The Easter bank holiday is one of the few times a year when family and friends gather to eat, drink and make merry for a long weekend. For top table this spring, here are eleven essentials you can’t go without
The lamb is in the oven, the vegetables are simmering in the slow roaster and the gravy is mulling over the hob. Kids are screaming in the playroom next door, running in from time to time to check on the progress of their eagerly awaited Sunday lunch, whilst the adults sip champagne around the dining table, making polite conversation with the in-laws and cousins only seen on high days and holidays. It’s Easter, and once the timer goes, the table is set and family and friends gather round for a party.
We all eat too much come the big Sunday lunch, but on Easter Sunday bellies are fuller than normal, and with such a large gathering, you might have to pick up a few items with which to feed the whole family. Whether it’s a seasonal teapot or a bunny-themed table runner, a new set of tumblers or a statement table piece, the big day is calling, and inspiration is much-needed. That in mind, here’s a little inspiration for your perfect Easter table spread.
For the morning
Jeeves coffee pot, £65, Smug
Awaiting the arrival of the in-laws is enough to keep you up all night, so if you need a little extra kick in the morning, this Ali Miller exclusive coffee pot will be sure to wake you up with a morning brew. The pot is fine bone china with 24 carat gold details, so you can feel like the host with the most.
For a mad hatter’s tea party
Pols Potten tea cup and saucers, £21.50, SCP
This set of tea cups and saucers are prime for a party. Sold individually, the eclectic mix of colours encourages you to mix and match for a vibrant visual feast. Whether it’s a cup of tea with after dinner mints or an afternoon scone with jam and cream, this vintage-inspired set is a mad hatter’s dream.
For the arty
JustRight Stoff candle holder in chrome, £26, SCP
These candle holders are sold as individual units, but can be stacked, swapped and switched-up to make the design of your choosing. So whether you have a long table, a fat table, a round, thin, L-shaped, U-shaped or zigzag shaped dining table, you can rearrange the item to make the statement of your choosing.
For the traditional
Hare Table Runner, £22, Sophie Allport
We know that hares and rabbits aren’t the same thing, but we’re not quite sure where to place the Easter bunny. This table runner comes as part of Sophie Allport’s set featuring traditional British farmyard animals like runner ducks and hens, perfect for the spring season and imperative for Easter Sunday. Splash out on the lot, if you fancy.
For the inevitable
Secret Garden Napkin, £3.75, Collier Campbell
Let’s face it, spills and sticky fingers happen, especially when there’s little ones around. So make sure they get mopped up in style. These floral paper napkins come in a pack of 20 and are the perfect antidote to gravy stains, wine spillages and messy melted chocolate messes.
For serving up
Oval Porcelain Dish by Aude Van Ryn, £175.00, The New Craftsmen
This bright serving dish is perfect for roasties, spuds, yorkshires, carrots, green beans, or just about anything you’re serving up this long weekend. Created by hand, this ceramic plate is the work of Belgian Aude Van Ryn and each piece is unique, so whatever you’re dishing out is that little bit more special.
For the bibliophile
Peter Rabbit Classic coasters £13.50, Amaroni
Traditional literati will love these Peter Rabbit coasters, evoking the laid-back country home in the surroundings of your family-filled mad house. The elegant coasters can be supplemented with the range which covers cups, saucers, mugs and tea pots, so you can create your very own tea party complete with everyone’s favourite literary rabbit.
For canapes
Rainbow tray by Hay, £29, Monologue London
If you’re serving up something a little more, shall we say, professional come Sunday, this rainbow plate from East London concept store Monologue London is the perfect talking point on which to serve your canapés. It reflects the light differently depending on the angle at which you catch it, and in on-trend metallic hues can’t fail to capture the attention of your guests, so you won’t have slaved over those hors d’œuvres for nothing.
For the hipster
MonaLina rabbit porcelain plate, £22.21, Dawanda
If you’re celebrating your Easter Sunday with bearded friends wearing unnecessarily thick-rimmed glasses and sipping champagne from an upcycled tin, this one is for you. These bunny plates are oh-so-meta and will make the perfect statement at your urban warehouse conversion party for family and friends.
For the fizz
Incalmo Champagne Flutes by Jochen Holz, £150.00, The New Craftsmen
These champagne flutes are handmade using traditional Venetian techniques where two glass elements are joined together into one by a complex glass blowing technique. You won’t be 100 per cent sure what you’re getting when you order, as each piece is handmade and selected by the New Craftsmen for each individual (but you can request for a specific colour if you wish). They come in a pair, so you won’t be celebrating your triumphant dinner alone.
For the table
Spring vase arrangement, £50 (without vase), Urban Flower Company
This spring arrangement from Crouch End florist, Urban Flower Co. is wild and unstructured with floral accents perfect for decorating your Easter table. The bunch is the perfect satement piece in any spring kitchen and will sit pretty in the centre of a room for the whole weekend.
So gather your little ones, collect the cousins, make up the guest bedroom and prepare the inevitable trivial pursuits round that will happen at the behest of your over zealous uncle. Easter is here, and the table is set.
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