra seating when friends come over. Ideal for garden gatherings, the durable tempered glass table top (which is typically up to five times stronger compared to regular glass), means it's perfectly suited for al fresco summer dinners, too. And it scores for comfort, too, with thick and comfortable foam that provides stable support and bounces back into shape. 'I can not be any happier with this furniture,' wrote one impressed shopper. 'It was easy to build and is amazing quality. It was on pre order and was delivered in the time frame we were given. I have seen the same set in Homebase for £400 more than we paid.' 'Absolute bargain' raved another. 'There is nothing bad to say about this product. The price is great, the build quality is good, and assembly was easy. I was able to do it alone, so 2 people should find it a doddle.' Noted for its quality unlike a lot of garden furniture pieces out there, this pollyrattan garden lounge seater can last as much as 20 years outdoors, so you really are getting your moneys worth. Don't forget to use the code DM100 to save £100 off your purchase. Mint Outdoor garden furniture Stockholm 6 Seater Corner Garden Lounge Set For an elevated garden set for under £500, the Mint Outdoor Stockholm Lounge Set in Beige is a great option. The rattan ensemble blends style and functionality with rattan dining table and 6-seater rattan corner sofa featuring grey removable seat and back cushions. £499 (save £100) Shop Santorini Grey 4 Seater Modular Lounge Set with Side Cushions For a more versatile garden option, the Santorini Modular Garden Lounge Set is a winner. This set allows you to push the ottomans alongside the sofas to create two luxurious chaise lounges, or you can keep all four parts separate to create a more social outdoor lounge space. £499 (save £100) Shop Havana Dark Grey 8 Seater Aluminium Patio Dining Set Take any dinners outdoor this summer with £100 off the Havana Dark Grey 8 Seater Aluminium Patio Dining Set. Seating eight, this is a brilliant option for when you have friends and family over. Not only does it look sleek and stylish, blending in to most outdoor settings, this has been crafted from highly robust aluminium which is powder coated for a sleek finish which prolongs and protects its appearance, too. £799 (save £100) Shop
