Make sure autumn outdoor entertaing is lit

Luke Rix-standing has some al fresco project ideas to fire your imagination

Rarely have we appreciated a summer so little, and yet been sadder to see it go. For all the dread of the coronavirus pandemic and its accompanying lockdowns, safe socialising in warm weather was a doddle compared to what lies ahead.

A socially-distanced walk in the park, a carefully constructed outdoor dinner, a well-regulated beer garden – all could be enjoyed in relative safety. Now wintery weather is wrapping the nation in its icy grip, and even the most wellfortified beer blanket will struggle against a chill evening.

But there is – and always has been – plenty to appreciate about winter. The long, dark evenings lit by fire or candlelight, the restorative qualities of mulled wine and cocoa, the cloud of mist that accompanies every breath.

Heating of some sort is a must for al fresco dining outside of summer, and there are various ways of transporting some hyg ge from your front room to your outdoor area. Glowing coals and real flame both lend a lovely back-to-nature feel, and can turn an evening outdoors into something special.

Fire pits can be run on gas or filled with wood or charcoal, or you can opt for a brazier or even a kettle barbecue. Charcoal needs to be lit

Equestrian Design Fire Bowl, £ 699, from logifirepits.com. Below, Smart Solar Crackle String Lights, £19.99, available at Dobbies the fly, so opt instead for an awning or – better yet – a gazebo.

A roof with no sides is almost as covid-safe as being out in the open, and will protect you from all but the most horizontal rain. Popup four-pole gazebos are widely available, easy to set up, and pack down into a simple carry bag. A classic three-x-three-metre unit is large enough for four to six people, with at least a metre distancing in between.

Fire pits and braziers may offer the flickering light of the fireside, but for an ordinary evening, some sort of artificial lighting is a must.

Plug-in lanterns and spotlights are common and easy to hook up, while wall-mounted outdoor lamps come in a range of styles, and can mostly be installed without tradespeople spending too long inside your home.

Consider using directed, accent lighting to illuminate your table, while leaving the space around you delightfully dark and mysterious, or running fairy lights through trees for peak festivity.

If you can’t use mains electricity, rechargeable lanterns are generally inexpensive and should easily last the course of an extended evening, while solar-powered lights can brighten your garden by night having juiced up by day.