Once February is out of the way and the chances of snow and frost have almost disappeared, for many people, March brings the opportunity to get out into the garden to see the first shoots of spring and prepare you for the first lawn mowing of the year. With these first events of the year out of the way, thoughts jump forward to setting the date for the first barbecue of the year. If your old model is looking a little sad, now is the time to entertain thoughts of purchasing a new barbecue.

Buying a new barbecue is easy

Although you should complete sensible research by asking your friends which type and style of barbecue works best for them, there are so many models available in the marketplace, that are backed up by hundreds and thousands of reviews giving you an indication of which model would best suit your needs. Once purchased and in place, your attention turns to how you’re going to entertain your guests with your garden barbecue.

Formal or casual?

Almost every barbecue takes place in a casual setting. It helps if you let your visitors know that T-shirts and shorts are perfectly acceptable if the weather allows for it. Only if you are looking for a slightly more formal garden barbecue should you suggest that people dressed to a certain level. For example, you might be holding a BBQ to announce your daughter’s engagement and need to upgrade T-shirts to polo shirts and football shorts to golfing shorts.

Preparing your garden barbecue area

Colourful placemats and relaxed dinnerware will help set the overall atmosphere. It pays to spend a little more on the quality of plates so that they don’t collapse and provide a helping of barbecue sauce on to your guests clothing, and they have to be large enough to be able to hold the range of meat and vegetarian dishes as well as salads for the weight conscious and shrewd guests.

If you can take the opportunity, it’s a great time to prepare your entire garden to Chelsea Show standards, but any extra work that you can do will make it look better after the long winter it’s been through. Purchasing a few new plants from your garden centre can quickly brighten up your garden. Simple flower displays on all of your tables where the guests are going to eat can change the atmosphere immediately.

Garden barbecue activities

Although your BBQ food and refreshments are going to form the highlight of the day, the social activities can be extended beyond talking, laughing and trying to perform karaoke when your friend is DJing.

You could organise some sporting activities, which may include volleyball, badminton or going upmarket to croquet. Frisbee throws and ring tossing for the children may be equally attractive for the adults who are not best served by their sporting ability.

If you can find out what food is currently trendy with children, you won’t place the children in the embarrassing situation where they are being told to try something new by their parents. Children might be happy to try different food at home, but when they going to a place for enjoyment they like to see food that they get pleasure from and it doesn’t always have to be hot dogs or chicken nuggets.

Planning your garden barbecue can be great fun, but making it as simple as possible can ensure that you all have a great time.