There are few pleasures more distinctly British than a picnic assembled with care and carried outdoors at the first suggestion of sun. Blankets reappear, rosé is chilled, and suddenly, parks, riverbanks, and gardens begin to feel like perfectly acceptable dining rooms. At Forman & Field, we believe the perfect British picnic should feel generous rather than complicated: exceptional smoked salmon, proper cheeses, elegant puddings, and bottles worth opening before the afternoon has properly begun. Here is what we believe belongs at the picnic table this summer and exactly how we intend to spend Picnic Week in England.
What is the best food to serve at a summer picnic?
The finest picnic food is food designed for lingering over slowly. A beautiful spread, passed casually across the blanket and eaten somewhere between the first bottle and the second. British picnics have increasingly moved towards nibbling-style tables filled with elegant savouries, proper cheeses, beautifully made sandwiches, and indulgent food designed more for sharing than structure.
Sandwiches, naturally, remain essential. The Traditional Smoked Salmon & Cream Cheese Bagel offers something considerably more decadent than the average picnic sandwich, while Salmon Fish Fingers with Caper & Lemon Mayonnaise bring a more playful sort of luxury to the blanket altogether. Meanwhile, Coronation Chicken remains one of the great British picnic classics for very good reason, and Salmon Sandwich Spread layered generously into soft bread or toasted bagels feels made for long June afternoons outdoors.
For finger food designed to disappear remarkably quickly once unpacked, Homemade Scotch Eggs and Handmade Sausage Rolls deliver exactly the sort of nostalgic British comfort every proper picnic blanket deserves. Alongside them, Potted Lobster spread generously over Melba Toasts feels particularly persuasive with something sparkling poured properly cold nearby.
For all the charcuterie enthusiasts. Smoked Salmon Pâté and Smoked Mackerel Pâté bring richness and depth to the table. Particularly when paired with slices of Rutland Red and generous spoonfuls of Date, Apple & Ginger Chutney. Meanwhile, Potted Stilton with Port Glaze delivers exactly the sort of indulgent, deeply British moment that makes even an ordinary patch of grass feel faintly extravagant.
What should I drink during a Picnic?
June picnics require bottles that feel refreshing enough for warm afternoons yet elegant enough to carry the table well into the evening. English wine, particularly at this point in the season, feels entirely at home on the picnic blanket. Properly chilled, poured generously, and enjoyed somewhere between smoked fish, good cheese, and long conversations outdoors.
Bolney Cuvée Rosé 2018 brings fine bubbles and bright summer fruit, particularly suited to smoked salmon and salty pâtés enjoyed in the sun. For something softer and more relaxed, Bolney Rosé offers delicate berry notes and exactly the sort of easy drinkability that belongs at long June lunches. Meanwhile, Biddenden Gribble Bridge Rosé 2018 feels made for warm evenings outdoors; crisp, elegant, and dangerously easy to finish.
For those preferring white wine at the picnic table, Lyme Bay Shoreline delivers citrus freshness and floral notes that pair beautifully with seafood and lighter summer grazing, while Three Choirs Coleridge Hill 2017 brings elderflower and stone fruit that work particularly well alongside cheeses and picnic salads. Biddenden Ortega 2021, meanwhile, offers exactly the sort of bright freshness one wants from a bottle opened outdoors before lunch has officially begun.
What desserts belong at the perfect picnic?
Picnic puddings should feel slightly nostalgic, easy to share, and indulgent enough to justify lingering outdoors long after lunch has officially ended. Valrhona Chocolate Salted Caramel Pots bring precisely the sort of rich, spoonable indulgence that feels particularly delicious eaten outdoors with a glass of something chilled nearby. Alongside them, Cherry Bakewell offers a more nostalgic sort of pleasure; buttery pastry, almond, and sharp cherry that feels unmistakably British in the very best way.
For something lighter and altogether more elegant, Macaroons bring colour, sweetness, and the sort of effortless charm that belongs naturally beside coffee and late-afternoon conversation. Meanwhile, Tiffin Cake delivers something richer and altogether more indulgent; chocolatey, slightly nostalgic, and exactly the sort of dessert that disappears rather quickly once sliced outdoors.
