It's National BBQ Week

It’s National BBQ Week next week (29th May - 4th June), which conveniently falls in line with the May bank holiday.

With high temperatures and sunny weather forecasted across the UK this weekend, there’s never been a more ideal time to indulge in a summer BBQ.

The drinks people at The Bottle Club have put together some handy tips for throwing the perfect BBQ, as well as providing some delicious cocktail recipes to add a summer twist to your garden party.

Plan ahead
When it comes to throwing the ultimate BBQ, planning is essential, especially if you are expecting a large number of guests. Before your guests arrive, ensure you have the correct amount of food and drinks to cater for your party - it’s better to have too much leftover that can be reused / frozen, than for your guests to go hungry.

Ask guests to get involved
Hosting a BBQ can be expensive, especially with the cost of living crisis. Share the financial load by asking guests to get involved, whether that’s bringing one item of food, preparing a side dish, or bringing a bottle of their favourite tipple.

Prepare vegetarian/vegan options
To cater for vegetarian and vegan guests you can create tasty salads, vegetarian/vegan burger and sausage alternatives and more. It's also important to create a 'meat-free' space on the BBQ - to avoid any contamination. You can do this by cooking vegetarian options on a smaller disposable BBQ to avoid cross-contamination.

Clean your BBQ
It’s likely that your BBQ will have been left gathering dust whilst in storage over the winter period. Ensure that you’ve checked that your BBQ is in good working order before the day, and ensure that you give it a good clean.

Use a brush with wire bristles to scrub down the grill - remember, not all household cleaning products are suitable for cleaning the grill as they may be toxic. Baking soda and water is a great way to clean off any dirt and grit. Give the base a wipe down, and check that all the screws and fixtures are secure and stable - you don’t want to risk your BBQ collapsing while it’s lit.

Prep certain foods before guests arrive
As enjoyable as barbequing can be, it can take a while, especially if you are catering for a large number of people. You can cook certain foods and prepare any side dishes the night before to save time on the day. If you need to season or marinade any meats or veggies you can do this in advance, saving time on the day.

Set up outdoor seating
Ensure that you have an adequate amount of outdoor seating for your guests to enjoy the bank holiday weekend sun. If you are lacking seats, you can create makeshift seating by using picnic blankets, or asking guests to bring some additional outdoor seats with them.

Set up outdoor shelter
Despite sunny forecasts, we all know that British weather can be unpredictable at the best of times. To avoid any soggy buns and upset guests, set up outdoor shelter such as a gazebo or parasols, should the weather switch unexpectedly. This also provides shelter from the sun, should your guests need it.

Use paper plates and cups
If you are worried about your guests breaking your favourite dinner set or glasses, purchase plastic reusable plates, cutlery and cups to avoid any breakages. This is also more environmentally friendly than purchasing plastic or paper sets that will be disposed of.

Create some summer cocktails
If you are looking to add a real summer twist to your bank holiday BBQ, why not get creative with your drinks selection? Fortunately, the team at the Bottle Club have compiled a list of tasty summer cocktail recipes that can be made at home to serve at your summer BBQ.







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