Like a mini holiday within a day. There’s something so special about having a picnic.
The Great British picnic is one of those time-honoured summer pursuits that everyone can get involved with.
So, you can act on the spur of the moment, we’ve put together a quick-fix picnic guide. Think of it as a bit like a supermarket sweep, but for picnics!
You don’t want to be wasting time and getting stressed about picnic prep. This guide is here to help you magic a sumptuous picnic with minimal effort so you can really make the most of your time out, plan an easy family day out or simply have some fun with a spur of the moment sunny afternoon trip.
Everything you need for a brilliant picnic can be picked up in one trip to Oxford Covered Market.
Grab some grub
Every good picnic starts with the food. This is not the moment for a lonely sandwich and a slightly bruised banana.
For something fresh, colourful and filling, head to Alpha Bar for one of their ready-made boxed salads. Packed with organic, locally sourced ingredients and served in cardboard packaging, they’re a delicious way to love lunch while showing a little love to the planet too.
Few things say picnic quite like cheese, fresh bread and chutney. The Oxford Cheese Company can help you build a proper picnic spread, with artisan cheeses and all the accompaniments needed to make a patch of grass feel like the best table in town. Check out our interview with owner Robert Pouget where he recommends the ideal picnic cheese menu!
Fancy come hearty classics? Pick up pork pies, pasties and cold meats from David John Butchers. They are easy to carry, easy to share and unlikely to survive for long once the picnic blanket comes out.
For sumptuous sandwiches made to order, try Taylors Oxford, Sofi de France or Brothers, then there’s pre-made generously filled bagels at Columbia Coffee Roasters, filled homebaked rolls at Hamblin Bakery, or mouth watering Panuozzo – pizza dough sandwich wrapped to go from Il Corno.
Oxford Dogs also offers glorious hot dog and giant pretzel picnic boxes that also come with a drink. You can’t get a quicker picnic fix than that! Perfect if you really are on the fly or have one person that has a very different taste.
Save room for something sweet
The sensible approach is to choose one treat to share. The picnic approach is to choose several and see what happens.
You’ll find cakes, pastries and other tempting treats to take away at Sofi de France, Colombia Coffee Roasters, Taylors, and Brown’s Cafe. For freshly baked cookies in a box, make a stop at Ben’s Cookies. For chocolate, truffles and other sweet options, visit Wicked Chocolate.
Now for the drinks…
A cold drink in the sunshine is one of life’s simple pleasures. The Market has plenty of options for every kind of picnic.
The Market Cellar Door have tipped us off about a delicious new vintage of locally produced prosecco. You can also try some of its wines before buying, helping you find the right bottle for your feast. Don’t be shy to ask their knowledgeable team to pair it with your food.
The Oxford Cheese Company stocks wine too. They can also recommend something that works with your chosen cheese and picnic food, and suddenly your spontaneous afternoon has become rather sophisticated.
Beer drinkers should stop at Teardrop Bar and The Market Tap. At Teardrop you can pick up local Church Hanbrewery beers, including their Summer IPA. As well as bottles they sell their brews in handy mini kegs or you can fill up large glass flagon from their casks. Maybe treat yourself to a tasting flight beforehand and call it essential picnic research.
Over at The Market Tap, you’ll find take away cans ranging from crisp lagers to rich stouts, plus alcohol-free options for anyone who wants all the flavour without the alcohol.
For softer refreshments, Teardrop Bar stocks thirst-quenching local apple juice, while the all the Market’s cafés – including iScream – offer a wide choice of cold drinks to take away.
Remember to bring water too, especially on hotter days. Your future self will be grateful.
Add that extra-special touch…
Food and drink may be the main event, but a few thoughtful extras can turn an improvised lunch into a proper summer occasion.
Choose a traditional picnic blanket from Woollen Cosy Life and claim your spot in style. Pack the practical bits. Alongside stylish and sustainable underwear, Y.O.U Underwear stock a wide range of eco-friendly lifestyle accessories. Look out for reusable cutlery and other useful additions to your picnic kit.
Bring a brilliant book. A good book makes an excellent picnic companion, particularly when everyone else has decided to have a post-lunch snooze. Ask the team at Gulp Fiction for a summer reading recommendation. They can help you find something perfectly suited to a lazy afternoon in the sunshine.
Add a little friendly competition. For something fun that will not take up much room, pick up a mini jigsaw from No. 76 (James Taylor Photo Art). They are small, sweet and ideal for keeping children or adults entertained.
Gather your goodies…
You can find mini picnic hampers at The Oxford Cheese Company if you want to create the full traditional scene. For something a little more flexible, pick up an Oxford Covered Market tote bag. Most of our traders stock them. They’re roomy enough for food, drinks and picnic essentials – and carrying the blanket under one arm may make you look even more convincingly prepared.
Then all that is left to do is choose your spot. Head to a local park, meet friends beside the river, find a shady corner or simply follow the sunshine. While we are here to help you with your search for an ideal picnic space click on this guide to Oxford City Council’s Parks and Open spaces. And of course please remember to take your litter home with you!
That is the joy of the quick-fix picnic with Oxford’s independent traders. Less preparation. No washing-up. More time outside enjoying great food on your own or with great company.
Ready, steady…picnic!