Roll out the tartan rug - there's still time for a summer picnic! Instead of squashed sandwiches, treat yourself to one of our favourite hampers 'To Go'.
These folks have been making picnic hampers (and only picnic hampers) for six years, and will cater for everyone from the solitary picnicker to groups of 20 or more. The ’traditional’ picnic hamper (£18 per head for a minimum of 2 people) contains no fewer than 18 essentially English nibbles – think sausage rolls, cheese platter, jam and cream scones – , or you can upgrade to the ‘luxury’ picnic menu for an extra £2, and expect additions such as pate, smoked salmon, and olives. Every picnic comes in a wicker basket or a biodegradable picnic box, if you prefer. Delivery within a 30 mile radius of Ely, Cambridgeshire.
The Arch House Deli are on-trend with their biodegradable picnic hampers, which come in three themes: ‘Baroque’ (sandwiches, homemade cake, crisps and lemonade for £8.95 pp); ‘Classical’ (the usual suspects plus tartlets, deli salad, Mediterranean nibbles; charcuterie and chutney for £19.95 pp); or ‘Romantic’ (a mixture of the two previous hampers, plus strawberries dipped in chocolate and a bottle of prosecco for £29.95 pp). You can get a pretty wicker basket instead, but you’ve got to pay extra for it. 48 hours notice is required, although they do try to cater for last minute bookings.
An oh-so-English selection of Mrs Kings Pork Pie with Gardeners Relish, a hunk of Montgomery cheddar with Sally Clarke Oatcakes, a vine of Isle of Wight tomatoes, two boxes of seasonal salad, a bottle of Luscombe’s Lemonade, homemade chocolate brownies, and a punnet of Chegworth Valley strawberries… a right royal feast, all for only £39.95 for two! Comes in a cool bag, complete with disposable cutlery, plates, cups and napkins. Make sure you order it 48 hours in advance.
Cake, cake, and more cake! Perfect for sweet-toothed picnickers, these hampers are stacked high with nothing but sweet treats. Order the ‘Lisnarick’ hamper for 12 cupcakes and dainty individual cakes (£22); the ‘Rossory’ for a larger cakes, cupcakes and individual cakes selection (£35); or the ‘Ely Lodge’ to design your very own hamper. Flavours include chocolate, spiced banana and coffee and walnut, and delivery costs start at £2.99.
With the Cornish fishing village of Porthleven on their doorstep, you can expect amazingly fresh seafood from these picnics, which are delivered straight to your door. The cheapest at £75 is the ‘Kynance Cove’, which boasts homemade Cornish crabcakes, crudités with garlic crème fraiche, Melton Mowbray pork pies, Westcountry cheeses, olives, freshly baked rustic bread, Polgoon cider and homemade blueberry muffins. Phew! Or really treat yourself to the £140 ‘Porthleven’ picnic, which includes buttery potted crab, mackerel and bulgur salad, and Cornish pilchards. Picnics are delivered in a polystyrene cool box, which are excellent for growing seedlings in afterwards.
Can you recommend any other hampers 'To Go'? Or would you prefer to make your own? Talk to us in the Comments below…
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