Lucky riverside diners can receive a free picnic snack box from a punting boat in Oxford as part of a major supermarket’s delivery service.

Asda will hand out 200 packages to picnickers on the River Cherwell using a punting boat over the weekend of Saturday, August 10 and Sunday, August 11.

The snack box includes items such as stuffed vine leaves, mozzarella pearls and Italian cheese and ham rollitos from its new picnic and deli bites range as well as a choice of wine.

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The launch comes as new research from the supermarket reveals that Brits are spending 50 per cent more on picnics now than 10 years ago.

Available for one weekend only, the service will operate along the stretch of the river with each box serving two. 

An Asda spokesperson said: “We currently deliver to 95 per cent of the UK with our grocery home shopping service, and with the launch of the picnic punt delivery service, even the waterways aren’t off limits.

Asda is giving away 200 free riverside picnic boxes Asda is giving away 200 free riverside picnic boxes (Image: Asda) “As research shows that picnics are becoming far posher, Asda’s Picnic and Modern Deli Bites range offers customers the best of both worlds, offering premium nibbles at uncompromising value.”

Asda’s picnic packages will contain a selection of products from the retailer’s new range, including a marinated pickle pot, stuffed vine leaves, stuffed peppers with cream cheese, marinated mozzarella pearls, hot honey and chilli olives with ibérica cheese, spiced vegetable samosas and tomato and mozzarella parcels.

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The meat picnic also contains nibbles including Italian cheese and ham rollitos, salami and cheese pot, marinated anchovies, harissa chicken parcels, and Asian-inspired chicken skewers.

Picnickers can indulge in one of Asda’s new pica pica wine cans choosing from a sauvignon blanc, viognier, white zinfandel, pinot grigio rosé, sparkling white, sparkling rosé, blackcurrant and berry wine spritz or elderflower and mint wine spritz,   

For those unable to benefit from Asda’s free picnic punting delivery service, all products can be bought in-store or online as part of a three for £7 offer. 

Research, conducted by Asda using 1,500 general consumers in the UK, also showed that whilst once a simple chequered rug and some paper plates might suffice, around a quarter of Brits now view wine glasses, bread knives and bottle coolers as essential picnic equipment.

It also suggested that 60 per cent of Brits would travel for longer than half an hour to find the perfect picnic spot.

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About the author

Rob is a digital reporter who covers a wide range of topics.

He joined the Oxford Mail in February 2023 having previously been at sister paper The Bucks Free Press for two years. 

Rob completed a Sports Journalism degree before earning his NCTJ Diploma at Darlington College and can be found on X at @RobertFolker.