Season to taste

DESIGN

Make the most of warmer days by turning your garden into an alfresco dining room. By Kate Watson-Smyth

There's nothing nicer than eating outside when the weather is fine - anything from an early morning breakfast in the cool morning light, to an impromptu lunch or meticulously planned barbecue. We Britons are gradually waking up to the fact that life can be lived outside during the summer and there is a huge range of accessories out there that are perfect for alfresco dining. Buy yourself a big storage trunk to keep in the shed and you will have everything to hand for the perfect picnic.

DRINKING

The first requirement for a truly successful outdoor dining experience is a steady flow of chilled drinks - be it champagne or orange juice. The Ice Cube measures 150cm by 55cm and is basically a large garden fridge - that lights up. Fill it with ice and stash your bottles in it and the Ice Cube will sit in the corner glowing gently in a choice of colours - red, blue or green. It needs to be plugged in, but it comes with an outdoor lead and socket. You can buy a matching lid with a fabric cover to put on top of it when it is not in use and use it to store your glasses and plates; you can also use it as a seat. It's clever, but pricey - 950 plus 450 for the lid (020-8878 1994; www.barbedltd.co.uk).

Once you've chilled the wine, you will need something to drink it out of. These glasses are, strictly speaking, more for the picnic or spontaneous party as they have no base but are designed to be planted in the ground if you aren't near the table. Good for flower pots or sand and made from hammered silver to keep the drinks cold (39.50 for a set of two - 0845 602 3578; www.handpickedcollection.co.uk).

Another clever idea are the Steady Sticks, a bottle or wine glass holder that plants into the ground to keep everything upright if you are on bumpy ground. Perfect for picnics rather than at home where you probably have a table (13.95 for the holder and 9.95 a pair of glass holders - 01254 820 478; www.silvernutmeg.com).

Finally, the younger element. Emma Bridgewater has a fun range of colourful melamine beakers, which will add cheer to any outdoor dinner. They come in 10 colours and cost 2.50 each. Emma also does some stylish and sturdy wine glasses (25 for a set of 10 - 020-7371 5489; www.emmabridgewater.co.uk).

EATING

Although not everyone wants to eat off plastic plates, you can use these melamine ones for serving the food since they are lightweight, virtually unbreakable and also dishwasher proof (6.49 - 0870 803 4480; www. corvusweb.co.uk). Habitat does a huge range of plates, platters and salad bowls in a variety of designs (from 2 - 0870 411 5501; www.habitat.co.uk).

WILDLIFE

Now you've got a drink in your hand, your attention has no doubt wandered to the wildlife that is also showing an interest. There's nothing more guaranteed to ruin the relaxation of a drink in the sun than when you are having to duck from and swat away the wasps and bugs. Hang this pretty wasp catcher from a tree or parasol, which a suitable sweet treat inside and you will be free (22.50 - 0845 130 5577; www.rkalliston.co.uk).

Still on the subject of the wildlife, you'll need something to protect the food from insects. These pop-up food covers lie flat for storage and simply open up to stand over your dishes. Possibly not the most beautiful thing on your table, but one of the most practical (2.99 and 3.79 - 01539 488 100; www.lakeland.co.uk).

If you're outside at night, you will need lighting and protection, so you can kill two birds with one stone - or moths - with some citronella candles. Scientific opinion is divided as to whether it really works, but it still looks pretty (4.99 - 0845 4300 705; www.scentedcandleshop.com).

THE SETTING

You might think eating outside negates the need for a tablecloth, but they look pretty as well as being practical. Choose from Just Wipe's Molly vintage look or their fabulous splashy flower and stripes deisgn. The company also sell tablecloth clips for those days when you are determined to eat in the garden but it's windy - see any episode of Dallas when they all sat outside for a breakfast argument in a howling gale (12 per metre - 01606 836 179; www.justwipe.co.uk).

On the off-chance that it's a really hot day, you might prefer to sit in the shade. Heals does a parasol in green with white leaves for 125 (www.heals.co.uk) or for a cheaper, but just as effective solution, you can attach a sail shade between trees, fences or the walls of the house. Coolaroo sail shades give 100 per cent UVA protection (from 33.95 - 0118-9427 345; www.primrose-london.co.uk).

For anyone with a large garden, a full-on gazebo might be the way to go. You can get all sorts of permanent structures with wooden or steel frames or opt for a collapsible version that will be easier to put up and down. One of the cheapest and easiest around is from Woolworths for 39.99 - and it's shower-proof.

Finally, you will need an easy way to transport all the food, plates and glasses from the kitchen to the end of the garden or terrace. One option would be a Darjeeling brass trolley, priced at 275 from Graham and Green, which is pretty enough to live inside the rest of the time (0845 130 6622; www.grahamandgreen.co.uk). A wooden version for 60 is available from Alfresia (0845 408 2028; www.alfresia.co.uk).