Sussex


<p>Sausage rolls, frittata, picky bits galore? Bring them on but don&#8217;t forget that a truly great picnic starts not with the food but the blanket. </p>



<p>Finding a decent one can be a challenge, not least because a picnic blanket has to fulfil so many functions all at once. It&#8217;s a table but it&#8217;s also seating – soggy bottoms are no more desirable in guests than in quiches. It needs to be large enough for conviviality but yet not so capacious that you can&#8217;t fold it away again come home time. It needs to be practical with a wisp of whimsy and decorative but forgiving of the inevitable stains. </p>



<p>If you&#8217;re in the market for an upgrade, we&#8217;ve scoured Sussex for local options that are worth hauling the hamper out for. Just add sunshine! </p>



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<div class="wp-block-create-block-muddy-shopping" data-title-side="left" data-block-type="1"><div class="shopping-spotlight-large" data-order="0"><div class="shopping-item-card large-item"><a href="https://www.sarahraven.com/products/coral-picnic-blanket?srsltid=AfmBOor9W-KLbFpmyws6a6nyYN48FAwao3tef9H2jfknreCMml7-16fO" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><div class="product-image sticky"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/sarahraven_picnic.png" alt="Picnic rug from Sarah Raven, Sussex" /><div class="shopping-item-card--shader"></div><div class="shopping-item-card--overlay"><h6>Coral Picnic Blanket</h6><p class="shopping-item-card--brand">Sarah Raven</p><p class="shopping-item-card--price">£88.95</p></div></div></a></div></div><div class="shopping-spotlight-small"><div><p>Sarah Raven&#8217;s plant catalogues are bursting with inspiration for colourful plantings and she was well ahead of the trend for rewinding your lawn. Turns out she has an eye for picnic blankets, too. This one&#8217;s pure wool with a waterproof backing. Unfurl it with a flourish and bask in its <span style="font-size: revert">pink and pearl herringbone pattern.</span> It goes great with the intriguingly named Bishop&#8217;s Children dahlias, also available from Sarah Raven.</p></div></div></div>



<div class="wp-block-create-block-muddy-shopping" data-title-side="right" data-block-type="1"><div class="shopping-spotlight-large" data-order="1"><div class="shopping-item-card large-item"><a href="https://www.closetandbotts.com/products/cotton-throw-red-bistro-check?variant=57302134227326&amp;currency=GBP&amp;utm_campaign=gs-2020-07-20&amp;utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=smart_campaign&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=17507276634&amp;gbraid=0AAAAACR7n0Khdyzu-m6UVKqavbcm5fuib&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwqubPBhBOEiwAzgZX2uu6q5LB9CPpAQ4zQcrCkmVYX9T9nvCLvwhYFml10X23dm4osyeTQxoCjLgQAvD_BwE" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><div class="product-image sticky"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/closetbotts_picnic.png" alt="Picnic rug from Closet &amp; Botts, Sussex" /><div class="shopping-item-card--shader"></div><div class="shopping-item-card--overlay"><h6>Cotton Throw – Red Bistro Check</h6><p class="shopping-item-card--brand">Closet &amp; Botts, Lewes</p><p class="shopping-item-card--price">£22</p></div></div></a></div></div><div class="shopping-spotlight-small"><div><p>Bistro vibes come as standard with this strawberry-red gingham number. Jolly and effortlessly chic, we reckon it might also camouflage the odd soft fruit stain (is it even a picnic until someone&#8217;s sat on a raspberry?). While sturdier than the photo might suggest, it is pure cotton – easy to launder and a cinch to dry but definitely a lighter weight option than some. </p></div></div></div>



<div class="wp-block-create-block-muddy-shopping" data-title-side="left" data-block-type="1"><div class="shopping-spotlight-large" data-order="0"><div class="shopping-item-card large-item"><a href="https://candh.co.uk/product/homeware/picnic-rugs/tweedmill-polo-picnic-rug-rainbow-stripe-red-145x183cm/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><div class="product-image sticky"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/ch_picnic.png" alt="Picnic rug from Closs &amp; Hamblin, Sussex" /><div class="shopping-item-card--shader"></div><div class="shopping-item-card--overlay"><h6>Tweedmill Polo Picnic Rug Rainbow Stripe Red </h6><p class="shopping-item-card--brand">Closs &amp; Hamblin</p><p class="shopping-item-card--price">£88.40</p></div></div></a></div></div><div class="shopping-spotlight-small"><div><p>This pure wool, waterproof backed number is traditional but oh so pretty. Never mind the stormy cloud that just sailed across the sun – never mind the squabbling over the last scotch egg or the sticky spillages (what <em>is</em> that?) – you&#8217;re basically sitting on a rainbow! About that spill though: wool has some natural liquid resistance but we&#8217;re told this blanket will tolerate a gentle wash cycle for anything more substantial.</p></div></div></div>



<div class="wp-block-create-block-muddy-shopping" data-title-side="right" data-block-type="1"><div class="shopping-spotlight-large" data-order="1"><div class="shopping-item-card large-item"><a href="https://shop.nationaltrust.org.uk/national-trust-rainbow-brights-waterproof-backed-picnic-blanket.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><div class="product-image sticky"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/nt_picnic.png" alt="Picnic rug from National Trust shops, Sussex" /><div class="shopping-item-card--shader"></div><div class="shopping-item-card--overlay"><h6>Refresher Stripe Waterproof Backed Picnic Blanket</h6><p class="shopping-item-card--brand">National Trust</p><p class="shopping-item-card--price">£48</p></div></div></a></div></div><div class="shopping-spotlight-small"><div><p>Picnicking and National Trust outings go together like strawberries and cream (or better yet, Pimms and lemonade), so you can rely on your local NT shop to serve up a solid <em>sur l&#8217;herbe</em> option. This combines zesty stripes, waterproof backing and adjustable webbing straps for easy carrying and storage. It&#8217;s compact yet spacious – perfect for beaches or the park but it won&#8217;t look too shabby at a stately home, either.</p></div></div></div>



<div class="wp-block-create-block-muddy-shopping" data-title-side="left" data-block-type="1"><div class="shopping-spotlight-large" data-order="0"><div class="shopping-item-card large-item"><a href="https://www.glyndebourneshop.com/products/blue-green-quilted-picnic-blanket?srsltid=AfmBOopdKhp-Q9Q68VzRSlngZsp6rSxdO3xPB8Yep4SAgFjA7pNOJbJS" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><div class="product-image sticky"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/glyndebourne_picnic.png" alt="Picnic rug from Glyndebourne, Sussex" /><div class="shopping-item-card--shader"></div><div class="shopping-item-card--overlay"><h6>Blue &amp; Green Large Quilted Picnic Blanket</h6><p class="shopping-item-card--brand">Glyndebourne</p><p class="shopping-item-card--price">£168</p></div></div></a></div></div><div class="shopping-spotlight-small"><div><p>There&#8217;s elevated picnicking and then there&#8217;s Glyndebourne. The world class opera venue is almost as famed for its black tie al fresco feasting as its arias, so forget rugs, this is a picnic <em>quilt</em>. Hand block-printed and stitched by artisans in Jaipur, it&#8217;s made from heavy weave, organic cotton. It isn&#8217;t waterproof but it is reversible: flip it over for a fresh look in contrasting fabric.</p></div></div></div>



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Pass the pitta! Spread-worthy picnic blankets

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