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Incredibly, summer is just around the corner. Before we know it, we'll be enjoying long hot days filled with sunshine, followed by warm balmy evenings and pleasantly cool nights.

Outdoor entertaining is a great way to enjoy the warmer months, and make the most of them before they are gone. To give you some inspiration, we've put together some ideas to make this summer the best yet.

Read on and get ready for the sunshine!

Create the perfect outdoor entertaining space

The first step to getting your garden entertaining-ready is to create an attractive environment. Start perking up your grass now by giving it a mow and applying pre-emergence weed preventer and lawn feed. Then string up some coloured bunting or lanterns, and invest in some good quality garden furniture and a high-quality barbecue to create the perfect entertaining space.

Our brilliant  Buschbeck Carmen Set Masonry Barbecue (pictured) is designed to be used with charcoal, has four adjustable cooking heights and has a side table to prepare or service your foods from.

Move dining outdoors

Outdoor entertaining – outdoor dining table and serving dishes

Is there anything better than dining outdoors on a summer afternoon? You don't have to subject your guests to uncomfortable plastic chairs and paper plates. Instead, invest in a high-quality garden table and chairs and go the extra mile with your table decorations and tableware.

The pictured reclaimed slate cake stand and olive wood serving dishes will add a touch of rustic charm to your garden party, whilst a patterned table runner will add colour.

Try out some new recipes

Summer is a great time to try your hand at some outdoor cooking and impress your guests with delicious flavours. You can't, of course, beat a classic barbecue on a hot day, and our Bushbeck Steel Fire Pit (£99.99) is a great choice – you can use it to heat your patio, or add on a cooking grill to transform it into a charcoal or wood-fired grill.

Why not try the following easy barbecue recipes:

Alternatively, if you want to really impress your guests, why not invest in one of our outdoor pizza ovens? Some mouth-watering wood fired pizza recipes include:

Homemade pizza dough will, of course, make all the difference.

Take a look at our guide to cooking pizza in a wood fired pizza oven for more inspiration!

Make the most of the long summer evenings

Outdoor entertaining – making the most of summer evenings

Another great thing about summer is that you don't have to head inside as soon as the sun starts to go down. Pretty fairy lights woven through the trees, cosy throws, and marshmallows roasting on an open fire are the perfect accompaniment to an atmospheric evening barbecue.

Don't let the summer months pass you by. Make the most of them, get outside and enjoy the sunshine.

Take a look at our full range of outdoor ovens and fire pits online now at Direct Stoves - all with free delivery.

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