Summer Moments inspired by your M&S

We have partnered with M&S to offer you inspiring ideas that will surprise and delight your family and friends, whether it’s drinks shared together, a special celebration or simply a mid-week meal

Planning a perfect bank holiday weekend to round off the amazing summer we’ve had?

With countless activities for friends and family, we’re spoilt for choice. From superb street festivals to stunning Shakespeare under starlight, there is entertainment galore to enjoy. Records might be smashed at Llanwrtyd Wells in the wild landscape of Powys when the annual bog- snorkelling championship attracts contestants from around the world and spectators cheer them on as they struggle through the murky quagmire to claim victory. Or go back in time with a visit to Herstmonceux Castle in east Sussex for a medieval festival of armoured knights jousting, jesters, falconry and have-a-go-archery. With camping and caravanning on site, the whole weekend is sorted, but it still raises a conundrum – should it be picnic food or barbecue? Why not take both!

One thing is certain, M&S has a vast range of mouthwatering food & drinks to make a picnic, barbecue or party utterly delicious. Picture these on the grill – garlic, lime & coriander chicken, smoky BBQ salmon burgers, halloumi kebabs and giant, spicy potato wedges. Or what about this fabulous spread for the picnic blanket: feta & herb pastries, chicken & chorizo empanadas, manzanilla & cuquillo olives, followed by raspberry razzle sundae. And for those perfect summer moments, don’t forget that M&S has the drinks to match too. Try the exotically tempting Rainbow range of juices, including pineapple, mango, coconut water & lime, apple, asparagus & lemon and beetroot, apple & blackcurrant. Look out too for refreshing sparkling hibiscus & lemon soda and luscious sparkling Mexican lime & lemongrass presse.

When it comes to wine, M&S boasts an impressively award-winning selection, and they’ve always got the perfect food to match. Their IWSC Gold-winning Oudinot Brut Champagne goes beautifully with Lochmuir™ salmon flatbread. Nos Riqueza Ribera del Duero (red wine) is superb with sticky BBQ chicken wings, while Monferrato Chiaretto rosé works wonderfully with Eton Mess. If beer’s more your thing, check out their gold medal winners from this year’s International Beer Challenge: Cambridgeshire golden ale with chicken and chorizo empanadas, Scottish craft lager to match chargrilled calamari, and, for pudding, their Belgian cherry wheat beer is divine with chocolate sundae.

That’s the menu sorted, so how about some more tips for fun and free days out? The Streets of Durham Festival takes place over the weekend with a jamboree of jugglers, unicyclists, strong women, buskers, and acrobats. Over in Liverpool, the International Music Festival celebrates all styles of music, but with a special focus on the city’s most famous sons, with Albert Dock hosting a Beatles celebration. For a fishy fiesta, head to Newlyn in Cornwall for the annual fish festival where visitors encounter mermaids, pirates, salty dogs and smugglers and have a chance to board a trawler and fisheries protection vessel.

So options aplenty for bank holiday entertainment, but now for the hardest part – choosing what to eat! Luckily, the shelves of M&S are laden with scrumptious food and drink for picnic and barbecue feasts just for you.

Bank holiday refreshments

Award-winning wines

• Monferrato Chiaretto Rosé Silver
• Oudinot Brut Champagne Gold
• Secano Estate Sauvignon Gris Gold
• Nos Riqueza Ribera del Duero Tempranillo Gold
• Single Block Series S1 Sauvignon Blanc Gold

International Beer Challenge 2013 Winners

• Scottish Craft Lager Gold
• Citra IPA Silver
• Belgian Bruin Gold
• Belgian Cherry Wheat Beer Gold
• Brewers Gold Silver

Rainbow range of juices

In the Rainbow juice range each 250ml serving contains 2 of your 5-a-day

• Orange & carrot
• Pineapple, coconut water, mango & lime
• Apple, beetroot & blackcurrant
• Apple, asparagus & lemon

Win a £50 M&S giftcard - how will you make today delicious?

Tell us how you plan to ‘make today delicious’ with your food choice for your partner, family, friends or colleagues, and you could win a £50 M&S Giftcard. We’ll be awarding M&S Giftcards for the next week for the best suggestions.

You’ll also be entered into a draw for a grand prize, everything you need to create a champagne picnic for four.

To enter tweet #MakeTodayDelicious followed by #ES or visit here

Terms and conditions: This week’s competition closes at 23:59 on 28 August 2013. Only one entry per person; 18+ only. You will be entered into the grand prize draw closing at 23.59 on 28 August 2013. If you enter more than one weekly competition you will only have one entry in this prize draw. Geographic restrictions apply to delivery of the grand prize. Prizes are non-transferable. No cash alternative. Subject to availability. Mediterranean lunch for 4 cannot be delivered and will need to be ordered and collected in store by the winner by 30 September 2013. Further details about prizes and detailed terms and conditions can be found here: independent.co.uk/rules. Promoter: Marks & Spencer PLC