Fancy park picnic

[KittenKong]

I spotted a company setting up a lovely spread in the park recently - rugs, hampers, low tables, cushions…

we had been discussing doing a park picnic for DS birthday for godparents and siblings (it’s his 18 - he will have his own friends one but as a group we also we do a lunch when it’s one of the kids birthdays).

so - I thought - great idea (we really don’t have room for 15 people). Flipping hell it’s expensive - over £30 a head plus a fee! I looked at other companies that do similar and some were quoting almost £1k…

the benefit is that they set up, deliver and tidy up - I can’t beat the thought to hailing ice bags and boxes of food to the park (and a couple of chairs for grandparents).

has anyone got any bright ideas? When they were little it was ‘being a rug and a plate’ but we wanted something a bit ‘nicer’? I’ve looked at catering companies that I have used for work - they are good but don’t have the ‘fancy decorations’.

It looked so lovely though!

They cost that much because when you factor it all in that is what it costs. You pay the money or do it yourself.... I do lovely picnics for not much money but there is a huge amount of hauling everything around and we have built up a big collection of waterproof cushions, little tables, low chairs, hampers etc over the last 20 years.

That is so much more than I would ever budget for a picnic.

I remember not long ago afternoon tea was less than £10, now it’s around £25 upwards. We’ve got a few cafes with private outdoor seating, but I expect you’d have to provide your own decorations, or ask a party shop to do it for you. Also see if you have any lounge bars, these near us take bookings for this type of event.

Breaking down the costs - I get the amount (worked in events for long enough!) but how lovely just to have to rock up and NOT lug ice buckets, boxes of food…