Outdoor eating was already a staple of summers across Europe, but in England, it might be about to become an even bigger one. More than 17,000 outdoor seats have been approved across the country within the year, in part thanks to plans to help businesses survive and thrive during and after the pandemic.

Here are a few reasons to embrace eating al fresco…

1. The atmosphere

People feel better outside. That’s not an opinion – it’s practically scientific fact. Fresh air, greenery and wide open spaces are wellbeing wins for the large majority, and garden parties have the planet to thank for their generally pleasant ambience. Embracing the great outdoors is part of a healthy lifestyle – even if it comes with the odd glass of red.

2. It’s simpler to socialise

We don’t know if you’re the house-proud sort, but inviting guests into your home certainly involves a little more groundwork than inviting them into a field. It doesn’t matter how conscientiously you’ve dusted your sofa cushions, if you’re hosting outside, all non-food complaints can be directed to Mother Nature.

3. The different food

You don’t have to choose from a different menu when eating outside, but somehow we’re culturally conditioned to do so. Whether overcooking patties on a garden grill, enjoying a cold curation for Sunday lunch, or cramming your bag with various hummuses and pates, outdoor eating encourages a varied palate that often goes missing over winter.

4. The world is your oyster

The humble picnic basket can take you anywhere from remote mountainside to shimmering meadow, so long as you don’t mind the odd insect. If you want to eat indoors outside of your home, you’re probably going to have to pay for it. Intrepid picnickers can find a home almost anywhere you can lay a rug.

5. The weather is not currently terrible

This summer started with a surprisingly cold snap, gradually descended into a heatwave so disgustingly sticky the Met Office issued widespread weather warnings, and has been punctuated by thunderstorms forceful enough to shake most homes to the rafters. Right now, everything is fine(ish). Whisper it very quietly. The rain Gods are easily offended.

6. Cleaning up is easier

Whether you’re a mucky pup by nature, eating food that lacks structural integrity, or enjoying a boozy bottomless brunch, outdoor spillages are infinitely less stressful than their domestic counterparts. You may have to carry dirty dishes slightly further, but any food that goes rogue is simply a generous donation to the local ants.

7. Barbecues are awesome

Is there any other genre of eating with more traditions and etiquette than the barbecue? Almost certainly, before you start suggesting them, but barbecues are a warm weather institution that’s impossible to replicate indoors. The vegetables you have to bring but never eat, the griller-in-chief standing territorially by the meats, the beer cooler melted slush by mid-afternoon. It’s pure British summertime.