The barbecue is a summer institution in the UK. Sharing food outdoors, whether it’s with your immediate family or a group of friends, is a heart-warming experience. Getting the most from your barbecue space, however, means designing it from the ground up to meet your specific needs. Let’s take a look at a few of the variables you should consider when creating your design.
Location
Your barbecue area will need to be entirely level. It will need enough space to accommodate outdoor seating for everyone, as well as easy access to the kitchen (since when you host a barbecue you’re going to be spending much of your time walking back and forth in search of supplies.
You might also consider the shade you’re getting. A corner of the garden that’s naturally secluded is often perfect for outdoor dining.
Planning and tools
You’ll want to get all of your planning done beforehand. Draw up a rough scale plan of the entire area, ensuring that you’ll have room to move around comfortably.
You’ll also need to gather all of the tools and materials beforehand. Handheld tools like hack saws are often essential, especially if you’re going to be dealing with pipework. You’ll also need your patio surface, and the materials for any shelters or other structures you intend to build.
Building
If you’re building the actual barbecue station from scratch, then you’ll want to ensure that you have access to plenty of storage. If you’re actually building an outdoor kitchen, then you can incorporate cabinets for all of your utensils and fuel. Extra decorative touches can help the space truly yours. Think about planters and mosaic tiling.
Finally, you might want to connect a gas hob to the main supply, or an outdoor fridge to your house’s electricity. These are jobs for which you’ll need a professional tradesperson. If you’re just using gas bottles, this won’t be a problem.
Finishing touches
Often, it’s the small touches that can make a big difference to your outdoor dining experience. These might include your seating, as well as outdoor rugs and canopies to help you deal with direct sunlight – and the occasional spell of rain.
You might also think about decorative touches that suit your personality, and practical touches that suit your needs. For example, if you’re going to be building a dining table, you might want to include a space in the centre for an ice bucket.
Finally, you’ll want to make sure that you have your barbecue recipes prepared and ready to go!
