Gathering around a table to share a meal with those you love is one of life's greatest pleasures. Made all the more sweet when the world around us is springing to life. With nature offering up endless inspiration and the promise of ever lighter evenings lying ahead, there’s much cause to celebrate. So, with the help of expert floral stylist Willow Crossley, printmaker Molly Mahon, inimitable cook and food writer Anna Jones and some of our favourite artisans, we’ve assembled all the ingredients for a truly joy-filled Easter feast.

Nothing quite says ‘spring’ like a table filled with a bounty of beautiful blooms - and a long, lazy lunch is the perfect setting in which to appreciate and admire their joyful charm. It’s a good idea to consider the types of flowers you might like to use in the early stages of planning your tablescape, as this can help inform and shape your colour scheme. 

Styled by Willow Crossley using Hot Pottery tableware

For floral stylist Willow Crossley, there are a few beloved varieties that she eagerly anticipates every spring. ‘My absolute favourite seasonal flowers are Solomon’s seal - I live for when these are in bloom,’ she says. ‘I also love peonies, snake’s head fritillaries, Icelandic poppies, ranunculus, and pheasant’s eye daffodils which are still holding on.’

We love the look of combining cut flowers in little posy vases with potted bulbs in pretty ribbon wrapped pots - it’s a great way to add variety and depth to your table. Willow recommends keeping arrangements loose and relatively low, so as not to interrupt conversation across the table. 

Discover how Willow arranges, grows and sources flowers and plants in her online course below.

Wild Strawberry Teacup & Saucer by Wedgwood

Napkins by Lottie Mayland Embroidery paired with Penny Morrison plates

If there’s ever a time to indulge in bright patterns and bold hues, it’s on a spring table - and printmaker Molly Mahon’s latest range of table linen is the perfect addition to your seasonal celebration. 

Cherry block-printed fabric by Molly Mahon from the Indian Summer Collection

‘My busy-person’s hack is to get the tablecloth to do most of the work,’ says Molly. 'What I love about our tablecloths is that it really takes minimal effort to throw one on, and yet it delivers maximum visual impact.’ A statement tablecloth is also the perfect way to add instant decoration and character to plain crockery - even a white dinnerware set can be made to feel fun when layered on top of a vibrant print. 

Calendula block-printed fabric by Molly Mahon from the Indian Summer Collection

Molly actively discourages any pretence of formality at the table, favouring a much more relaxed approach - to the relief of hosts and guests alike! ‘These tablecloths wear their spills and stains with pride - they’re a stamp of a moment in time, and those lovely memories come back every time we pull that tablecloth out again,’ she says. ‘It would be a terrible shame to feel too nervous to use them and miss out on the joy that they bring to mealtimes. For me, the more marks the merrier - I think we should all try and embrace that.'

Shop Molly Mahon's new Bloom collection table linen below

Dahlia block-printed fabric by Molly Mahon from the ‘Bloom’ collection

If you have the time and inclination, a touch of crafting will always elevate any table setting and help make the occasion feel extra special. Molly Mahon shares a simple, but highly effective way to create customised name cards. 

‘A lovely finishing touch is to block print place cards for everyone - I always like to do this when I’m hosting,’ says Molly. ‘I think people like to know where their place is - it instantly removes that dilemma of where to sit, and helps them ease into the occasion. Plus it's another easy opportunity to decorate your table and show how much you care about your guests. Letting your guests know how welcome they are, and how happy you are to receive them, is always the best start to any social occasion.’

Learn how to make your own block printed place cards with Molly below.

The best tablescapes are created with a mix of crockery - be it treasured heirlooms holding decades of family memories, pieces bought as souvenirs from a favourite holiday, or simply an assortment of ceramics that have found their way into your home over the years. Rather than feeling as though you need to invest in a whole new dinnerware set, there’s joy to be found in adding to your collection slowly and thoughtfully with choice pieces that can mix into what you already have. 

For a little inspiration, we’ve rounded up some of the latest pieces to have caught our eye…

We are in love with this wavy Italian number by the super talented team at Bettina Ceramica. Their Giglino Bowl would make the chicest of Easter baskets filled to the brim with sweet treats for your guests to enjoy.

Henry Holland’s handblown mid-ball tumblers are perfect for pretty much whatever tickles your fancy; cocktail, water glass, tea light… anything is going to look good in these swirly beauties!

Pink and red are the most happy-making of colour combinations if you ask us, so we were delighted to come across these jolly checked Chaturanga napkins by our favourite textile designer Molly Mahon.

Was there ever a friendlier looking frog than this ceramic water pitcher by Wicklewood. You could choose to fill him with water as his name would suggest, but we think he’d look equally fabulous as your centrepiece brimming with blooms. 

Host Home is full of colourful delights that are guaranteed to make anything you serve up look great. We recommend piling their Fronzoli serving dish high with your favourite seasonal salad or delicious roasted veg (or, frankly, whatever you like!).

Sharland England’s pretty little Jeanne vase will make a lovely addition to any table - either adorned with fresh flowers or faux ones, like these brass alchemilla stems by Jess Wheeler (you can even learn how to make your own with Jess’s Create Academy metalwork course).

With the table set, the final element to consider is what you’ll serve. The perfect dish should not only be delicious, but hopefully low effort too so you can spend the maximum amount of time with your guests. For a simple recipe that also delivers wow-factor flavour, we always look to Anna Jones.

The idea of making pastry can be daunting, but don't get put off, this recipe is really simple - and delicious! Conveniently, the majority of this dish can be prepped in advance, allowing you to relax and enjoy the party. 'This galette is most delicious eaten straight out of the oven - but if you want to get ahead, I'd suggest making the pastry and prepping the toppings in advance, and then assembling them just before it goes in the oven,' says Anna.

For the pastry

130g of plain flour

20g quick cook polenta

1⁄2 a tsp of flaked sea salt

6 sage leaves, finely chopped

A few sprigs of thyme, picked and finely chopped

20g gruyere or cheddar - grated 80g unsalted butter

To top

1 handful of toasted hazelnuts, roughly chopped

A handful of sage, leaves picked Butter

For the filling

1 small squash (about 800g) Olive oil

6 sprigs of sage

6 sprigs of thyme

1 unwaxed lemon

1 teaspoon of coriander seeds, bashed

1 bulb of garlic

1 tbsp of maple syrup/honey

4 heaped tbsps of goats curd or mascarpone

1 large organic free-range egg

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