The inside track on outside dining

With small gatherings now allowed outdoors, many of us are grabbing a picnic blanket and meeting friends again. Judy Yorke tests gear designed to make alfresco dining a breeze

MAKE SPACE

Roll-up picnic mat with bag, £79, thestripescompany.com

It’s a familiar sight – a group of people struggling to fit on one picnic rug, with at least one ending up sat disconsolately on the grass.

This 200cm x 200cm massive rug, with its damp-proof backing and easy-to-use matching shoulder bag, should solve that problem. BEST FOR: Big families 8/10

KEEP IT COOL

Lakeland Insulated Cool Tote Bag, £24.99, Lakeland A cool box is a necessity for picnics. This tote bag is soft so you can squash it down when it isn’t in use. Its 13-litre capacity is decent and the reflective lining is designed to keep everything cold.

There’s one big compartment that you can access by unzipping the whole thing or you can pull smaller items out through the Velcro hatch on the top.

There’s also an insulated outside pocket and two mesh sections. BEST FOR: Space-strapped picnic fans 10/10

WINE ON THE GO

Vino2Go portable wine glass, £9.99, prezzybox.com Fancy sipping chilled white on an evening stroll without breaking stride?

The shape of this portable glass makes it harder to knock over, the lid contains spills, and the glass is insulated to keep drinks at the right temperature. BEST FOR: Wine lovers 7/10

SUPER SEAT

Vango inflatable sofa, £29.99, outdoorworlddirect.co.uk

This two-seater takes a few minutes to inflate with an electric pump, or you can also use your car’s charger socket.

We liked the flocked seat as it’s soft and won’t get too hot in the sun. It’s surprisingly comfortable but low to the ground, so might be tricky for some to get up from. BEST FOR: Couples 8/10

FAB FOR FOOD

Food flask, £31.99, shoreusable.com Food flasks will keep hot food hot and cold food cold. We ambitiously filled this one with chocolate ice cream, which was soft but still very edible after five hours. Soup, ideal for a chilly evening meet-up, was still hot after eight.

Nice touches include a carrying handle and a spork inside the lid. BEST FOR: Foodies 8/10

GET GAMING

Go Explore Picnic game, £49.49, shop.ordnance survey.co.uk This picnic rug doubles as a massive game and teaches kids geography . It’s a huge map of Britain and comes with counters and a dice. Games are printed on the side and you can find more online.

We liked the mix of active, creative and guessing games. The mat is lightweight but there are peg spaces in the corner for windy days. BEST FOR: Kids 9/10

CLEVER CUTLERY

Cutlery set, £12.95, black-blum.com

We loved this clever, space-saving solution that means you don’t need plastic knives or end up with dirty forks and lost spoons.

Place the stainless steel spoon, fork and knife on top of each other and slip them into the spoon-shaped case, which you can then pop in your bag.

Back home, all the bits can go in the dishwasher. Now there’s now no reason to stick to boring sandwiches on your next picnic. BEST FOR: Clean freaks 9/10

TAKE A SEAT

Bamboo canvas chair, £59, lifeundercanvas.co.uk Anyone who spent last summer carting camping chairs about will love this. It’s light, with collapsible legs that you slide into a carry bag and sling over your shoulder. It looks good too – the seat and bamboo legs contrast beautifully. It’s not the biggest and there are no arm rests, but the fabric is removable and washable and there’s a handy mesh pocket on the back.

BEST FOR: Style lovers 8/10

SHADE SEEKER

Clip-on parasol, £9.29, amazon.co.uk

This little parasol will come to your rescue on a scorching day, fitting on to the side of your chair to provide some welcome shelter from the heat.

We found it a bit fiddly initially but once you get the hang of it it’s a good option at a cheap price. BEST FOR: People who like it hot… but not too hot 7/10

COVER UP

Food cover, £4, talacooking.com Sadly bees, flies and wasps love picnics as much as we do. But a simple food covering can keep them off.

You just need to open this out and use it as a sort of tent over your food when you’re not actually eating, then fold it down again when you’re finished.

It’s a bit flimsy so it won’t be much use on a blustery day but it’s effective and eco-friendly. BEST FOR: Bug haters 7/10

TOP TABLE

Folding camping table and stools, £39.99, Decathlon This is a neatly designed table with four little seats. When not in use, the stools fit underneath the table and the whole thing folds up, with handles to carry it. The table is reasonably sturdy and easy to clean, though the seats aren’t the most comfortable. It’s on the heavy side so you wouldn’t want to hike too far with it, but it’s a clever and well-priced alternative to sitting on a rug. BEST FOR: Serious picnickers 8/10