Why we love alfresco dining

We love to get out and embrace the outdoors. If eating outside can become part of our summer plans, then so much the better! So why has this become so important to so many of us? Here are a few reasons why we believe alfresco dining is such an important rite of passage. Funnily enough, it’s not just about the food…or the drinks! (I know, we were just as surprised as you!)

British Weather
It’s no secret that the British weather is totally unpredictable, even more so over the past few years. It simply cannot be trusted to be hot in the summer, or temperate and showery in Spring. Now we are looking at mid-February heat waves that leave us ever-so-slightly rouged (yes, I do mean sunburnt), or better yet Christmas shopping in nothing but a t-shirt! Then suddenly we are hit by a series of freak snow storms in May. It’s safe to say the weather cannot be trusted. So, when Mr. Blue does eventually decide to show his face, we are compelled to grab our picnic and blankets, or brush down the barbecue and get those sausages sizzling. There is no telling when the next opportunity may be.

Tradition
We are all suckers for tradition in some way. And why? Because at the end of the day, it makes us who we are. Traditions are totally unique to each individual and are enacted and re-enacted all year round.

Therefore, whether it is tradition to have a picnic at the same spot every year, or to have a jug of punch at ‘that pub with a great beer garden’… or even that the barbecue burgers are always home-made by dad (despite them ever-so-slightly resembling a giant, crumbling pinecone), summer traditions will always be carried out, rain or shine… and they must – it’s tradition!

Exercise
This one goes without saying really! When we eat at home we don’t really need to move very far (even if you did run down the stairs). Whereas these perfect picnic / barbecue spots generally require at least a bit of a walk. Plus they are often happily situated in areas of rural beauty, thus making walking a pleasure and not a chore. Equally, if we just stay home and barbecue in the garden, in the sun even the old football in the corner can look appealing or better yet, SWINGBALL! (Call it mindless, but there really is nothing as good as swing ball.)

Relaxation
Stress is very much a thing of the present. Life seems to hurry from one hour to the next, and then you blink and two weeks have passed by. Having the time to chill out and recoup is something all of us Brits could do with. Finding space to breathe and enjoying a blissful couple of hours totally free from commitments. Finding ways to reduce our stress is something we all need. It has been proven that removing oneself from the ‘normal’ helps us to relax. Also, vitamin D (from the sun) gives us energy and helps our bodies produce serotonin (the happy hormone – the one that also makes us reach for chocolate on rainy days!) Therefore, getting outside and soaking up the sun, whiling our time away in blissful harmony, will always be a perk.

Adventuring
Being outside, suddenly the whereabout of the meal becomes a much-considered factor! When you are sitting in a restaurant, the ‘where’ is much less of a pressing concern. Therefore, we get to visit beaches, parks, riversides, woods, countryside walks, gardens… suddenly a meal becomes so much more fulfilling.

Nostalgia
The summer air carries smells of foods. Barbecues, open kitchens, street food and pizza… People play music outside! Happy memories of holidays past flood back to us. These moments are revisited simply from the memory triggered by the simple delights brought on by the sunshine and help to remind us all of everything that we have and can be grateful for. These feelings touch us with the warm ‘fuzzy feelings’ that help us fully enjoy moments spent with old friends and family on lazy summer afternoons.

So, that’s the why covered. The British public are guaranteed to fully utilise the season, indulging in delicious summer foods, eaten the way they should be. Finger food, light bites, exotic fruits… tasty little delicacies on skewers. People sit with their sandwiches and spill out to every green space or river side that can be sat on…