Which Brand Should I Buy?

Why Ascot Living?

We believe that Picnic at Ascot (now renamed Ascot Living) make the best picnic backpacks on the market today.

All backpacks and coolers are assembled in the UK and come with a lifetime guarantee.

There are many cheaper picnic backpacks on the market but in our view, they really do not match up on quality

Picnic at Ascot (Ascot Living) take the view that UK assembly is key in terms of quality control. Each bag and its component parts is inspected before being sent out which is why the lifetime guarantee can be given.

They have been designing and manufacturing picnic accessories since 1992. They now offer the largest range of backpacks and accessories in the world and have operations in the UK, USA and Taiwan and distribution in over twenty countries.

So the emphasis on quality has worked!

Care Instructions

Backpack Polyurethane/Nylon - Sponge Clean
Napkins Polyester/Cotton machine wash 40c, col iron
All contents except wooden items are dishwasher safe

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Why Bon-fire?

Danish chef René Stage and his friend Torben Eriksen developed and designed the Bon-fire, as a mobile bonfire kitchen.

The two friends aimed to design a functional, low-cost and allround outdoor kitchen that also would look good in the garden, on the terrace or at the weekend retreat. And they have succeeded so far, as the feed back is very positive.

Bon-fore's key characteristics are that

is that it is so mobile and can be put up or down in seconds
you can cook so many kinds of food on it

An innovative, simple and incredibly practical BBQ idea.

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Why By Asli?

The By Asli products are completely original and innovative designs in quality materials - as seen on Dragon's Den!

Primarily known for the great design "Empty Me" picnic bags that unzip into picnic rugs. From the success of these, By Asli have now extended their range to include tablecloths, tablemats and trays

The Empty Me products are available on our www.the-picnic-basket.co.uk site .

Outer bag fabric is waterproof and doubles up as a blanket when unzipped
Lovely coloured and patterned fabric
Add a By Asli tablemat that has compartments for plates, cutlery and glasses on reverse side
All textiles are ultra light and all machine washable

As sold in top retail stores.

Other products in the range are available on our www.tableware-plus.co.uk site

By Asli are always coming up with new and original design ideas and products. Have a look for example at the newly launched and already very popular "snail" tablecloth weights and urban flower tray.

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Why Concept?

Concept International first began producing Folding Picnic Chairs in 1995 and have expanded since then to include all manner of outdoor leisure products, including the picnic backpacks and bags that we sell.

We rate Concept amongst the top 3 of picnic backpack suppliers, alongside Ascot Living and Optima, although the latter is better known for their picnic baskets.

Concept International is USA owned and sells into well known High St stores such as John Lewis. Some of its premium ranges such as Safari can be found at Harrods and Selfridges. So the quality is assured. The differences in price between the different Concept ranges is explained by the number and variety of the accessories within the product, and also, the material and trim. The Safari, for example, is leather trimmed with canvas style fabric and brass fittings. The Rambler picnic backpacks are Concept's best selling budget line and do not feature the "Acticool" insulation system that is so effective in helping to maintain the temperature of food and drink.

Acticool uses the latest thermal technology in its 3 layer system, to control convection and minimise the effect of outside temperature on the bag's content.

2 Year Guarantee

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Why Freeline International?

Freeline International is a great Dutch design house that brings fun and functional design into UK contemporary garden furniture.

The emphasis is on unique, enjoyable designs, built with quality materials. Only available through exclusive outlets.

Freeline is for those who are looking for a distinctive and eye-catching contemporary style. Built to commercial specification so the quality is assured.

Freeline International products were featured in Channel 4's "The City Gardener" and also in The Daily Telegraph's URBAN GARDENS 2005 - specifically the Pic Nic Range, available at The Patio Umbrella.

Many contemporary garden furniture designers have expressed an interest in the Freeline range:

Garden Designer Helen Lowrie

Bamboo Garden Design of Bristol

Jane Hamely Wells who specialises in distinctive contemporary outdoor furniture.

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Why Kelsyus?

We chose the Kelsyus range because of the great and imaginative design of its outdoor leisure products

Kelsyus products are designed to be:

as hand-free portable as possible
lightweight, convenient and practical
contemporary in style
easy to use and assemble

The portable beach hammocks and beach chairs make a great addition to a picnic, whether at the beach, by the river or in the country side. The UV canopy shades are great for helping to protect children, too

Kelsyus is a US company with European offices in Nice, France

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Why Optima?

Optima have been making traditional English picnic baskets for over 60 years. Based in the depth of the Sussex countryside, Optima control the specification and contents of their quality baskets and backpacks which are made in various different countries.

Each traditional picnic basket is hand woven from full willow from sustainable sources. European willow is used that turns a beautiful golden colour, quite naturally in the sun.

Optima now also offer a more contemporary range in the fun and bright Carnival range, as well as their Voyager backpacks.

If you are looking for the real traditional English picnic hamper, we think that you can do no better than Optima.

A quality product.

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Why Southsea?

Southsea Deckchairs is a family run business based in Portsmouth on the South Coast of the United Kingdom.

They began manufacturing deckchairs in 1991 primarily to service and maintain the deckchair operations on Southsea's beaches and promenade.

To this day they still manage the deckchairs on Southsea seafront. Their deckchairs now grace the seafronts and promenades of most of the seaside and riverside resorts around the UK.

We believe they are just about the best deckchair brand in the UK.

Choose from beautiful, traditional woven fabrics, still made on 1930s original machines or printed stripes and plain colours. The quintessential English seaside.

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