The sun is slowly but surely rearing its head and one of our favourite holidays is on the horizon - so how will you be spending Easter 2023?
While we’d much rather be making the most of the long Easter weekend by taking an early spring jaunt to Europe, if you can't afford to jet off (hi, cost of living crisis), there’s still a slew of (super fun) ways you can celebrate the holiday from home this year. From laying the perfect Easter tablescape to baking up a storm at home (or cheating and ordering in!), we've rounded up a host of ways you can celebrate Easter at home in style.
Easter Sunday this year falls on Sunday April 9. The countdown is officially ON.
How to celebrate Easter 2023
Easter is synonymous with chocolate and we are not complaining. Don’t just limit yourself to chocolate in the form of an Easter egg either (although we will still be getting one - or three - of these too). Why not invest in a luxe hot chocolate gift set? Or a proper hot chocolate maker to enjoy lavish drinks as you cosy up with a film?
If you want to go all-out on the chocolate, you can order in some cocoa delights too. There’s an Easter Cookie Dough Box from The Good Baker that we’ve got our eyes on and you can never go wrong with an Easter-themed Colin the Caterpillar cake from M&S too.
For the hardcore sweet tooth, this creme egg chocolate slab from The Sugar Sisters should do the trick or why not try one of these DIY Easter bunny kits from cult brand Doughnut Time? Whatever you decide to do, make sure chocolate is involved.
Staying at home in the UK is providing us the perfect reason to get creative – and elevate the home dining experience - so we asked some of the most inspiring creatives for their tips on how to create the perfect tablescape to host the perfect Easter-themed meal at home (that will also look great on your 'gram).
Rosanna Falconer, a brand consultant, co-founder of FashMash and lover of all things colourful, has already showcased plenty of inspiring tablescapes on her Instagram so they're definitely worth emulating.
"The easiest way to change the table for any occasion? A runner down the centre," she says.
"Printed tablecloths are beautiful but can be expensive so invest in one in white linen then switch it up each time with a wrapping paper or ribbon runner," she suggests.
When it comes to flowers, Alice Naylor-Leyland, who loves tablescaping so much that she set up her own curated tablescape and tableware collection, plumps for bud vases filled with tulips, daffodils and muscari. "I think the key with flowers is to be bold and not scared of using colour."
You could even try creating an edible centrepiece with mini eggs, chocolate bunnies or, for a healthier approach, grapefruits sliced in half, pomegranates, oranges, lemons, or figs.
Sophie Allport suggests pairing the napkins with painted eggs and features scattered across the table as well as making an egg wreath as the centrepiece. To make your own, gather up some florals and twist it along with moss around a circular wire.
It really isn’t Easter if you don’t have the smell of freshly baked hot cross buns wafting through your home at some point over the weekend. While making them from scratch could be a lovely, mindful activity - you can buy them freshly baked too. We like these ones from Gail’s bakery (who are also doing a stellar Easter afternoon tea hamper at the moment as well).
If you’re planning to have a Sunday lunch, why not bake yourself an Easter-themed dessert - BBC Goodfood has recipes for an Easter nest cake and Easter egg brownies (say no more). You could also try making your own Easter egg at home too, you’d just need to pick up fun moulds like these from Amazon.
Bring back your favourite nostalgic Easter tradition this year with an Easter egg hunt. Even if you’re in a poky flat, you can buy a bunch of small Easter eggs and hide them around the house, creating cryptic clues for your housemates or significant other.
Go big and stay home. That’s our Easter motto this year and, since we’ve got a lush four-day weekend to enjoy, why not utilise that time to create an epic Easter lunch? If you’re not up for roasting a leg of lamb yourself, or making your own mushroom wellington (this mushroom wellington recipe is so simple and so delicious), then arrange for a feast to be delivered to your door.
Let’s face it, you’ll probably be too occupied with eating to even look at your phone. But Easter could be a great time to switch off completely and allow your mind to take a breather. Turn your phone off (or at least pause all of your social media apps), go for lovely long walks, play board games and puzzles and use the time to finally make a dent in that stack of books on your bedside table.
Francoise Peretti, Director of the Champagne Bureau UK, says Easter is the perfect time to treat yourself.
Whether you have a sweet tooth to go with all that Easter chocolate, or prefer something on the drier side, Francoise has shared some pairing suggestions:
Easter Brunch The traditional choices for the occasion are Simnel cake, embellished with dried fruits and layered with marzipan, and of course, hot cross buns. A complex, elegant and refreshing style, Vintage Blanc de Blancs Champagne is the perfect pairing for these baked treats. Made from 100% Chardonnay grapes and aged by law for more than 3 years in the cellar, it is often favoured for its wonderful brioche and pastry flavours, notes of dried fruits and toasted nuts – all of which will harmoniously mingle on the palate with these Easter treats.
Easter Sunday Roast: People typically reach for the red when choosing a wine to pair with red meat, but if you will be enjoying a hearty Sunday lamb roast, a Vintage Rosé Champagne pairs perfectly. The red-fruit aromas and full-bodied nature of this style are the perfect match to tangy, slow-cooked tender lamb. If you are opting for a cut of pork, whether gammon, shoulder, or belly, choose a Vintage Blanc de Noirs Champagne. Meaning ‘white of black’, Blanc de Noirs is from 100% black grapes and has the structure and the characteristic champagne freshness that will cut through that rich fat.
