Here comes the sun (hopefully)

What are the sights, sounds, tastes and scents that say summer? Here five of the team at Chestnut share their views

Sights

The rainbow colours make any day better, but in the sunshine beach huts appear even more ‘summery’. A year without at least one day on Southwold beach is no summer at all! A favourite pastime is choosing our favourite beach hut name/colours along the promenade.

Sounds

We have a table tennis table that gets used to ‘the max’ in the summer months. To the neighbours’ dismay the sound of the knock, knock, knock goes on until dusk when it’s sunny.

Tastes

Pimm’s! There’s nothing better than sitting in a warm pub garden sharing a jug with friends. If you’re lucky, then you may be tucking into strawberries and sipping on Pimm’s while watching Wimbledon.

Scents

That first application of aftersun lotion! The smell takes me back to Spanish holidays as a child.

Jessica Simms-Baalham, Marketing Executive

Sights

Umbrellas up in busy pub gardens and guests enjoying a great experience - being one of the guests is even better, relaxing with an ale and people watching, preferably by the water somewhere!

Sounds

The Dawn Chorus. Living in the countryside and hearing the variety of birds as they start their day is a privilege. Having crows nesting in our chimney stack year on year and hearing the sounds of them building their nests, right through to the first cheeps of the chicks, is quite entertaining.

Tastes

The taste of the grilled food as barbeque season gets under way. Marinated meats, fresh salads . . . yum!

Scents

Apart from me burning the barbecue? Either the ‘smell’ of the crisp fresh air as you visit the coast or the odour of rapeseed oil fields.

Pete Everett, Training and Development Manager

Sights

The brightness of the sunshine, the essence of summer.

Sounds

Hearing birds in the early morning, waking you up at sunrise.

Tastes

A fresh pint of cider while sitting in the garden.

Scents

The smell of a lavender field.

Sights

Sunshine and putting on my sunglasses! No coats and flip flops. Late evenings in the garden, beach hut visits at Frinton, cycle rides through the countryside. Cricket and tennis. Stargazing and watching for meteors on warm summer evenings.

Sounds

The sound of Wimbledon on the television. Also the birds and bees.

Taste

Fruits de Mers, local strawberries, Pimm’s and rose wine. Chocolate chip ice cream every day.

Scents

Barbecues in the garden and roasting marshmallows over the firepit. Freshly mown grass and clean washing on the washing line.

Nicole Barrett, General Manager, The Crown

Sights

Opening the french doors into the garden and walking barefoot on the grass looking at my wonderful David Austin roses . . . the different colours, the shape of the rose petals, the new buds about to burst open. I smile at their pure beauty.

Sounds

The birds tweeting in the garden. Everything is so still and tranquil. The little blackbird always visits and is my favourite with its sunny coloured beak, perched on a branch on the apple tree. Just laying on the lounger listening to the sounds, peering up occasionally from my book, not wanting to disturb their busy little lives.

Tastes

It’s got to be Hayman’s Peach and Rose Cup Gin. Deliciously refreshing and I only ever have this in the summer… Fevertree tonic, with a quartered strawberry and mint… truly summer in a long glass.

Scents

It’s got to be the barbecue. The amazing smell of delicious lamb chops with a fresh mint pesto, sizzling away.