Katherine Ryan on the hunt for most extra al-fresco diner with recipe box Gousto

Katherine Ryan launches search for UK’s most extra al fresco diner, as Brits discover new love for eating outdoors

Britain spent over £4.2 billion upgrading their outdoor dining set up in the past year.

Gousto and Katherine Ryan partner to find Britain’s most ‘extra’ al fresco’er, as recipe box launches BBQ and Picnic range.

28 July 2021 Katherine Ryan is on the hunt to find the UK’s most extra al fresco diner as Gousto reveals outdoor dining is the future for Brits.

Research by the recipe box found that almost half of people (47%) enjoy eating outdoors more than ever after the pandemic changed the way we dine and socialise with friends. 57% say they would choose to eat dinner outside rather than dining indoors with others*.

In the past year, over half (53%) of Brits have upgraded their outdoor dining space, spending £354 on average per household – equating to over £4.2 billion spent as a nation** on equipment and accessories including lights, BBQs and gazebos. 15% spent more than £800 on these upgrades with a hefty 39% investing in outdoor tables and chairs. 1 in 10 (8%) households even went the extra mile by installing a jacuzzi in their garden.

However, despite these purchases and with one in four (24%) claiming that al fresco dining is their favourite thing about summer, only a measly 6% are willing to eat outdoors Monday-Thursday, with 70% of people considering the weekend more suitable.

Londoners are the most hardy when it comes to a fresco dining, with well over a third (38%) of people stating they would eat outdoors in the rain, and almost 1 in 5 (18%) would even sit out in snow to get their al fresco fix.

To  celebrate the launch of Gousto’s new BBQ and Picnic range, Katherine Ryan is on the hunt for the UK’s most ‘extra’ al fresco diner, who will receive al fresco catering from Gousto for the rest of the summer. Installed a lockdown bar in your garden? Went to town on a picnic party in the park?

Katherine commented: “After a year of confinement, lots of us have made crazed lockdown upgrades to our outdoor space and we have a newfound love for dining al fresco – because if you didn’t brunch in the rain, did you even lockdown?

To celebrate the launch of Gousto’s new BBQ and Picnic range, I’m on a mission to find Britain’s most extra al fresco diner. If you’ve been snacking in style, or dining in diamonds, I want to see it. We’re taking a stand against soggy sandwiches and boring BBQs – because life really is too short.”

The search will kick off at 6pm on Wednesday 28th July on Katherine’s Instagram.

Gousto’s new BBQ and Picnics range delivers everything for a perfectly portable picnic or show stopping BBQ direct to doors or staycation destinations. The range includes easy-to-prepare recipes for all the family including BBQ Pulled Pork, Baked Scotch Eggs and Plant-Based Sausage Rolls.

The BBQ and Picnic range is available to order now, with precise ingredients and easy to follow recipe cards delivered to doorsteps from 31st July. The full range includes;

• Classic BBQ: Cheeseburgers, Chicken Tikka Skewers & Sides

• Veggie BBQ: Burgers, Hasselback Honey Halloumi & Sides

• BBQ Mango & Lime Chicken with Salsa & Rice Salad

• BBQ Pulled Pork, Mini Loaded Potatoes & Creamy Slaw

• BBQ Cauliflower Steak, Charred Veg & Chimichurri

• BBQ Cajun Prawn Skewers, Creamy Corn Salsa & Sweet Potato Jackets

• BBQ Mediterranean Prawn Skewers with Orzo Greek Salad

• BBQ Corn Riblets with Smoky Potato Salad

• BBQ Sweet Soy Mushroom Skewers with Edamame Salad

• Chorizo & Red Pepper Sarnies with Rocket & Bulgar

• Coronation Chicken Wraps, Cheese Nibbles & Salad

• Plant-Based Sausage Rolls, Herby Potatoes & Chilli Chutney

• Baked Scotch Eggs, Crispy Potatoes, Salad & Piccalilli

Gousto offers over 50 recipes a week, delivering precise ingredients and easy-to-follow recipe cards directly to doors across the UK. Prices start from £2.98 per meal including free delivery 7 days a week. For more information, visit gousto.co.uk.

*Research of 2,000 adults, commissioned by Gousto in July 2021

*Based on 53% of Brits with an outdoor area spending £354 and ONS figures from 2020 showing that 23 million households in the UK have an outdoor space