How to seriously raise your summer entertaining game

Want to bring a touch of the Med to your al fresco entertaining this SS18? Read on…

Want to bring a touch of the Med to your al fresco entertaining this SS18? Read on…

Balmy summer evenings and hazy, sun-dappled afternoons in the UK demand attention. After all, we need to make the most of them while they're here, so it's time to respin your al fresco entertaining space and invest in new-season glassware, rattan place settings and more than your fair share of wooden platter-style serving boards for a Mediterranean feast. Keep things simple with a pared-down palette - blues, whites and soft greys are ideal for a chic table takeover - and load up on earthy scented candles, too.

The White Company is your one-stop shop for this rustic Med look and stocks everything you need to pull off an entertaining masterclass for your mates, from olive wood serving bowls and whitewashed rattan trays to artisan stoneware dinner plates and striped linen cushions. So, once the festoon lighting has been hung and your playlist is sorted, you can kick back and enjoy a season of entertaining, stress-free. Here's some table-setting inspiration to get your started. Now all you need to do is nail the menu…

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Clockwise from left: Olive Wood Large Platter, £55, and Olive Wood Dipping Bowls, £8 each, all The White Company

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From left: Whitewashed Rattan Round Tray, £45; Stemless Champagne Flute (set of 4), £40; Cocktail Jug with Stirrer, £45, all The White Company

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Above: Coriander & Citronella Outdoor Candles, £35 each, all The White Company

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From left: Artisan Bowl, from a selection; Artisan Stoneware Dinner Plate, £12; Artisan Stoneware Pasta Bowl, £12; Symons Cutlery (set of 24), £165; Striped Napkins (set of 4), £25, Striped Placemats (set of 2), £16; Elgin Wine Glass, £7, all The White Company

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From left: Vine Tomato Large Candle, £60, and Vine Tomato Signature Candle, £20, both The White Company

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Mini Bubbled Glass Tealight Holders, from £6; Bubbled Glass Hanging Tealight Holders, from £10; Glass Candle Holders, from £20; Seagrass Tealight Holders, from £10; Seagrass Candle Holders, from £25, all The White Company