Five of the best portable heaters for al fresco hosting

1. Orange Ceramic Jug

Oliver Bonas’s elegant orange jug isn’t specifically made for outdoor dining, but it will brighten up a garden lunch. Use it for drinks or as a vase,

£59.50; oliverbonas.com

2. Vera Poppies Bamboo Melamine Serving Platter

Great for garden parties and barbecues, this serving platter with a poppy design is made from bamboo fibre and melamine, so it is light, easy to clean and shatter-resistant.

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£26; anthropologie.com

3. Epicurean Re-usable Rio Medallion 26cm Melamine Dinner Plates

Made from dishwasher-safe melamine, these plates (sold in sets of four) are designed to resemble glazed clay.

£27; amazon.co.uk

4. Toulouse Blue Stripe Napkins

They’re said to look and feel like traditional French linen, but these napkins are actually made from recycled plastic bottles. Machine washable, they’re sold in sets of four.

£20; weavergreen.com

5. Kilner 5 Litre Drinks Dispenser

Let guests get their own drinks from this retro Kilner dispenser. It has a large five-litre capacity, a silicone seal and a simple, easy-to-use tap.

£15; dunelm.com

6. Haohai Cutlery Set – 4 Sets

Rather than rely on disposable plastic cutlery, invest in these re-usable ones made from wheat straw. They come in handy compact cases, and are dishwasher safe.

£10.49; amazon.co.uk

7. Wilko Bamboo Serving Tray

Made from bamboo, this good-value, minimalist tray is a generous 30cm across, and is useful for carting things from kitchen to garden, or for serving drinks.

£10; wilko.com

8. kate spade new york Citrus Celebration Melamine Picnic Tumblers

Part of Kate Spade’s melamine picnicware range, this set of six citrus-themed tumblers can be matched with various plates and bowls.

£15.50; johnlewis.com