Host At Home: A Summer Gathering in the Cotswolds

There’s something special about gathering people around a table at home — especially when everything around it feels thoughtful, seasonal and connected to where you are.

Earlier this week, we welcomed a small group of creators to the Cotswolds for the launch of our new garden furniture collections. Hosted at award winning Cotswold vineyard, Woodchester Valley, the day was inspired by our Cotswold roots and a slower way of entertaining outdoors — one centred around good food, local wine, seasonal flowers and creating spaces people genuinely want to spend time in.

For many, it was also a delight to discover that Gardenesque is based in the Cotswolds. The landscape has long shaped the way we think about outdoor living — relaxed rather than formal, layered with natural textures and designed to feel settled into its surroundings, using materials that stand up to the British weather.

The gathering formed part of our Host at Home campaign, which celebrates the simple rituals of outdoor living using locally sourced, seasonal themes that shape the table - curated by the wonderful Anna Blakey Design. Styled with British-grown flowers gathered in loose arrangements, artisan decor and local food shared generously.

To bring the idea to life more fully, each furniture setting was thoughtfully paired with a Woodchester Valley wine, from the delicious Cotswold classic to the modern verjuice spritz, then styled to reflect the mood of the collection around it. Relaxed lounge spaces were styled for slower aperitifs and grazing plates, while larger dining tables became the setting for long, shared lunches inspired by the produce of the season. Natural materials, hand-finished woven textures and warm, grounded tones helped each setting feel connected to the landscape around it.

Like most English summer gatherings, the weather shifted throughout the day. A brief morning rain shower passed through the vineyard before the clouds gave way to warm late afternoon sunshine across the vines. Rather than interrupting the occasion, it became part of it — a reminder that outdoor living is often at its best when it feels relaxed, adaptable and easy to settle into regardless of the forecast.

In many ways, the changing weather became the perfect backdrop for the day. A brief rain shower offered an opportunity to demonstrate the all-weather materials at the heart of the collection — from quick-drying cushions to durable woven finishes designed to handle the unpredictability of outdoor living. Rather than disrupting the atmosphere, guests continued to settle comfortably into the furniture as the vineyard moved from rain into late afternoon sunshine, reflecting the effortless, easy-going way the collections are intended to be lived with throughout the season.

As summer settles in, we hope the gathering inspires your own way of hosting at home — whether that’s a quiet breakfast outside, an impromptu lunch with friends or a table shared slowly into the evening. Discover our seasonal recipes and wine pairings below, created to help you savour the season a little longer. 

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us for the day and helped bring the gathering to life — @byemmadiaz, @our__riverside_dream, @rocking_the_cotswolds, @sophiejaynehomes, @hannahdoraninteriors, @bricksandboughs, @yourhomeiseverything, @thecharlieedit who travelled to the Cotswolds to celebrate the launch with us.

Savour The Season Recipes 

Whether it’s a light lunch shared outside, drinks that turn into dinner, or something simple prepared slowly at the weekend, these recipes are designed to make hosting feel easy and enjoyable. Alongside each dish, we’ve included a considered wine and furniture recommendation to help shape the atmosphere around the table this summer.