Dining alfresco is about celebrating every second of sun the summer is going to give us, whether there’s an occasion for it or not …

When it comes to summer there are few things that spark more joy in the heart of the British public than entertaining alfresco. In fact, leave your house between June and August and you’ll be hard pressed to find an area of grass that hasn’t been commandeered by a group of friends eating and drinking outside. Because dining alfresco doesn’t just have to mean jostling for table space outside a crowded streetside restaurant, or trying to bargain your way into the latest must-visit rooftop bar.

It’s about finally using that garden you collectively pay an extra £200 a month for, it’s streets filled with the delicious haze of smoky barbecues and pouring cocktails into any kind of glass that takes your fancy, because who says a Martini needs to be served in a Martini glass? It’s brightly coloured sundresses and going to your local deli to select the perfect olives for the occasion. It’s staying out after sundown and using your picnic blanket for warmth as the evening draws on.