Picnic in the (Green) Park

Saturday 21st June 2025

London has a long tradition of picnics, going back over 200 years (when winters were colder and wetter, but nine out of the first 40 years from 1800 onwards were had summers that were “warm and dry”). Pique-Niques originated in France in the late 17th century piquer (‘to peck’) and nique (‘a small amount’), but these were always indoors and usually extravagant, with everyone bringing a course and wine. When French nobility fled to London to escape the Revolution, they brought the indoor version with them; with 200 of them even forming in 1801 “the Pic Nic Society”, with each guests bringing a course and six bottles of wine! Amateur dramatics, singing and dancing all followed, which is probably unsurprising with that amount of alcohol. It was the Londoners that took the picnic outdoors. Anyone who has watched the excruciating scene in the movie of Jane Austen’s Emma will have a good idea of what constituted a society picnic. On the more positive side Fortnum & Mason have built an enduring business in the sale of picnic hampers.

And so, with a currently favourable forecast, the Cambridge Society of London will host its first Picnic in the Park from 3.00pm until dusk on the Longest Day, Saturday 21st June in Green Park. We are not planning a feast or amateur dramatics, merely an informal get together for our very friendly Society to meet and mingle. We will provide the essentials (ice, cutlery, glasses, plates, water, some wine, beer, a portable speaker, and a few fundamental foods: scotch eggs, crisps, dips) But we would love you to bring a course, whether that be a favourite dish or some takeaway items from M&S (which is literally across Piccadilly via the subway from the Park). We thought we’d start early enough for those with young children to attend and continue as long as the weather gods are smiling. Tickets will be £15 for grown ups and free for children under 12 and well-behaved dogs. For those concerned about conveniences, we will be accessing an office block in Arlington St, opposite the Ritz, which is a short stroll from the Park. The current forecast is for 26ºC, but we won’t be counting our chickens. We very much hope some of you will be able to join us.

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Cambridge Society of London Transfer and Refund Policy

i) At least 14 calendar days before the event: We will provide full refunds (minus any booking/transaction fees, which are nonrefundable). Alternatively, if you have found a suitable replacement, we can change the name on the ticket on the understanding that you will reclaim the ticket price from them separately.

ii) Between 4 and 14 calendar days before the event: Our arrangements with our hosts are always finalised 4 calendar days before each event. With more than 4 calendar days’ notice we can still change the name to someone named by you on the understanding that you will reclaim the ticket price from them separately. Alternatively, we MIGHT be able to sell it to someone else; there is no guarantee of that but we will do our best and then refund you if successful.

iii) Less than 4 calendar days: We regret that we cannot offer refunds if given less than 4 calendar days’ notice.