With the beautiful weather now upon us (for now at least here in the UK), now’s the time to start compiling your list of summer picnic essentials you’ll need to make the most of the outdoors. Just don’t leave it until the last minute as now picnic season is upon us, many items will go out of stock very quickly!
Don’t forget who will be joining you on this picnic lunch. If you’re taking the food, or the drinks, make sure you know people’s food allergies and intolerances so there’s plenty of choice for everyone.
Here are 20 essentials you shouldn’t plan a beach picnic without…
Beach Picnic Set Up Essentials
1. Picnic Basket
The first thing on the beach picnic set up essentials list is a picnic basket – that is if you’re looking to go down the fancy picnic route. A wicker picnic basket can look so beautiful and classy on a picnic. They also generally come already filled with plates, cutlery and drinks glasses.
However, do remember they will be heavy and bulky to carry around with you.
If you want your picnic to feel a little fancier, you should definitely invest in a beautiful wicker picnic basket. A picnic basket like this will make you feel like you just stepped into a Jane Austin novel.
Not only do they look great, but they are super convenient as well. They have compartments to hold pretty much anything, including food, glasses, plates, and cutlery.
2. A Waterproof Beach Bag
Picnic baskets can look beautiful, however, they aren’t always the lightest or most compact things to have to carry around with you. Instead, you might want to opt for a tote bag, or even a proper beach bag that comes with a separate section to put all your wet gear in afterwards.
3. Sandproof Beach Blanket
If you haven’t heard of a sandproof beach blanket, you really need to get one for your beach picnic! They literally repel the sand, meaning you won’t be sitting eating your lunch with sand going in places it really shouldn’t! These beach blankets are also lightweight and compact meaning they won’t weigh you down while carting everything to your perfect spot on the beach.
4. Pillows Or Cushions
OK, so pillows might be a bit too much for some, and they really aren’t necessary. However, if you plan to eat from a picnic blanket on the ground, sometimes an inflatable pillow helps to make it that little bit more comfortable.
They are also great if you plan to lounge around on the blanket after your food – perhaps reading a book, or having a snooze.
5. A Foldable Table & Chairs
If you’ve opted not to go for a picnic blanket to have your lunch on, perhaps a foldable table and chairs is more you. It’s great having a picnic but eating off the floor can sometimes be tricky, especially if the ground isn’t flat.
A foldable table and chairs mean you could have more of a stable surface to eat from. are a great idea for your picnic. Alternatively, you can use just a small picnic table for the food and wine. A proper table and chairs can be more practical and comfortable to eat off.
6. Sunscreen
Even if your picnic is somewhere in the UK, sunscreen is a must! We recommend going for at least 30+ to be safe. It might not even be a sunny day, however, the rays will still get through the clouds and the last thing you want is to have your day ruined by burning.
7. Mosquito Repellent
Some of us seem to be able to sit amongst the horse flies, and mosquitoes and not get bitten once. However, those of us not so lucky will probably need some kind of bug spray to keep them from being eaten alive. The last thing you want is to be swarmed by flies and mosquitoes while you’re trying to relax.
8. Create A Summer Playlist
Whether you make your playlist directly on your phone, or through an app such as Spotify, having music to pay at your beach picnic will take it to the next level.
Just make sure you don’t annoy other people around you by blaring it out too loud!
9. A Portable Speaker
Now that you’ve created an awesome summer playlist, you’ll need something to play it on. A smartphone might be just fine, however, if it’s windy, it’s likely you won’t hear it very well. If you can find a good portable speaker that can connect to your phone via bluetooth, that would be great!
10. A Foldable Chopping Board & Knife
Depending on what you plan to take with you on your beach picnic, it’s likely you’ll need a chopping board to cut things on. Something like a foldable chopping board would be great as it’s more compact than a normal cutting board and will be lighter as well.
A foldable chopping board also makes it easier to move food from the board into bowls, or on to plates as you simply half fold it and use the grove as your guide. It could even act as an extra plate should you need one.
11. Food Storage Containers
When it comes to food containers, try to go for containers that will carry more than one thing to maximise space in your picnic basket, or food bag. Storage containers make it mean it’s more convenient for carrying your picnic food, just try to avoid glass containers as these will be heavy and bulky.
However, if you don’t have any, or can’t afford food storage containers, you could just use a small bag instead – perhaps the plastic bag your loaf of bread came in. Then all you need to get are some food bag clips such as these from Koro. You get 5 in a pack, each 16cm long so they will seal pretty much any sized food opening.
Plus, use code BECKY5 to get 5% off your order- site wide.
12. Tasty Snacks
The kind of snacks you decide to take with you should be small, light and easy to eat on the go. Also make sure you know people’s allergies and diet preferences – vegan, vegetarian…etc
13. A Selection Of Drinks
Depending on who will be going on this picnic, make sure you take a good selection of drinks with you. From water to ensure everyone stays hydrated and no-one over heats, to summer favourites such as – fizzy drinks for the kids, and perhaps some cocktails for the adults. Even perhaps a few cold lemonades or mocktails for those not wanting to drink alcohol.
14. A Cool Bag
Whether you have cold drinks to take or not, it’s always good to take a cool bag with you on a picnic to ensure any meats stay as cool as possible. It will also help to keep salads fresh and sandwiches from spoiling. These days you can find some great cool bags that will fold down once they’re empty – even more reason to eat as much as you can!
15. Reusable Plates & Cutlery
Reusable cutlery, plates and bowls are great for taking on picnics, especially if you can find multi-use, or compact items. You don’t want to be lugging heavy, bulky things with you, probably for a while down from the carpark to the beach. For example, this Hip lunchbox and cutlery set means you have your cutlery, a bowl and food container all in one – less to carry!
Plus, not only are they environmentally friendly, you can use them again and again, making them more cost effective for your pocket.
16. Reusable Drinks Straws
Metal, or silicone straws are a great alternative to the one use plastic straws that end up in our oceans. Not only are they reusable, they’re also environmentally friendly, and often cheaper than having to repeatedly buy new one use straws. The great addition for a picnic in a cool glass of lemonade!
17. A Thermos
No picnic is complete without a mug of tea or coffee, no mater how hot it is outside! A thermos flask is ideal to take your hot drinks in to keep them warm until you fancy a cuppa.
18. Beach Games
Once you’ve got your beach picnic set up ready to go it’s time to get the beach games going. You can’t go to the beach and not take some fun games to play before or after your beach picnic lunch!
19. A Beach Windbreaker
Incase you’re going somewhere quite open and exposed to the wind, perhaps consider taking a beach windbreaker with you to avoid any sand going in people’s food. Or worse, the plates and food gets swept away by the wind!
20. A Beach Tent
Incase you’re going for a long period of time, it’s always good to have somewhere to get out of the sun – not always an option on the middle of a beach. However, if you take a beach tent with you, you and your guests will have somewhere to retreat from the harsh sun.
Picnics can be so much more than just sitting down to have some food. The whole point of a picnic is to do something a bit different, out in nature. They can be so much fun if planned properly, and well in advance. Use this list of beach picnic set up essentials to ensure you don’t forget anything!
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