Why Late Summer Could Be the Best Time to Make the Most of Your Garden

Forget packing away the garden furniture just yet – Charles Bentley reveals how to make the most of the final long evenings with relaxed outdoor dining, BBQs and cosy nights around the fire.  

As August rolls into September, many of us start thinking about bringing al fresco dining to an end. But with evenings still light, gardens looking their best and temperatures often more comfortable, late summer can be one of the most enjoyable times of year to entertain outside.  

Leading outdoor living and home retailer, Charles Bentley, is encouraging households to make the most of the last of the long summer evenings – whether that means enjoying a relaxed barbecue or dinner with friends, sipping drinks outside as the sun sets, or gathering around a fire pit as the evening chill sets in.  

Here are five simple ways to turn your garden into an inviting space for late-summer entertaining.  

1. Create somewhere people want to sit 

A few garden chairs might be all you need for a morning coffee, but when you’re entertaining, it pays to create a dedicated space where guests can relax, settle in and stay awhile.  

A larger dining set can create a natural focal point for everything from a weekend barbecue to a leisurely dinner, while a lounge set makes it easy to transition from eating to drinks and conversation once the plates have been cleared.  

For a flexible option, the Charles Bentley St Tropez Rattan Lounge Set seats up to six and combines a sofa, chairs, stools and a multifunctional table. Its compact design makes it a practical choice for a variety of garden spaces, while providing plenty of room for relaxed gatherings.  

 For smaller gardens, the Multifunctional Contemporary Rattan Lounge Set offers a versatile way to create a comfortable social space. It can be arranged as a day bed, L-shaped sofa or four-seater lounge set-up, depending upon how you want to use the space.  

The key is to think beyond simply putting furniture outside, by creating an area that feels like an extension of the home, where people naturally want to linger.  

2. Make food part of the occasion 

Late summer is made for relaxed outdoor cooking. The weather is often comfortable enough to spend time around the barbecue, while cooler evenings mean there is less of the frantic rush to eat before the food – or the chef – overheats.  

For larger gatherings, a multi-burner gas barbecue can make feeding a crowd easier. Charles Bentley's ottimo Pro 455 6-Burner Gas BBQ and the Sydney Premium 7 Burner Gas BBQ both offer sizeable options.  

For those who want outdoor cooking to become more of an event, a Kamado can turn dinner into part of the entertainment. Charles Bentley's ottimo Searsmith range is designed for kamado-style cooking, with models available in different sizes and suited to everything from low-and-slow cooking to high-heat searing.  

Serve food family-style, put salads and sides in the middle of the table and let guests help themselves. It takes some of the formality out of entertaining and means the host can spend less time going back and forth to the kitchen.  

3. Don't head indoors as soon as the temperature drops 

One of the best things about late-summer evenings is that a slight chill doesn't have to mean the end of the night.  

A fire pit or chiminea can become the focal point once dinner is over, adding warmth and creating a reason for everyone to stay outside a little longer. Charles Bentley's outdoor heating range includes both fire pits and chimineas, with options such as the Snug Salvador Fire Pit and Snug Barcelona Clay Chimineas.  

Keep a basket of blankets and throws close by, add a few cushions to outdoor seating and encourage guests to settle in. What starts as an outdoor dinner can easily turn into a late-night conversation around the fire.  

4. Be prepared for a typically British change in weather 

This time of year can bring some pleasant evenings, but British weather rarely sticks to the plan.  

Having a gazebo ready means a passing shower doesn't necessarily have to send everyone indoors. It can also help define the entertaining area, giving the garden a more considered, outdoor-room feel.  

The Charles Bentley 3 x 3m Steel Art Luxury Outdoor Gazebo is designed to provide a spacious sheltered area for barbecues, parties and gatherings, while the range also includes pergola-style gazebos and more flexible pop-up options.  

A gazebo can also provide useful shade earlier in the day, making it a practical addition rather than something reserved purely for rainy weather.  

5. Make an ordinary evening feel like an occasion 

The final ingredient doesn't have to cost much – it's all in the details.  

Warm outdoor lighting can make the garden feel inviting once daylight starts to fade, while cushions and throws instantly make seating feel more comfortable. Set up a simple drinks station so guests can help themselves and bring food outside on serving boards and platters rather than making everyone sit down to a formal meal.  

Don't worry about having a huge garden, either. A small patio or compact outdoor space can work just as well when furniture is arranged to encourage conversation, and the space is given a clear purpose.  

The aim isn't to recreate the height of summer. Late-summer entertaining is more relaxed: dinner stretches into drinks, the lights come on as the sun disappears and, if the evening is good enough, nobody is in a hurry to go indoors.  

Charles Bentley's range of garden furniture, outdoor cooking, gazebos and outdoor heating is available at Charles Bentley. 

Ends

Editors notes

Established in 1860, Charles Bentley is a sixth-generation family business and the UK’s leading manufacturer of brushware. What started as a chimney-sweeping brushes company has grown into a trusted British brand, with over 160 years of experience creating high-quality brushware for homes, businesses, and industry. Today, more than two million brushes and brooms are made every year, combining traditional values with modern manufacturing to meet the demands of customers across the UK and beyond. Alongside its brushware heritage, Charles Bentley is now known for a wide range of home, garden, and leisure products, from garden furniture and parasols to storage, barbecues, and decorative touches. Every piece is thoughtfully designed to bring comfort, style and practicality to everyday living. Still based in Loughborough, Charles Bentley continues to innovate while staying true to its long-standing values of quality, sustainability, and dependable customer service. Whether it’s a hand-finished broom or a beautifully crafted piece of garden furniture, the Bentley name is trusted by generations to deliver products that enhance everyday life.