When the sun is shining, there’s nothing quite like gathering friends and family around a table piled high with delicious food. Outdoor grazing tables are a simple way to feed a crowd while creating a relaxed atmosphere – one where guests can help themselves, chat and linger over another bite.
Cheese is the heart of any memorable summer grazing table, bringing together a variety of flavours and colours in every corner of the spread. Whether you’re planning a laid-back barbecue or a special alfresco celebration, Snowdonia Cheese Co’s award-winning cheeses, handcrafted accompaniments and simple recipes make it easy to build a feast that looks as good as it tastes.
What is an outdoor grazing table?
A garden party grazing table is a generous spread of cheeses, breads, seasonal produce and accompaniments arranged for guests to enjoy at their own pace. Instead of serving individual dishes one by one, everything is displayed together, encouraging everyone to graze throughout the event.
It’s an approach that works beautifully for garden parties, barbecues, birthday celebrations, family gatherings, bank holiday weekends and even relaxed wedding receptions. Guests can dip in whenever they fancy, leaving you free to enjoy the occasion rather than spending the day serving food.
Start with a selection of award-winning cheeses
The best grazing table ideas always begin with an impressive cheese selection. Mix flavours, textures and colours to create an eye-catching display.
Choose favourites such as Black Bomber extra mature Cheddar, the rich, naturally smoked Beech Wood, vintage Red Storm red Leicester, the herbaceous Green Thunder and the luxurious Truffle Trove. For a true show-stopping centrepiece, a party-sized 2kg cheese wheel makes a striking focal point that guests will love tucking into.
Browse our full cheese collection to find combinations that suit every occasion.
Build your grazing table around seasonal produce
Fresh fruit and vegetables bring colour, freshness and balance to your grazing board ideas.
Fill the table with strawberries, blackberries, grapes, apricots, peaches and figs alongside crisp radishes and sun-ripened tomatoes. Rather than arranging everything in neat rows, place ingredients in generous clusters so the table feels abundant and inviting.
Add crowd-pleasing accompaniments
The finishing touches are what bring a grazing table together. Offer plenty of handcrafted Snowdonia Cheese Co crackers alongside slices of fresh sourdough or crusty bread. Pair your cheeses with Balsamic Caramelised Onion Chutney, Fig & Apple Chutney and Hot Honey for sweet, savoury and spicy combinations.
Next, add layers of sliced salami, prosciutto and chorizo, then place bowls of Marcona almonds, cornichons and olives around the table so every guest can build their own perfect plate.
Incorporate Snowdonia recipes for extra inspiration
Rustling up a few easy dishes in advance will make your spread feel even more generous.
Our fresh and zingy Rock Star, broad bean & mint crostini are the perfect finger food, while our charcuterie crisps transform a bag of potato chips into a colourful sharing dish topped with Rock Star, Red Storm, cured meats and a drizzle of Hot Honey. They add crunch and plenty of bold flavour without adding to your prep time. Warning: these disappear fast!
For something lighter, try a modern take on a Waldorf salad, created by Rhind & Dine on Instagram. Purple Vale cheese with aged balsamic of Modena and caramelised onion gives this classic summer salad a Snowdonia twist.
Create visual impact with different heights and textures
Styling makes all the difference when creating memorable garden party food ideas. Vary between presenting whole truckles and cutting your cheeses using a mix of wedges, cubes and crumbles to add height and texture across the table. Arrange everything on wooden boards and slate platters, introduce cake stands to lift key centrepieces and serve chutneys in ceramic bowls. Let ingredients spill naturally across the display for a relaxed, plentiful look.
Keep your grazing table outdoor-friendly
A little planning helps your cheeses stay at their best. Set up your table in a shaded spot where possible and keep the cheeses covered until guests arrive. Bring out more delicate ingredients shortly before serving, then provide small plates, forks and cocktail sticks so everyone can help themselves with ease.
Complete the experience with a cheese hamper
If you’re looking for an easy starting point, our hampers bring together everything you need to create an impressive grazing table without having to source each element separately. Carefully paired cheeses, crackers, chutneys and accompaniments make it simple to put together a generous spread that’s ready to share.
Our Cheeseboard Hamper includes five award-winning cheeses – Black Bomber, Red Storm, Truffle Trove, Rock Star and Beech Wood – alongside three traditional chutneys, Fig & Cranberry Crackers, kiln-roasted nuts, cocoa-dusted salted caramel truffles and a handcrafted Welsh slate serving board.
For outdoor entertaining, our range of Picnic Cool Bag hampers are equally at home in the garden as they are out in the countryside or on a trip to the seaside. Each includes three award-winning truckles with chutneys and crackers, while selected hampers also feature refreshing drinks such as Sicilian still lemonade, sparkling rhubarb crush, prosecco or rosé wine. Everything is packed into a reusable Slate Blue Insulated Cool Bag, making these hampers thoughtful gifts for summer celebrations as well as an effortless way to bring a grazing table together.
Explore our hamper collection and Picnic Cool Bag collection for even more inspiration.
Ready to create your grazing table?
Whether you’re hosting a weekend barbecue or planning a special celebration, the best outdoor grazing table ideas combine exceptional cheese, colourful seasonal produce, delicious recipes and thoughtful presentation. Mix your favourite Snowdonia cheeses with handcrafted accompaniments and fresh summer ingredients to create a spread that keeps everyone coming back for more.