Summer, surely, was made for outdoor feasting. Impromptu barbecues on super-sunny days, long lunches with treasured friends, parties under the stars, fire pits roaring and festoon lights a-glow.
While formal entertaining will always have its place, indoors and out, there's something incredibly sociable about a relaxed gathering in the great outdoors. A casual dining set – typically a corner sofa with dining benches and a large ceramic or glass-topped dining table – is at once convivial, comfortable and practical and is a smart addition to contemporary and traditional gardens alike.
With your outside space filled with treasured friends and family, light the coals and settle in for a deliciously seasonal feast with generously-sized garden furniture and accessories designed to help you and your favourites make the most of BBQ season.
Fire pit tables
Outdoor entertaining just got even easier. The new generation of fire pit tables allow you to cook up a feast without even leaving the sofa. And when the cooking's done, the flames are a fantastic focal point to keep your guests cosy – and the party going long into the night.
The roomy Chedworth casual dining set with fire pit table has plenty of seating for 12 or more of your favourite people on a generous, comfortable corner sofa and two large dining benches. There are optional BBQ griddles and a cover to keep everything clean and dry if the great British weather takes a turn.
Quick drying, season-proof cushions mean it'll always be ready for your guests, the glass guards can be deployed in seconds and the gas – discreetly hidden under the outdoor wicker table – is quick and easy to light. And when you're done, replace the ceramic inserts for a seamless table top.
The Monterey modular corner sofa and fire pit table is the smaller cousin to the Chedworth and a slightly more compact option – though you'll still get 10 around it in comfort. The fire pit is necessarily smaller, but optional BBQ griddles mean you can still cook up a feast at the table.
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Adjustable-height tables
Hard-working, multi-functional furniture is one of the key garden trends for this year, and it's easy to see why. However large or small your outdoor space, garden furniture which adapts for different situations is cost-effective and makes entertaining effortless. A simple-to-operate mechanism inside the piston tables of the Tuscan and Fairford collections is operated with a lever using just one hand, taking you from morning coffee to dining in a matter of seconds.
Contemporary anthracite frames and woven detailing make the Tuscan collection a modern masterpiece for eating and lounging. The sandstone wicker and neutral cushions of the Fairford make this set, which includes a generous corner sofa, armchair, dining bench and piston table, a fine choice for town and country gardens alike.
The Monterey casual dining set seats 10 in comfort while the square dining table, which adjusts up or down, offers plenty of room for a feast with family and friends.
Corner dining sets
On a contemporary terrace or modern patio, the corner-hugging Riviera casual dining set is perfectly at home, and it's big enough to seat the crowd in comfort. Use it to delineate your BBQ area from the rest of the garden, adding an outdoor rug for warmth and style. It's available in two colourways – Carbon Black and Barista, a versatile neutral.
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Dressing for dinner
In direct contrast to more formal supper parties, a BBQ is a deliciously relaxed affair. It's a chance to introduce playful touches to your decor, from these brightly-coloured solar lanterns to our new range of Bordhalo Pinhero tableware in riotous shades of orange and cerise. Fill vintage glass jars with blooms cut from the garden and woodland treasures. Choose from a huge selection of tableware and garden lighting in our showrooms in the Worcestershire countryside.
Looking for inspiration? Read how Holloways designer Annie Blackledge styles her outdoor dining room here.
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Turn up the heat
Even on the hottest of days, the great British weather often has a mind of its own, and evenings can become chilly. Dressing your outdoor furniture with cushions and cosy throws will keep your BBQ guests warm after the sun goes down. Adding a patio heater or fire pit creates a warm welcome and a focal point for your guests to gather round. We love the Overhang patio heater – at once a lighter and heater with a beautifully stylish shade.
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Rain or shine
A parasol is the ultimate garden accessory. Provider of excellent shade on scorching hot days, it's also a handy rain shield for days when the weather has other ideas. Ours range from small staysails, ideal over a small outdoor dining set, to this 3m Siesta wood-look parasol – a beautiful piece of furniture in its own right with a granite base and wheels, to easily move around the garden.
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