6 Steps For Throwing The Best Barbecue Bash

6 Steps For Throwing The Best Barbecue Bash

The barbecue bash is what summer is all about. It’s the low-key good time that people cannot get enough of. The sound of food crackling above flames, the smell of suncream in the air, the soft wisps of white smoke floating upward and the clink of glasses coming together as friends cheers the good times.

But throwing a flawless barbecue bash is not as easy as dusting off your grill, chucking some wine in the fridge and inviting your friends around. We wish it was, but it’s not. So, without further ado, here are our top tips for hostessing the best grill up this summer.

1. Set The Standard
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The setting is everything. It’s what will set the tone and boost the atmosphere, so think of everything you can. Get your mower out to cut the lawn, set up a lounge area in the sun and another seated area in the shade, speak to some plumbers to make sure you don’t have a Meet the Parents situation, pop bin liners around the place to avoid littering, make sure there are citronella candles dotted about and have a couple of bottles of suncream out so no one gets burned and make sure there is plenty of water available. That’s the sort of thing we talking about.

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2. Choose Your Grill Foods
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The heart and soul of every barbecue is the food on offer, so make sure you know what you want to serve without going overboard. You want to be a relaxed hostess, not a stressed caterer. We recommend the classic (burgers and sausages) and then spicing it up with some lamb kebabs and slow-cooked pork, as well as some veggie options. It’s a foolproof approach.

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3. Sensational Sides
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The secret to a super-tasty barbecue is to have plenty of delicious and nutritious side dishes. Couscous dishes, pasta salads, sesame seed sweet potatoes, scrummy slaw, cheesy corn on the cob or grilled aubergines - whatever takes your fancy. It’s how to make the meats on your grill dance.

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4. Drinks, Drinks, Drinks
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The unwritten rule in barbecue speak is: you host and cook and your guests bring the booze. It’s a great way to share the cost and get a selection of nice whites, delicious reds, pale ales, and lagers. That said, don’t rely on your guests. Make a punch or a sangria to compliment the selection. And make sure you have an amazing mocktail of some kind to cater for the non-drinkers and designated drivers out there.

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5. Decorations Are A Must
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Every barbecue bash deserves a splash of color and there’s no better way to give it that than through the medium of bunting. But don’t stop there. Pop up some fairy lights, have some pretty picnic blankets laid across the lawn, a nice tablecloth and pretty napkins. It all counts for something.

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6. Music, Of Course!
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A barbecue party is not complete with some music filling the air, so have your eldest kid play disc jockey or pull up a summer playlist from Spotify and get the vibe going.

Need some recipe inspo?  Check these out:

• BBQ & Grilling Recipes, courtesy of AllRecipes
• Best Backyard Barbeque Recipes, courtesy of Food Network
• 65+ Grilling Recipes For An Epic Summer Cookout, courtesy of Country Home

Shop:

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Do you have any great barbecue inspo to add?  Let me know in the comments below!

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