There’s something quietly brilliant about eating outside. The long Sunday lunch that drifts into the afternoon, the Friday-night BBQ that comes together on a whim, the bowl of soup shared under a heater as the leaves start to turn – these are the moments that make a garden truly part of your home. Across Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset, more and more families are discovering that with the right setup, alfresco dining doesn’t have to be reserved for two weeks of British summer.
This guide is all about the dining side of outdoor living – the layouts, surfaces, shelter and small details that turn a patch of patio into a proper outdoor dining room. From composite decking underfoot to sensitive landscaping around the table, we’ll walk through everything that helps a family eat outside well, whatever the season.
The first decision is where in the garden your dining space should sit. Position matters far more than people often realise – a sunny spot that feels glorious at noon can become an unbearable glare by 2pm, and a sheltered corner that’s perfect for July can be a wind tunnel in October. Walk the garden at different times of day before committing.
Aim for a location that catches gentle evening light, sits close enough to the kitchen for easy plate runs, and is sheltered on the side of the prevailing wind. South-facing terraces work beautifully for lunch, while west-facing spots come into their own for long summer suppers. If your garden looks out over an estuary, coastline or fields, orient the table to make the most of the view.
Outdoor furniture needs more space than its indoor equivalent – guests pull chairs further back, serving dishes spread out, and you need room to move around the table without squeezing past. As a rough rule, allow at least a metre of clearance on every side of the table for comfortable use, and more if you want to walk behind seated guests.
Round tables work beautifully for groups of four to six, encouraging conversation across the whole table rather than fragmenting into pairs. They’re also a good choice for smaller terraces, as they tuck neatly into corners and don’t leave awkward gaps.
Long rectangular or trestle-style tables come into their own when you regularly host larger groups – extended family Sunday lunches, christenings, summer birthday parties. Plan for around 60-70cm of width per place setting, and consider benches alongside chairs to make the space more flexible for children and impromptu extras.
Not every meal is a sit-down affair. A built-in bench around a paved corner, a couple of café-style bistro tables, or low lounge seating with a coffee table all suit relaxed breakfasts, drinks-and-nibbles evenings and post-school snacks. Many families benefit from a mix of both formal and informal dining spots in the same garden.
The surface under your table matters more for dining than for any other outdoor use. Plates and glasses need a level finish so they don’t wobble. Children need a soft enough surface that the inevitable dropped tumbler doesn’t shatter. And nobody wants to chase a runaway cherry tomato through gravel.
Our resin bound patios are an excellent choice under a dining table. The surface is seamless and flat – so table legs sit level – and it drains naturally, meaning you won’t be drying chairs off after a shower. Resin also comes in a wide range of natural-looking aggregates that suit both contemporary builds and traditional cottages.
Composite decking offers a warm, slightly forgiving surface that’s comfortable underfoot and won’t splinter when a barefoot child crosses it to grab another bread roll. For homeowners after a more traditional finish, timber decking gives natural character and pairs beautifully with planting around the dining area. We also install Millboard decking for a premium, hyper-realistic wood-grain finish with very low upkeep.
Riven stone, sawn sandstone and porcelain paving all suit dining spaces, particularly for properties with a more period or rustic feel. Choose a non-slip rated finish and make sure the joints are flush enough that chair feet glide without catching.
The most memorable alfresco meals are often the ones cooked in front of you. Bringing the cooking outside transforms a meal from a delivery exercise into an experience, and gives the cook a chance to be part of the gathering rather than stuck in the kitchen.
Popular options to consider when designing your space:
Whichever option you choose, plan the cooking station slightly downwind of the dining table so smoke doesn’t drift over your food, and include enough worktop alongside it for plates, tongs and a glass of something cold. For permanent installations like pizza ovens, our bespoke landscaping team can advise on foundations, gas runs and finishes.
Shelter is what turns alfresco dining from a fair-weather treat into a year-round habit. The aim is to protect the table and its guests from sun, sudden showers and South Westerly winds without making the space feel closed in or dark.
A pergola directly over the table is the single most effective addition for extending the dining season. Modern aluminium-frame pergolas with retractable louvred roofs let you open up to the sky on a clear day and close out the rain in seconds. Timber pergolas with a fitted waterproof canopy offer a softer, more traditional look.
Coastal gardens benefit hugely from wind protection without losing the view. Glass balustrades and frameless glazed screens cut the wind around the table while keeping the space feeling open and bright. They’re particularly effective on raised decks and terraces with sea or estuary views.
For a more flexible, lower-cost option, large cantilever parasols or fixed sail shades give summer sun protection and a degree of shower cover. They work well as a temporary solution while you plan something more permanent, or in addition to a pergola for casual seating zones.
British evenings cool quickly, even in summer, so a few comfort touches make all the difference between guests politely retreating indoors and lingering happily until late. Plan in:
Most outdoor lighting articles talk about the garden as a whole, but for alfresco dining the most important light is the one above your plate. Tabletop and overhead lighting brings everyone together and makes food look its best – and it’s often where outdoor lighting schemes fall short.
With shelter, heat and good lighting in place, the dining season stretches far beyond July and August. Each season brings its own kind of outdoor meal:
Easter lunches, May bank-holiday brunches and the first BBQs of the year. This is when the parasols come out and the pergola roof spends most of its time open. Plant pots and trailing herbs around the dining area look at their best.
Long, lazy evenings, pizza nights with the kids, drinks before dinner and the inevitable last-minute weekend gatherings. Shade from the afternoon sun is more useful than waterproofing here – and water on the table is a must.
Sunday roasts under the pergola, bonfire-night chilli, mulled wine and Christmas-Eve hot chocolate. Add waterproof cushions, layered throws and overhead heat, and you’ll find your family using the space far more than expected through the cooler months.
Most alfresco dining setups fall under permitted development, but larger pergolas, raised decks and any work in coastal conservation areas, National Parks or near listed buildings may need planning approval. For more on broader outdoor entertaining layouts, see our article on outdoor entertaining space ideas for summer.
Practical things to confirm during planning:
With more than 25 years of experience across Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset, our team has designed and installed alfresco dining spaces for everything from small cottage terraces to large family gardens overlooking the coast. Browse our case studies to see how we approach different layouts, surfaces and shelter solutions in real homes.
If you’re ready to start planning your own outdoor dining space, get in touch with Outdoor Home Improvements for a free, no-obligation site visit and quote. We’ll talk through how you like to entertain, what you want from the space and how to make it work through every season.
