Whether you’re a fan of dining alfresco or just want to make the most of a sunny day, having a picnic can be a lot of fun – but they do need some planning.
That’s why we’ve put together some handy picnic tips and tricks to make it extra special and ultra-convenient.
Sort your seating
First things first, you’ll need somewhere to sit. Our Waterproof Tartan Picnic Blanket XL is the perfect option, with a useful carry handle to bring it with you on every trip, and a waterproof backing. Even if the sun is out, sometimes the morning dew can make sitting down on a blanket extremely uncomfortable, so this will come in handy.
Or if you have a spare shower curtain, or you don’t mind taking your current one down, place it under your picnic blanket to avoid any water from soaking through.
If you’d rather have a bit more comfort on your picnic, you could even set up some camping chairs to really enjoy your food.
Don’t worry about dishes
Forgot the picnic bowls for the crisps? Good news, simply push the bottom of a large sharing crisp bag upwards inside itself to transform it into a handy bowl.
Easy eating
Watermelon is the ideal beach food for a picnic on a hot day but can be tricky to handle. To avoid unwanted sticky fingers, collect your old ice lolly sticks and pop them into your watermelon slices.
Keep your apples fresh
Apple slices are another picnic or beach food staple. However, as soon as you slice them and they’re exposed to oxygen, they go brown.
Instead, reconnect the slices to form their original shape and use an elastic band to keep them together. In simple terms, it should look like a Terry’s Chocolate Orange!
Enjoy some tunes
Forgot your portable speakers? Placing your mobile phone in an empty glass can amplify the sound of your music.
Always have cold water on hand
Staying hydrated in hot picnic conditions is hugely important – although it’s not very fun when you only have warm water to drink.
The solution? Put a few bottles of water in the freezer the night before. This way, it’ll stay cooler for longer as it begins to melt (or invest in a portable coolbox).
Protect your drinks
Get annoyed when you find a bug swimming in your drink? Simply place a cupcake case over your drink to keep your drink protected.
Don’t forget the picnic essentials
Before you try a few of our picnic tips and tricks, make sure you have all the basics – from cooking equipment to camping essentials, you’ll find everything over at Halfords.com.
Need some inspiration? We’ve got plenty, with a variety of blogs to help level up your plans.
• Get the car kitted out with our ultimate road trip packing list
• Heading away? Keep things cool with our guide to family glamping
• Fit more fun with our guide to which roof bars fit your car
• Keep four-legged friends happy on your adventures with the best dog car accessories and our guide to camping with dogs
Follow our top tips and you’ll have the best picnics ever this summer. Planning to picnic while on a staycation? Use our Ultimate Staycation Checklist to ensure you have everything you need.
