If you've ever holidayed in the Med, you'll know there are three vacation staples: sunbathing and swimming on superstar beaches, exploring every inch of the Old Town, and dining al fresco (while enjoying an Aperol Spritz or two). For many, the latter is perhaps the most enjoyable — there's no better feeling than dressing up your golden tan after a long day of, well, doing nothing, followed by indulging in the local cuisine and socialising long into the night.
But at some point, you have to leave your best Mamma Mia! life on that tiny Greek island, defined by sparkling coastlines and traditional tavernas, and step back into reality. Or do you?
Okay, so nothing will actually beat that holiday feeling. Still, the next best thing looks like this: taking advantage of this long, hot summer and turning your own outdoor space into al fresco heaven, Mediterranean-style. If you ask us, the focal point is the table — it's where everything happens, from serving the food to spilling the tea — so a statement tablecloth (and one that screams southern Europe) is essential.
Luckily, Next has just dropped the perfect offering: this £24 Blue Alice Tile Wipeclean Table Cloth, complete with a blue and yellow tiled pattern that wouldn't look out of place on a harbour somewhere far, far away. Plus, it's finished with an acrylic-based coating, which means after a long night of hosting (where spillages will be inevitable), you can simply wipe it clean ready for the next dinner party. No excuses, hey?
Trust, you'll be entertaining friends and family all summer long; you'll almost forget about that euphoric 'stepping off the plane' feeling. (You probably won't, but you get the point.)
Sophie Williams is a Freelance Journalist and Copywriter, covering everything from Fashion to Entertainment to music, Lifestyle and Features. She has interviewed a range of musical artists and authors including Alyssa Edwards, Courtney Barnett, Confidence Man, The Vaccines, Loyle Carner, Gabrielle, and John Niven, and has written for publications like Metro, Reader's Digest, ITV's Woo! and Vice’s NBGA. She is also working on a book for HarperCollins about Taylor Swift, due to be published in 2024.
