4 Ways to Prepare for a Barbecue in the UK

As the weather starts to improve (she says, typing with her fingers crossed!) we can all start looking forward to the barbecue season. We have a brand new barbecue sitting in our garage and I am determined to make sure that it gets at least some use this year!

When I was younger, we used to have barbecues every day. I loved the food preparation and sitting outside in the late sunshine of a warm day.

Of course, having a barbecue in the UK needs a bit of preparation – just in case the elements aren’t in our favour. Here are 5 things you can prepare in advance.

The Food

To me, this is the most important element of a barbecue! I love barbecue food and enjoy preparing marinades for the meat. I also like a good pasta salad which lasts us a couple of days. I have a great book full of recipes and suggestions and have used them on a regular basis. On top of all that, I also love sauces, chutneys and pickles. The English Provender Co make some fantastic accompaniments if you don’t want to make your own.

Protection from the weather

In this country you need all the protection you can get! If it is sunshine, then make sure you slap on the Factor 30 and protect yourself from those rays. I have previously written a post about sun lotion and making sure you protect yourself properly. Then, there is the other end of the scale. Whilst it is generally still warm when it rains, a waterproof gazebo is probably the best way to keep you, your guests and the barbecue from getting a good soaking. Add in an umbrella if your barbecue is separate from the house – or if you need to go to and fro from the kitchen to collect things.

The drinks

I have to say that I love a good cocktail and these days, you don’t have to go all out and spend hours making them. You can at least buy many of them in can!  Of course, you don’t need alcohol to make sure your barbecue is a jolly one! I have tested alcohol-free gin on this blog and also used The Burger Book to make some fantastic homemade lemonade. If you are looking for a great alcohol-free beer, then look no further than   – it tastes just like the real thing!

The seating

We are very lucky to have an amazing hot tub in our garden. Made by Softub, it is comfortable to sit in. You can also purchase floating tables and floating cool boxes – so once the barbecue food is cooked, we can place them on a table next to the Softub, get in, relax and enjoy our meal. Alternatively, we would love to get our hands on some Rattan furniture at some point. Now we have Grace and Rex, together with the fact that we would like to invite some friends or family over to join us, it would be great to be able to extend our seating area outside.

This is a collaborative post.