Al fresco elegance: Your British Bank Holiday garden party, perfected

A Bank Holiday party in the UK means only one thing: herding everyone out into the garden to make the most of their precious day off. That extra day to escape responsibility and relax in the sunshine with our nearest and dearest is what we live for. And when schmoozing under the sun’s rays and (let’s be honest) battling the occasional rogue shower with quintessential British stoicism, decadent nibbles and drinkables are a must. 

Forgive us if we’re somewhat over romanticising the British summer BBQ, but at Hotel Chocolat, we believe that with the right selection of sumptuous bites, an array of imaginative beverages, and a few stylish summer gifts to boot, the Bank Holiday garden soirée becomes a masterclass in British leisure at its absolute finest.

Top tips for hosting a spring or summer garden party

Before you make any culinary arrangements, there are a few things that might be useful to think about first. From dressing your garden space to having rain contingency plans at the ready, anticipation is the secret to seamless entertaining.

Tip 1: Make your styling work with your space

While you’re under no obligation to decorate your garden space, simple decorative additions like a cheerful tablecloth, a string of twinkling fairy lights, and some vibrant hanging garlands or bunting can add a sense of playfulness and help your guests get in the party spirit. To make it easier to gather what you need, why not consider a theme?

You could lean into holiday escapism with a beach theme, embrace British summertime with a vintage tea party theme, or go for bohemian extravagance with a garden festival theme. The beauty of having a theme is that you can plan your accessories, styling, playlists, dress code — even your chocolate boxes around it. While it might seem counterintuitive, it can actually help you to make quicker decisions because you’ll only focus on what fits.

Tip 2: Always be prepared for changeable weather

Although it takes a lot to dampen our spirits, preparing for rain is always sensible. Before your garden party, check the forecast, make sure you have an awning or gazebo for shelter, and as a backup (just in case of a particularly heavy downpour), clear a space inside where everyone can hang out and relax. 

If a light shower appears, embrace it. Bring out the brollies, and remember: a little rain never hurt a great party… 

Tip 3: Day, night, or both? Consider your timing

Think practically about when you want your party to be. Fancy getting together to enjoy the last of the evening sun? Want full sunshine for a summer BBQ? Hoping to put on a soirée that lasts all day and all night? Consider both who your invitees are and what suits you best. 

If there are kids to put to bed, you might want to make it a daytime affair, but if it’s an adults-only get-together (and it isn’t on the Monday), why not extend it into evening hours? That way, you can enjoy a few cocktails as the sun goes down.

Tip 4: Suss out serving 

Finally, for non-BBQ parties, it’s helpful to think about food serving options. If you’re dead set on cooking or doing a sit-down meal, enlist the help of a partner — or the nearest available teenager — so you can spend some time mingling with family or friends.

Prefer to keep the amount of actual hosting you need to do to a bare minimum? Go for a buffet or self-serve table where guests can pick up drinks, finger food, and desserts at their leisure.

Bonus tip

Where possible, set up your food table in the shade. That way, when laying out chocolate boxes or chocolate-themed desserts, you don’t need to hide them away in a cool box — you can keep them looking beautiful and prevent the sun from turning them into one big melty mess. 

Delightful treats for your Bank Holiday party

Now comes the best bit — hunting down nibbles and edible gifts for your guests. Of course, chocolate is our playground, so you know we’re going to deliver when it comes to decadent cacao creations… 

Bring the summer cheer with our sunny Selectors 

Nothing says ‘summer cheer’ like our colourful, fruity Selectors. Fruity chocolate comes in many forms, but there’s something about shaping it into dinky, melt-in-the-mouth treats that makes it all the more joyful. 

Why not curate your own colourful selection to serve on cheerful party plates? Go for smooth, velvety summer varieties intermingled with unexpected hints of citrus or berry, like our creamy-yet-tangy Raspberry Panna Cotta Selector or our punchy Mercier Champagne and Crème de Cassis Kir Royale Soft Centre Truffles. Utterly delightful.

Want to serve up a true summer showstopper? A real ‘chef-d’œuvre’ in the realm of summer Selectors are our zingy French 75 Chocolate Selector spheres. To create these stylish spherical truffles, our passionate chocolatiers took the timeless French 75 cocktail and reimagined it as a warm, bubbly, citrussy chocolate with a gentle floral edge. If you’re after a taste experience that’ll wow your guests, this is it.

Serve vibrant summer chocolate boxes packed with tantalising treats

Whether you’re treating your attendees to a gift to take home or adorning the terrazzo table with fanciful bites, our imaginative summer chocolate boxes are bound to bring joy to your guests.

Tease them with the aroma of rich cacao, intrigue them with innovative infusions like watermelon and red berry, and lean into biscuity brilliance with one-of-a-kind cheesecake-inspired creations. Filled with 36 summer dessert-style recipes, our Summer Desserts Sleekster features all these whimsical wonders and more. 

Serving cocktails at your summer soirée? Be sure to accompany them with a cold treat or two from our Summer Cocktails to Chill selection. This playful assortment of cocktail-inspired confections brings you delightfully refreshing recipes like Passion Fruit Martini and tangy Raspberry Daiquiri. All best served straight from the fridge. 

Want to wow all your guests, big and little? Who doesn’t enjoy a scoop of ice cream on a warm, sunny day? Our elegant Ice Cream Swirls are a bit like what you’d get if you broke up a classic Neapolitan ice cream block, upgraded the flavour profile, and transformed it into smooth, sumptuous, chocolatey bites. These delightful chocolate scoops are served in adorable pleated cupcake-style shells and come in four classic flavours: Raspberry & Milk Chocolate, Raspberry & Caramel, Vanilla, and Chocolate & Hazelnut. 

A word of warning, if you’re planning to pop them in your basket: you’ll want to stock up — these won’t stick around. 

Create creamy yet cool sunshine sippables

Our cherished hot chocolate sachets aren’t confined to traditional warming drinks. So, why not transform them into cool, creamy party beverages using The Velvetiser? When combined with cold milk and plenty of crushed ice, you can turn any of our classic sachets into splendid icy sips using our simple ice chocolate recipe. 

Why not use our Limited Edition Banoffee Pie Hot Chocolate Sachets to create cooling iced banana frappés or mix our White Vanilla Hot Chocolate with a dash of whipped cream for a heavenly dessert-like drink?

Want to add some extra indulgence when the evening comes? Crack open a bottle of something stronger. Reach for lowball glasses and fill them with our not-too-sweet Salted Caramel Velvetised Cream over ice. Or, dust off the champagne flutes and treat your guests to a pour of Classic Prosecco.

If midnight hits, and you’re still going strong, your late-night revellers are bound to adore a nip of Salted Caramel Cacao Vodka Liqueur. It’s perfect for sipping on while sharing stories by the fire pit. Simply take a seat, raise a toast, and let the stories flow.

Make your Bank Holiday party one to remember with Hotel Chocolat

From the unexpected joys of our playful summer Selectors to the curated elegance of our summer chocolate boxes, we have everything you need for a magical Bank Holiday celebration. Don’t forget to explore our chocolate hampers and premium alcohol collection to find everything you need for an al fresco soirée in the sunshine.