Hosting an awesome Beach BBQ
In some parts of the world, having a beach bbq is both a joy and a tradition. In places like Australia, with miles and miles of beautiful temperate beaches, seaside campfires and BBQs are a popular tradition that the whole world could learn a thing or two about! British summers transform our beaches from the usual grey wastelands of winter into stunning sunny playgrounds perfect for baking in the sun or cooling off with a swim in the sea. And what could be nicer after a great time at the beach than a beach BBQ?
And that’s where you come in, the host. Maybe the idea started as a beach day with the lads, maybe as a family outing, maybe something else. Whatever it is, you will need to know where to start and how to make the most of your beach BBQ.
Planning your event
The beach is an amazing place to host a BBQ, but like all events, you have to plan it out before you host it. Of course, it is easier said than done. Where do you begin? What do you need to do? How do you prepare best? Going from idea to party can be challenging, so hopefully, this guide will help you organise your thoughts so you can host the best BBQ on the beach possible!
Beach BBQ Regulations
It is very important to check your local council authority on the regulations for your local area. There are differing rules across the country on when and where you can host a BBQ, so you should check the local government pages for such specific regulations.
These regulations can include several specific rules, including which beaches can be used for a BBQ, what time you can light the BBQ for cooking, amount of people on the beach, and whether there are noise pollution laws in the area of the beach (if its near residences) and so on. This is a crucial part of your planning!
An example of a council’s rules is the East Devon District Council here.
Your Theme and the Decorations
Especially with Beach BBQs, putting a bit of a theme together can help make the event special. It would be great to put together some light seaside party decorations around where you plan on holding the barbecue. One idea could be to have some tiki torches for dark times, some themed beachside music playing, and maybe even some ‘surfs up’ style invitations! Whatever you feel could be cool to give your party some style, you go for it! Seaside party decorations can be easily found online on shops like amazon or eBay and are quite cheap!
For some great cheap Hawaiian-style beach decorations check this out!
The Games
The beach is a wonderful place to enjoy yourself. With sunbathing, swimming, water sports, and beach games like volleyball. It is always a great way to exercise and will leave all your guests hungry and ready for some great bbq food. You may have to bring down your kit for some games like volleyball, but you can find that stuff for quite cheap on shopping sites eBay or amazon.
Here is a blog that goes over a whole bunch of really great beach party games.
Your Guests
Make sure to check with the people you’re planning on inviting whether there are any allergies, intolerances or alternative preferences like vegetarians. If there are, not to worry, you can plan around this easily. Supermarkets have loads of options for any of these needs now, and they aren’t stupidly expensive either.
You should also plan around how many people you are going to invite. A BBQ on the beach is a great idea because there is a massive amount of room to make use of, and that means the only constraint is how much you are willing to cook.
If you are planning a large party with a lot of people, We recommend that you enlist the help of some of your invitees, ask some to bring their drinks, or maybe get a few to bring some speciality or large quantities of BBQ foods, maybe some themed seafood to bbq? In most cases, people are more than happy to take part in the preparation or organisation of the BBQ, and it is a great way to lighten the load on you!
If you want, a great way to get the guests interested in your party is by starting off with a themed invitation in the mail. You can make your own online using software like photoshop, but if you don’t have the time try using our beach-themed template.
All Important Food!
Of course, you could bring the usual burgers, hotdogs, and so on, however, you have to remember where you are. The Beach! This is the perfect opportunity for a selection of Seafood bbq foods to try out. We are talking halibut, shrimp, swordfish, Calamari, and scampi are delicious options. In this case, there is no best fish to bbq, and it’s whatever you think will work best!
There’s a great blog that has a load of amazing recipes you could take inspiration from. Why not take a look?
It is good to have a lot of variety with your BBQ so that your guests have a choice between options, just in case they don’t like seafood as much as other BBQ food options.
Finally, don’t be afraid to experiment a little. Get out the special flavours of condiments, try out some unique seasonings and rubs, and maybe even try some new recipes. It’s important to remember that it’s not just the meat that matters, but your greens and sides are an important part of your BBQ as well. When getting experimental, the best fish to bbq would be something more adventurous. Swordfish is our favourite in this case because it’s a delicious, meaty fish already and is great at absorbing any sauces or seasonings you want to use!
The Haul to the Beach
BBQs aren’t the lightest pieces of equipment, and getting it down to the beachside can be a struggle, not to mention all the other items you need to bring down for the party. It becomes a lot easier to take all your things down if you have a larger car, but even then, lugging it from the car to the beach spot will be a challenge on your own. It is best to enlist some help from an eager partygoer, so they can help lift, carry, set up, and enjoy the part after its assembly. Similarly, you should ask another person at the party to help you pack away afterwards. Otherwise, it’ll just be you carrying the decorations, BBQ, tables, and so on.
Organise in advance and ensure that those helping you are punctual and reliable. Don’t ask Dave!
It’s a good idea to scout out the right spot on the beach to set up. You should check where the sand is dry enough and soft enough for comfortable movement and sturdy ground for setting the BBQ up. It’s best not to be too far from the water’s edge, but keep in mind where the tide will rise and look at where the high watermark is (check the seaweed). You don’t want the sea to join in on your BBQ.
Enjoying a day at the Beach
Now that everything is planned, all the guests have accepted the invites, and all that’s left is to bring the equipment to the beach and let the party start, you can breathe a sigh of relief. The work is nearly over, and you can now look forward to the fun and games. As said before, the beach is a wonderful place to host a BBQ party. With all the games, the swimming, the relaxation on the sand, and when you combine that with great BBQ food, it’s guaranteed a great time. There’s a reason it’s such a popular tradition overseas, and we look forward to adopting it here as well. After all, there’s no reason to say no to a proper British beach BBQ!