At the Tablecloth Shop we love oilcloth, it is versatile, wipeable, and comes in a great range of colours and designs, and it has been around a really long time! But like many things, it has changed a lot in that time.  The product we know today is completely different from the type of oilcloth originally used, but one thing remains certain – they make a great tablecloth material. Continue reading Why is Oilcloth Great as a Tablecloth Material?

The summer holidays are in full swing, and now is the perfect time to get outdoors, discover some new beauty spots, and enjoy a good picnic. Read on to make sure you have everything you need before your next trip out. Continue reading How to Pack the Perfect Picnic

Whether you’re opening a new café or you just want a refresh, tablecloths are something you need to consider. We’ll help you to figure out which type to go for and how to pick the best ones to suit your space. Continue reading How to Choose Tablecloths for My Café or Coffee Shop

There’s no doubt one of the highlights of summer is the family BBQ.  Getting everyone around for a fun afternoon of activities, great food and maybe a few tasty drinks is a popular activity across the UK.  But how do you host the best family BBQ?

Plan the menu

Food is all-important for the family event, but you want to be a little smart about it – don’t leave everything to be done on the day or you will be too tired to enjoy the party.

With a BBQ, the centrepiece will usually be the different meat dishes such as burgers, sausages, marinade chicken and even pork steaks.  These are cooked on the day as people want them.  But you want to add other items to the menu to complement these.

Salads are a great idea.  From pasta salad and potato salad to coleslaw, these can be made ahead and refrigerated until they are needed.  They work perfectly alongside the meat dishes and are cool to their hot.  You can even consider things like couscous mixed with roasted vegetables for a warm option.

Grab those tablecloths

Wherever you serve the food, you want to have some kind of protective covering down and this is where tablecloths can help.  Two clever types are perfect for the family BBQ – vinyl cloths or oilcloths.

Both of these come in bright colours and patterns but more importantly, wipe clean.  So, if there’s a spillage, you can easily mop it up to prevent flies being attracted.  And at the end of the day, these wipe clean easily and can be folded up and stored for the next family event.

We stock an amazing range of disposable tablecloths that are perfect for your family BBQ, you can view our range here.

Have the right serving bowls

Serving bowls and dishes are important to help protect the food while making it easy for everyone to serve themselves.  Consider boxes or dishes with lids that can be easily snapped into place between serving for the cold or cool dishes.

For the raw meat, consider having a cool box with the meat in different food bags ready to be cooked.  That way, it doesn’t get warm while waiting to be cooked and the risk of bacteria growing on the surface is reduced.

Once the meat is cooked, aim to serve as quickly as possible.  If not, find ways to store it with lids and out of the sun so flies aren’t attracted to it.

If you are having lots of company or just need some extra plates and bowls, our range of disposable party wear can help you put on the perfect BBQ with ease. Check out our range here.

Keep the kids occupied

Planning the food is a big job but don’t forget, if kids are attending, you will want to have some ideas to keep them occupied. A paddling pool could be a fun idea if there’s enough room while all kinds of lawn toys can keep their attention without adults needing to constantly supervise.

Enjoy! By preparing ahead and using clever things like wipe-clean tablecloths, you can enjoy the party without spending all of your time hosting it.  Prepare some food ahead and have a simple way to store it between servings then you don’t need to stress about those pesky summer flies.

You never knew you would spend so much time at the dining room table!

Like millions of other people, you may find yourself suddenly having to home school your children or to supervise teens in their online learning journey. Or you may be using this time during lockdown to work on a new skill or craft. Either way, the chances are your dining table is suddenly in demand by multiple members of your household – so it is important to protect it. Continue reading How Tablecloths Save Your Table from Lockdown Adventures at Home

Easter is a busy time, often with family members visiting and activities to keep the kids occupied over the holidays.  Amongst all of that, the last thing you want to do is spend time washing and ironing a tablecloth to keep the table looking nice!  That’s why PVC tablecloths are your best friend when it comes to protecting your table around Easter. Continue reading Why PVC Tablecloths are great to protect your table from Easter Celebrations

Village fairs, school events, community fun days, local fundraisers – the village fete has evolved and morphed over the years, but the format is still as popular as ever and it being used more and more at a local community level. Great for bringing the community together, for celebrating and for fundraising, the tablecloth has never felt so wanted as at a village fair! Continue reading The Importance of Tablecloths at the Village Fair

Vintage tea parties are back in fashion, partly thanks to Angel Adoree, a 1940’s-enthusiast and entrepreneur (you might have seen her on Dragon’s Den or Escape to the Chateau). The Vintage Patisserie is her hospitality company, and as you might imagine, it’s full of small, beautiful vintage touches. Continue reading How to Throw an Angel-Adoree Inspired Vintage Tea Party

The New Year is a great time to make some changes in your home, and to think about the year ahead. It’s always a good idea to buy a new tablecloth – they’re a simple, low-cost way to freshen up your dining area.

Here’s why you should buy a new tablecloth this January: Continue reading Great Reasons to Buy a Tablecloth in January

New Year’s Eve is the perfect occasion for a get-together. It’s also a great excuse to put in a little extra effort than you normally would. If you’re hosting a buffet, you can really add the wow factor to your night by setting your table in a certain way. Here are a few tips: Continue reading How to Set Your Table for a New Year’s Buffet