The best summer garden party ideas, from glorious brunches to DIY festivals Wine News

EA small roof terrace or an empty yard can be the setting for a wonderful garden party. You just need a little imagination and a bunch of your closest friends and family, says garden designer Charlotte Rowe, who regularly hosts parties in her tiny London garden.

“There are so many things that fairy lights, floating candles and hurricane lanterns can do,” she says. “It takes a lot of the eye to read: a Raj tent, a fire pit and, of course, good food and drink.”

There does not have to be an opportunity as such; spending time together outdoors is a party in itself, adds designer and cook Sophie Conran. And you can invite guests any time of the day: for brunch, long lunch, evening cocktails or a late night movie. “People tend to stay outside longer,” she says.

A separate theme will help you plan, according to Claire Behrens, who runs The Sanctuary at Wilderness Festival. “You can really go in the garden,” she said. “It’s so satisfying to turn an outdoor space into an amazing stage.”

If you’re really stylish, you’ll already have a set of Paola Lenti woven chairs and a water feature; if you don’t, there’s no point throwing money at cheap alternatives, Rowe warns. “You can’t make an Ikea garden,” she insists. “As soon as you add heat or water, inexpensive patio furniture will fall apart.”