The summer is almost upon us once again, and it promises to be one the hottest ever on record; which really cannot be bad news, right? Indepth studies probably show that there is a direct correlation between a lack of rain and time spent in our gardens, so hopefully this year will be a bumper year for gardeners. The thing that we Britons like to do in our gardens more than anything else is the classic barbecue, but what constitutes a barbecue has changed drastically over the last decade. Everything from the food and drinks to the entertainment is now crucial to creating the perfect barbecue that people will remember, and in this blog we hope to give you the perfect checklist of essentials for the ideal barbecue this summer.

The People

We are so often tempted to invite every man and his dog to our barbecue, but it is important to assess the space and cooking ability available. If you only have a small yard and a small barbecue, then you clearly need to limit the amount of people that you invite. Be realistic about how much food you can cook, and how quickly, and invite an appropriate amount of people according to this.

The Food and Drink

The linchpin to any barbecue is the food and drink that you provide to your guests, and you will want to make sure that you nail it on both of these fronts. Most people will host ‘bring your own’ barbecues, whereby people bring a small amount of food with them, allowing everyone to get a variety of food. The problem that all too many stumble upon is that people default far too easily to bringing burgers, and you end up with ten burgers each and little else. Peoples’ requirements for a barbecue are now more discerning than that, and we expect a range of flavours. A great way around this is to assign items for people to bring; such as chicken, fish and whatever else you fancy. With regards to drinks, it pays to get people to bring something that they know that they will like, and also provide one large communal drink such as the perfect sangria or a signature cocktail.

The Furniture

Making sure that people have a seat and a place to put their food and drink on is crucial, and the quality of the furniture is equally important. People will not feel comfortable, and will therefore not relax, if they are perched on an ancient patio chair that could give way at any minute. Thankfully, here at Verdon Grey we stock a range of luxury garden furniture for you to choose from that will give the perfect level of comfort to get people relaxed and having fun.

The Back-Up Plan

Even though the weather promises to be good on a previously unprecedented level, we must all remember that this is still Britain, and the weather can change in minutes. A back-up plan is one of the most important plans that you can make to ensure that your day is not entirely weather dependent. Make sure that there is some sort of shelter, such as a gazebo, for brief showers, and ensure that your home could accommodate people if heavier rain were to set in.

As a final check, you will want to have a good look at the weather forecast in order to make sure that you pick the best day possible to host your event on. We hope this short guide covers all of the basics that you will need for your perfect summer barbecue, and remember that the most important thing is to relax and enjoy it. Take some time to enjoy the flavours, the smells and the conversations that could only come with a traditional barbecue.