The humble picnic has had a serious glow-up. Gone are the days of soggy supermarket sandwiches and warm rosé swigged from plastic cups.
Whether you’re spreading out a blanket in the park or heading to a festival, the way we picnic says a lot about us – and this summer, the bar is high. We asked the experts what separates a truly elevated al fresco spread from a forgettable one, and how to pull it off without spending a fortune.
The food
If there’s one golden rule for the posh picnic, it’s this: homemade always wins. ‘Anything homemade trumps shop-bought food,’ says Eleanor Maidment, food editor at You magazine. ‘Obviously if you’re splashing out on a deli then that’s fairly posh – but supermarket food just doesn’t cut it if you’re aiming for something elevated.’
If you have the time, then homemade food always trumps shop-bought for a classy picnic, says Eleanor Maidment.
So where to start? Maidment’s top tip is to make your sandwiches from scratch and wrap them in parchment paper. ‘It looks nice and is practical,’ she says. ‘Think chicken and watercress, or steak and horseradish.’ But the real crowd-pleaser? Homemade sausage rolls. ‘They always impress people, and they’re a doddle to make – good sausagemeat and shop-bought puff pastry. You can add caramelised onions or chilli jam inside, and sesame or nigella seeds on top. They taste far better than anything from a supermarket,’ she says. Puff pastry, she adds, is also your friend for mini savoury tarts.
An unxpected star ingredient of this summer’s picnic scene is dips. According to Waitrose data, sales of labneh (the thick, creamy strained yogurt cheese) are up 18% compared to this time last year, alongside a broader surge in dips and deli staples – creamy dips are up 85%, falafels up 44%, and antipasti up 31%. Maidment is a convert. ‘Labneh is very easy to make at home – just hang Greek yogurt overnight with a little salt. You can add lemon zest or herbs too.’ The key is in the toppings: roasted red peppers with harissa, or cherry tomatoes roasted with garlic and oregano transform a simple dip into something genuinely special.
There has been an 85% surge in people searching for creamy dips versus last year, says Waitrose.
Join the discussion
What makes a picnic feel truly special to you: homemade food, stylish gear, or something else?
For pudding, think small and individual. ‘Individual puds in jam jars are a nice touch,’ says Maidment. ‘Eton mess or a deconstructed cheesecake works brilliantly.’ Waitrose backs this up: cheesecake sales are up 52%, mango up 125%, and jam up 116% as shoppers reach for sweet finishes to their spreads.
The supermarket’s own picnic formula suggests your perfect plate should be roughly 30% savoury, 25% dips, 20% crunch or texture contrast, 15% sweet, and 10% unexpected pairings – so don’t be afraid to throw in something that surprises.
The drink
Wine at a picnic is non-negotiable – but the way you serve it matters just as much as what’s in the glass. Charlotte Kristensen, wine editor at You magazine, is clear on what’s in right now. ‘Keep to fresh styles of rosé and white – Chablis, Albariño, Picpoul are all perfect.’ She’s particularly enthusiastic about a Waitrose find: a 1.5-litre unoaked Chardonnay pouch – the equivalent of two bottles for £22 – which she describes as ‘all citrus and mineral, perfect for a picnic.’
And don’t turn your nose up at alternative formats. Cans, bags, and pouches are firmly still in, says Kristensen, with more and more premium producers embracing them. ‘Alternative format wine bottling is not to be sneered at,’ she says. The key, though, is keeping everything properly chilled. Her recommendation is either an ice bucket with ice packs, or decanting your wine into an insulated bottle – she rates the Partner in Wine bottle, £40, which keeps drinks at the right temperature throughout the afternoon.
The Partner in Wine bottle keeps drinks at the right temperature throughout the afternoon.
As for glassware, Kristensen suggests a box of glass tumblers as the baseline civilised option. For the truly bold, she loves the Nude Glass balance wine glasses: ‘They’re incredibly chic.’
The serveware
Nothing undermines a beautifully prepared picnic spread faster than a stack of flimsy paper plates and plastic cutlery. This summer, the move is to reusable – and the aesthetics matter. Enamelware has become the go-to choice for picnic-goers who want something that looks good, travels well, and won’t end up in landfill. Falcon Enamelware’s classic plates, mugs and bowls are robust, lightweight, and have a timeless look that suits everything from a rustic cheese board to a jar of Eton mess.
Falcon Enamelware is a long-lasting, high-quality option for picnicware.
Alongside your plates, think about a proper picnic cloth (a linen one folds flat and packs easily), real napkins rather than paper ones, and – if you’re feeling ambitious – a wooden board for serving the labneh and dips. It’s the details that signal effort, and effort, ultimately, is what elevates a picnic from functional to genuinely impressive.
The bottom line? A posh picnic in 2026 is less about spending money and more about spending thought. Although to be honest, if you end up buying a bottle of Prosecco and some Kettle Chips from the local Tesco Metro on your way to the park, no one is going to complain.
