Dining al fresco

TRENDING:Dining al fresco is an alluring way to get together with friends and family. Add an instant touch of glamour to the occasion by using a tablecloth. This Côte d'Azur print (below) by Celia Lindsell (celialindsell.com) is inspired by the pin parasols that line the region's resorts in summer. It is also a great way of hiding a below-par table. The 100 per cent screen-printed cotton design comes in two sizes: standard (180cm by 240cm), price €42; and extra large (180cm by 360cm), price €54. Delivery is an additional €6.20.

Add a smart outdoor ice bucket to the mix so that the wine or beer can flow as freely as the conversation. A green drinks tub (right) from Meadows and Byrne (Meadowsandbyrne.com) cools both wine and beer. Priced €95, it comes with a shelf where you can set down glasses so people can help themselves.

When it’s time to light the outdoor heaters it is worth noting that Calor (Calor.ie) has just launched its new lightweight 6kg patio gas cylinder.

It retails at €22.15 and comes with a contents gauge. It is available from Woodies, Atlantic Homecare, BQ and other retailers.

Customers can exchange their empty Calor 5kg, 11kg or 11.34kg cylinders for the new 6kg cylinder. The cylinder service charge is €30.