A Guide to picking up a picnic lunch in Brighton

Saturday morning in mid-June with the annual Queen's Park Picnic in the Park 26th June almost upon us I am resolutely ignoring the wind rattling unseasonably round my seaside square.  Although the air is damp and there's a spattering of rain on my windows I start to consider picnic options with unbounding enthusiasm and an unerring faith that the weather will improve.  So here is my Brighton Guide to Packing up a Picnic.


Queen's Park, Brighton

Carluccio’s

Jubilee Street, Brighton, BN1 1GE

 Tel: 01273 690493

From £45 Carluccio’s picnic boxes have a classic and vegetarian option for two containing a smorgasbord of Italian nibbles with antipasti, main, focaccia, biscotti and a dessert of raspberry meringue with a passion fruit cream and summer fruits. Wrapped up in the instantly recognisable Mediterranean colours of the Carluccio brand it’s an Italian taste sensation. To complement their picnic they also suggest picnic wines including a Prosecco Brut Valdobbiadene for £14.75.

Raspberries

Bill’s

The Depot, 100 North Road, Brighton, BN1 1YE

Tel: 01273 692 894

Offering a bespoke service and presented in a recycled box, Bill’s offer a seasonal hamper from £25 and will pack up whatever you want from the store or make a selection for you. As Bill’s is without rival for the most colourful food shop around you’re likely to have options like their purple sprouting broccoli-hazelnut-stilton-cherry tomato-thyme and red Leicester quiche; and desserts so delectable they make you stare at them, piled high with fruit and flowers. You gotta love it.

Lidl's

Arundel Road, Brighton, BN2 5TB

For a continental feast without forking out loads of dosh head to the supermarket and pick up all you need for under £15. With parma ham at £1.99, galia melon at 49p and prosecco at £5.99, you can enjoy your cold meats and cheeses with the rest of the deli pack at half the price.  Super-size your picnic with some current deals with a picnic blanket for £9.99 and a disposable barbecue for £1.99.