Easter Eggs: For those who love a typical all-about-chocolate Easter, a Demi-sec Champagne is ideal. Anything dry would be too jarring but Demi-sec Champagne has a little more sugar in it and thus, pairs harmoniously with desserts. Do not be alarmed however, Demi-sec is not “sweet” per se and will still retain that unique freshness and acidity that Champagne is famous for.
Cheers to that!
With all the spare time on your hands, the long weekend is the ideal time to get the arts and crafts out. Egg colouring is all over Instagram right now and the simplest way to do it is with some colour dye. All you do is add about a tablespoon of food colouring and 2tsp of vinegar to a cup that is just deep enough for the egg. Next, add water to about halfway and pop the egg in. The longer you leave the egg in the dye, the darker the colour will go so keep an eye on it!
After dyeing them, you can decorate your own eggs with acrylic paints, or use a white crayon to make patterns on your eggs. You can buy some Ester stickers to adorn your eggs with if you're feeling lazy or embellish them with glue and glitter for some sparkle.
Perfect for garden get-togethers, Hendrick’s latest limited release, FLORA ADORA is buzzing with an enticing aroma of enchanting flowers and a fresh, herbal character that is classically Hendrick’s in style. The juniper and coriander backbone is lengthened by lush green and wonderfully sweet floral characteristics which makes it the perfect long weekend tipple. Maybe the sun will come out? Serve your guests the new signature serve with Flora Adora, ‘Wildgarden Cup’
Ingredients
- 50ml Flora Adora
- 25ml Lemon juice
- 25ml Simple syrup
- Soda water
- 4 Raspberries
- 6 Mint leaves
- 3 Cucumber wheels
Method
Add all ingredients to glass over cubed ice. Stir and garnish with cucumber, mint & raspberries.
One for the grown-ups: To kick off the spring season, Mozart Chocolate Liqueur has taken over the Fifth Floor Terrace at Harvey Nichols, transforming it into an egg-stravagent escape in the heart of London’s Knightsbridge. Complete with opulent décor, delicious food, and a menu of indulgent “choctails”, the terrace is the perfect place to toast those lighter, brighter spring evenings. The Mozart Liqueur Chocolate Terrace will be serving a fresh spring menu with serves on offer including the decadent Espresso Choctini, a chocolate-y take on the Espresso Martini. Salivating.
Can't be bothered to cook? We don't blame you. Fantastic restaurants exist for good reason so why not treat yourself to one of the best in London? This spring, The Carlton Tower has announced a new seasonal menu available to guests at Al Mare restaurant. Inspired by Italy’s rich tapestry of history, and the warmer months filled with light and rebirth, Al Mare’s new mouth-watering spring menu features an array of dishes designed to delight and inspire, from Tartare di Tonno and Tagliolini al limone con Tartare di Gamberi Rossi to Eliche ai Frutti di Mare & Pesci di Scoglio, it'll be an Easter meal to remember.
You might not be able to splurge on going abroad but luckily there is so much Easter merriment here in the UK.
Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire is the perfect place to celebrate Easter with family and friends. The Hotel has revealed its 2023 activity program, which will offer fun-filled surprises for young and old. Activities include an alpaca farm, egg painting, Easter egg hunts, children's yoga and lots more. So what can you expect?
Easter Hunt
It wouldn't be Easter at Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire without an Easter egg hunt for the kids on the estate. Set in the property’s picturesque Walled Garden, children are invited to search for a bright and colourful mix of eggs with the help of the Hotel's very own Easter bunny.
Crafty Kids
The Hotel’s kids club will be offering a fun variety of Easter-themed activities to get little ones’ creative juices flowing. Easter wreaths, crowns, wooden bunnies and hanging chick workshops are sure to entertain crafty kids, while budding artists will also enjoy canvas painting and music lovers can create their own calming sounds with wind chime making.
Mini Mind Body and Spirit
Combining fitness with fun, Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire offer Kids’ Yoga classes. A unique exciting, creative, and calming experience, each class presents a blend of yoga and mindfulness to encourage kids to grow in confidence and to the best of their ability.
Splashing Fun
With everything from a 6-metre (20-foot) water slide to exhilarating fountains and water jets, Sharkie’s Reef has a variety of splashing fun for the entire family to enjoy. Adults looking for something slightly more relaxing and serene can also opt for a dip in the conservatory adults-only pool and take them time for themselves.
Animal Adventures
A host of animal antics await with the return of Four Seasons alpaca farm. Great fun for older and younger guests alike, this farm gives everyone the chance to get up close to these cuddly creatures. Bird fans will have the chance to learn more about our feathered friends with a traditional falconry display. Finally, no trip to Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire would be complete without a visit from the property’s resident, mischievous Shetland ponies, Milo and Dougal.
Dinky Disco and Children’s Cinema
The fun doesn’t stop as the evening comes about, with special movie nights and discos. These themed evenings not only ensure a great time for children but are perfect for parents wanting to have a break and enjoy a child-free evening.
Take Time for an Easter Afternoon Tea in the Library
Take some time to celebrate this Easter with a specially crafted afternoon tea, created by the talented Pastry Chef Maxime Gourlain. Enjoy the traditional Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire Tea with a tasty Easter themed twist, all in the peaceful setting of the Hotel's quintessentially British 18th century library.
To book stay today contact 01252 853 000 or reserve on Booking.com.
