It would be remiss of anyone to pretend that this year has been anything other than extraordinary, but having all battled through this period together, the first green shoots of the ‘new normal’ are beginning to appear and remnants of our lives pre-coronavirus – sport, retail, meeting up with family – are returning to the fore.
The summer of 2020 is, and will continue to be, different from any other summer in living memory; holidays abroad will either be cancelled or taken with extreme caution, socialising for the most part is limited to remaining outdoors and between 1 and 2 metres apart and big sporting events have been called off to be held behind doors for those able to go ahead.
However, with all that said, there is plenty of opportunity to make summer 2020 one to remember, and with lockdown beginning to ease we are finally able to celebrate it with friends and family that we have not seen in months. Simple pleasures that may have been previously dismissed have now been fully embraced and relished more than they ever have been. One such pleasure that many are taking advantage of is the humble picnic, which can be enjoyed outside at a sensible distance with loved ones, and is perfect for a multitude of different occasions. With that in mind, we have picked out a selection of the very best picnic hampers on offer through www.hampers.com, for you to make the most of the activity of the summer.
In the current climate, a picnic is arguably the best and most enjoyable way to celebrate an event – whether that be a birthday, a graduation, or simply seeing a loved one for the first time in an age - and if you’re finding yourself stuck for picnic ideas, then look no further. What better way to celebrate than with a picnic hamper complete with prosecco? Which is exactly what the Summer Fizz Picnic Hamper entails. The centrepiece of one of our favourite picnic hampers is the 75cl Cortefresca Prosecco; a delightfully fresh, yet fruity tipple, with an aromatic taste that showcases its elegance. Handpicked to accompany the prosecco are cheddar and chilli crackers from Fine Cheese Co, sure to set the taste buds alight, complimented perfectly by the smooth and creamy sensation that is Snowdonia’s Black Bomber – extra mature cheddar cheese. The crackers and cheese are also accompanied by Savoursmiths’ luxury Somerset Cheddar Shallot Crisps, whilst the strong and powerful flavours of the Fine Cheese Company’s Pickled Onions and olives from Olives Et Al are ideal to pair with a glass of fizz. Savoury meets sweet as the hamper is rounded off with some delicious and crumbly lemon biscuits from Farmhouse biscuits, complete with hessian bag. To top it all off, all of the items included are presented artistically inside a wicker picnic hamper, which can be used over and over again (and likely will, this summer).
Despite prosecco seeing a huge surge in popularity in recent years, many people still prefer champagne as their choice of celebratory drink, making the Summer Champagne Picnic Hamper the perfect choice for them. The drink in question is a 75cl bottle of Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut NV Champagne, the house’s signature champagne, and one that balances strength, freshness and aromatic intensity in beautiful equilibrium. Much like the Summer Fizz Picnic Hamper, the Picnic Champagne Hamper incorporates a carefully handpicked selection of savoury goods, including an ample selection of crackers, consisting of Fine Cheese Co’s cheddar and chilli crackers, and Verduijin’s exquisite Savoury Black Pepper & Seasalt Crackers – a classic combination of flavours that pairs perfectly with a glass of champers. In other words, the perfect picnic food, completed with the perfect drink. As with the Summer Fizz Picnic Hamper, this selection all comes in a beautiful, reusable wicker picnic basket.
There are some drinks that can only be truly enjoyed to their maximum in the summertime, and one of those is the Aperol Spritz; a quintessentially summertime cocktail, born in Northeast Italy. The Aperol Spritz Hamper lets you enjoy the Italian cocktail as part of a picnic, with the set including Cortefresca Prosecco, a bottle of Aperol Aperitivo and Fever Tree Soda Water; the perfect combination to make the crisp wine-based cocktail. The set comes complete in a black gift box, which can be reused as many times as one so desires.
For those that prefer their afternoon tea to bottomless brunch, there are still plenty of options, including the Afternoon Tea Delights Hamper, which contains everything you need for a lovely afternoon in the park. A set of traditional English breakfast teabags is included in the hamper for those forward thinking enough to take a flask of hot water along to their picnic, whilst melt-in-the-mouth shortbread courtesy of Walkers make the perfect accompaniment. Luxury assorted pralines will appeal to those with a sweet tooth, whilst the juxtaposing flavours of sweet and salty popcorn are incredibly indulgent. An absolute classic and staple of an afternoon tea is found in the shape of a Gold Crown fruit cake, which is rich and punchy in its taste, and topped with nuts, fruit and edible gold. Why not grab yourself a picnic basket and a flask of hot water, and head off to the park to get your afternoon tea on in the sunshine?
If you are looking to take a real spread of the finest snacks and treats, then you should really be looking no further than The Bearing Gifts Hamper, which would likely propel you to the top of your friends’ good books, given the plenitude of products. The perfect picnic hamper for a group with varying tastes features a wonderful mix of sweet and savoury snacks, with deliciously light and creamy handmade fudge from the West country by Radfords, and crunchy cheese flatbreads packed full of flavour, showing the true range of the selection. There is something here for everyone, and is one of the best-selling hampers on our website for good reason. If you’re searching for picnic food ideas, then you literally can’t go wrong with this hamper, as it has the lot!
