How to Picnic in Style

How to Picnic in Style

We are thrilled to be partnering with Soph and Jen from the Alban Way to celebrate World Picnic Day, and also the launch of one of our newest brands: The Somewhere Co. Soph and Jen founded the Alban Way to showcase the very best of St. Albans, so we felt it was only right to ask them to share their favourite local spots!

Who doesn’t love the joys of picnicking - basking in the sun, enjoying delicious food, and spending quality time with friends and family. But what if you could elevate this simple pleasure into a stylish experience? Let’s explore how to picnic in style, from curating the perfect picnic hamper to discovering the best picnic spots in St Albans, along with some delightful picnic recipes.

1. Choose the Perfect Picnic Hamper

First things first, you need a chic yet practical picnic hamper. Luckily, The Somewhere Co have got just the thing with a range of handy picnic essentials. Here are a few pieces to include:

• Insulated Cooler Bag: Keep your food fresh and beverages chilled with The Somewhere Co Cooler Bag. This is the perfect size for a family day trip and features two compartments with insulated lining.
• Picnic Blanket: The Leisure Rug from The Somewhere Co is brilliant for all of your summer picnics. This has a water-resistant base to keep you from getting wet, and features a fun graphic.
• Midi Cooler Bag: A smaller insulated cooler bag from The Somewhere Co - brilliant for a romantic picnic for two to keep your food cool! 
• Duo Wine Cooler Bag: This The Somewhere Co handy insulated bag can easily carry 2 bottles of wine with a velcro divider to keep them separate. Alternatively, use one side for wine and the other for glasses! 
• Cheeky Tote Bag: This handy The Somewhere Co  bag comes in a range of bright colourways and is brilliant for picnics. They’re a great size to hold all of your summer essentials and more - plus, they’re transparent so you can easily see what you’re carrying!
• Lunch Bag: A smaller cooler bag from The Somewhere Co, perfect for carrying snacks for day trips, solo picnics, or for carrying your lunch to work to keep it cool. 

2. Pick the Perfect Location

“We’re Soph and Jen from the Alban Way and when summer comes around… we love to picnic! We’re super lucky that St. Albans and the surrounding areas have some amazing places to picnic and so if you’re feeling like a lazy afternoon, or if you feel like earning your sandwich – we’ve got you covered!”

An easy St. Albans Picnic

We can’t do an ideal picnic in St. Albans without mentioning Verulamium Park! On a bright, sunny day we love to visit the Splash Park. We’ll pack a picnic blanket, cool box, towels, and a quick change before heading to Silver Palate right by the clock tower. You can’t go wrong with their delicious focaccia sandwiches, amazing iced coffee and treats from the deli counter. When 3pm comes around, pop over to Inn on the Park for an ice cream or a slice of cake and a cup of tea. For anyone who wants an activity for the day, book yourself a volleyball court and pitch up right next door with your picnic blanket for the day – Ye Olde Fighting Cocks will serve the post volleyball wines and a table in the sunshine.

Earn your Picnic!

We love walking, and an amazing circular walk with a fab picnic spot is on the Ivinghoe Beacon Ridgeway Circular Walk, starting from the beautiful village of Aldbury and ending in Ivinghoe Beacon. Stop off for your picnic on the Beacon which has lovely views, including the Whipsnade lion! On the route at this time of year you’ll find wild garlic in abundance (perfect to take home and make your own pesto!) and a drink at The Greyhound in Aldbury before you pick up your car is a must. It’s a lovely pub with great food and a fabulous garden.

Picnic and Swim

If you fancy cooling off on a hot day, you can’t go wrong with visiting St. Albans Sub Aqua Club. They have a cold-water pool and are open to swimmers, there is a ballot for year round swimming but cold water memberships are welcome.

Alternatively, pack a picnic and head off to Olney near Milton Keynes. Olney is well known for the large meadow filled with locals on a hot day and with several spots for swimming and paddling in the river it’s easy to see why! There’s a slight walk so be prepared for the day with everything you need and set up camp to enjoy the sunshine. We’d recommend bringing an inflatable ring, walking up the river and then floating all the way back down. The water can be deep in parts, so make sure you have buoyancy aids and if there has been a lot of rain stick to shallow parts of the river!

Our final swim spot is, of course, Hampstead Heath. Door to door in less than 57 minutes from central St. Albans. Their mixed pond and with a huge heath to picnic on – is the perfect spot for a warm day. The Ladies Pond is the perfect place for a daughters day out, we love that you find upwards of 100 women lounging on the grass there in the sunshine eating their picnics.

3. Curate a Stylish Menu

A well-thought-out picnic menu is the heart of a perfect outing. Keep reading for some sophisticated yet easy-to-prepare recipes straight from the team here at The Dressing Room! 

Gourmet Sandwich: Deryane’s Prosciutto, Fig, & Goats Cheese Baguette:

A fresh yet summery sandwich to really take your picnic to the next level. 

You’ll need: A sliced sourdough baguette, prosciutto, fresh figs, goats cheese, rocket leaves and a balsamic glaze.

Instructions: Layer your prosciutto, sliced figs, and goats cheese in your baguette. Top with rocket for added freshness, and finish off by drizzling with some balsamic glaze.

Refreshing Salads: Laura’s Quinoa & Avocado Salad:

There’s nothing better than a vibrant salad on a warm summer's day.

You’ll need: Cooked quinoa, diced avocado, diced cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber,diced red onion,shredded  fresh mint, lemon juice, olive oil, and to finish salt, and pepper.

Instructions: Mix all ingredients in a bowl and season with lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper to taste.

Thirst-Quenching Beverages: Charley’s Sparkling Lemonade:

Lemonade tastes even better when it’s been made fresh! Add sugar to taste and make it as sour or sweet as you’d like.

You’ll need: Fresh lemons, sparkling water, sugar, mint leaves.

Instructions: Squeeze the lemons, and mix the juice with sugar until dissolved, add sparkling water, and garnish with mint leaves for a zingy drink.

Here at The Dressing Room, we think a picnic is the perfect way to make the most of the summer sun, and is a great way to spend time with your family and friends. Pick a handy The Somewhere Co cool bag, prepare some delicious food, and head over to your favourite location - enjoy!