Living in the UK can often mean that planning a BBQ is usually a last-minute thing, as we never really know what the weather has in store for us.
Having a BBQ is the perfect way to get friends and family together for some great food and even greater company and you shouldn’t let the weather get in the way of this. Whilst it’s always preferred to have a beautifully sunny day for your BBQ, it can be just as special to have the family inside enjoying the same delicious food from a drier spot. If you’re one of those people who want to embrace the BBQ season, then this post is just for you!
Preparing the Home and Garden
Hosting a BBQ at your house means two things, it’s time to get the house and garden into shape, and you need to make sure you have everything you need to accommodate your guests. The preparation stage is a great way to give your home the spring clean it deserves after a heavy winter, as well as giving you chance to tick a few of the gardening jobs off the checklist.
You want to make sure your home and garden are welcoming, providing your guests with the perfect space to sit back and relax, enjoying the tasty food you’ve prepared for them. Start by giving your home a quick clean up, making sure everything is tidy and clean. Then you can focus on reshuffling the furniture if necessary and adding extra chairs or tables where needed. Similarly, you want to make sure that you have plenty of outdoor seating and table space for if the weather turns out good, as you’ll want to spend as much time in the garden as possible. If you’re short on chairs, pick a few from inside that house to bring out for a few hours to help make your outdoor space more accommodating. You could even take your blanket box or stool outside to create a bench-style seating option, like these pieces here.
You may also want to ensure that your home is ready for your guests in every way. If you have guests that are planning on staying overnight, then make sure you’ve stocked up their bedrooms with the essential products they may need, from extra toilet roll to toothpaste and even a blanket for them to snuggle into if the nights get cold!
Choosing the Selection of Food
As the host, it’s ultimately your job to provide your guests with a fabulous spread of food to enjoy during your BBQ. For many people, providing all of the food is a little much to ask, so you could ask a few of your guests to bring their own contribution to the food mix, whether that’s a tasty treat for afters or even something nice to drink! You want to ensure you have checked all nutritional requirements, whether people have allergies, intolerances and so on, as this saves any awkward moments when the food is served.
Along with the essential BBQ items such as sausages, burgers, steaks and skewers, you want to include lots of nibbles such as crisps, sticks of vegetables (carrots, cucumber etc…), biscuits and even cheese. Having such a great variety of food will ensure everyone has something delicious to enjoy. If you want to make your own sausages, then you may consider to buy bulk sausage seasoning online.
Presenting Your BBQ Properly
The key to throwing a fantastic BBQ is good food, good company and a good atmosphere. Whilst the people are the main factor in the atmosphere, you can actually help to enhance this with your presentation skills. Presenting your garden or living areas in the right way will ensure everyone feels comfortable and relaxed, which will result in a great night.
Dress your tables with a table cloth, plenty of cutlery, napkins and some fresh flowers to really add to the space.
You could look at adding some delicate fairy lights to the area to give it a warm and welcoming glow. Along with a well decorated table, you want to have plenty of cushions and blankets for your guests to stay comfortable and warm throughout the day and night.
