Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

BBQ party tonight

409 replies

Grumpynan · 15/08/2026 08:29

We have planned a family get together this evening with a charcoal bbq in the garden. I hasten to add it’s a proper one not disposable.

should we still go ahead, or should I play save and cook the food indoors, what’s everyone else doing,

I mean, it stresses disposable bbq, says nothing about kettle ones in a garden. But I don’t want to cause any problems, and tbh we have a lot of trees around us and I’m a little worried, DH says I’m being silly but ?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
Nonunifiedworkerworking · 16/08/2026 23:15

Roaring111111 · 16/08/2026 23:11

So there’s no houses which have burnt down due to home barbecues?

I have no idea, wasn't me that stated that, my comment is around getting a bit of perspective, your need for a sausage/vegan thing on the BBQ that could be done indoors, doesn't trump the life, houses or welfare of others, have you actually witnessed any of these fires engulfing Europe.

Roaring111111 · 16/08/2026 23:11

Nonunifiedworkerworking · 16/08/2026 23:05

FFS ! people are just trying to stop emergency responders dying and houses and land being burnt. Fire isn't great, pretty sure you can manage without a BBQ for a week or so.

So there’s no houses which have burnt down due to home barbecues?

Roaring111111 · 16/08/2026 23:11

intrepidpanda · 16/08/2026 23:04

To be fair I dont know what kind of barbecue, but people don't really use disposable at home, do they?

Where have houses burnt down due to a barbecue at home?

Nonunifiedworkerworking · 16/08/2026 23:05

Roaring111111 · 16/08/2026 22:59

Where do you live where houses burnt down due to a home, not disposable, barbecue?

FFS ! people are just trying to stop emergency responders dying and houses and land being burnt. Fire isn't great, pretty sure you can manage without a BBQ for a week or so.

intrepidpanda · 16/08/2026 23:04

Roaring111111 · 16/08/2026 22:59

Where do you live where houses burnt down due to a home, not disposable, barbecue?

To be fair I dont know what kind of barbecue, but people don't really use disposable at home, do they?

Roaring111111 · 16/08/2026 22:59

intrepidpanda · 16/08/2026 22:50

Someone in our town had one too.
They also survived (their house didn't)

Where do you live where houses burnt down due to a home, not disposable, barbecue?

intrepidpanda · 16/08/2026 22:50

HoldMyWine · 16/08/2026 22:11

We had a bbq for 15 people this evening, and we have all survived.

Someone in our town had one too.
They also survived (their house didn't)

takealettermsjones · 16/08/2026 22:23

The alert:

Severe Alert

Issued by the UK Government

There is a very high risk of wildfires nationally. Residents, landowners and visitors should not undertake any activity that could start a fire, including disposable barbecues, firepits, garden incinerators or fireworks. Even a small flame can rapidly develop into a major wildfire placing lives, homes, businesses and emergency responders at risk.

Follow official updates and report signs of fire immediately by calling 999. Search gov.uk/alerts for more information.

Nonunifiedworkerworking · 16/08/2026 22:20

Roaring111111 · 16/08/2026 22:15

They would have just said ‘including barbecues’. It was in a sentence about wider sources of fire.

What a different way of looking at things 😂 which also has now been updated on gov site to just say BBQ probably due to this different view.

Roaring111111 · 16/08/2026 22:16

stichguru · 16/08/2026 22:01

Obviously you've been told not to have a BBQ so don't.

We have not been told not to have barbecues.

Roaring111111 · 16/08/2026 22:15

Nonunifiedworkerworking · 16/08/2026 21:59

In which case why say including, surely you would just say disposable BBQ, not including disposable, by adding that it means there is something else included 😂

They would have just said ‘including barbecues’. It was in a sentence about wider sources of fire.

Nonunifiedworkerworking · 16/08/2026 22:13

HoldMyWine · 16/08/2026 22:11

We had a bbq for 15 people this evening, and we have all survived.

Don't think anyone is worried about you lot surviving, you made your own choice, more about others and surrounding stuff 😂

HoldMyWine · 16/08/2026 22:11

We had a bbq for 15 people this evening, and we have all survived.

stichguru · 16/08/2026 22:01

Obviously you've been told not to have a BBQ so don't.

Nonunifiedworkerworking · 16/08/2026 21:59

Roaring111111 · 16/08/2026 21:55

If they meant all barbecues they would have said barbecues and not included disposable.

They aren’t expecting us to eliminate literally anything that runs a negligible risk of a fire.

In which case why say including, surely you would just say disposable BBQ, not including disposable, by adding that it means there is something else included 😂

Roaring111111 · 16/08/2026 21:55

Nonunifiedworkerworking · 16/08/2026 21:50

Including not specifically

If they meant all barbecues they would have said barbecues and not included disposable.

They aren’t expecting us to eliminate literally anything that runs a negligible risk of a fire.

Nonunifiedworkerworking · 16/08/2026 21:50

Grannalintab · 16/08/2026 18:14

The alert specifically said disposable.

Including not specifically

TheFallenMadonna · 16/08/2026 18:46

MummyWillow1 · 16/08/2026 11:23

There is a high chance a neighbour will call the fire brigade on you. North Yorkshire fire service have had one of their busiest days yesterday - about 50% of the calls were due to people having controlled fires/BBQ’s in their gardens.

Just cook the food indoors unless your husband enjoy being dramatic?

Edited

Regardless of differing views on the wisdom of garden barbecues, people calling 999 about them are putting an unnecessary and unhelpful strain on the fire service.

Grannalintab · 16/08/2026 18:14

KnittingOnEmpty · 15/08/2026 08:39

Didn't you get the alert? Why do you think it doesn't apply to you? Do not have a BBQ, disposable or not!

The alert specifically said disposable.

ForeverTheOptomist · 16/08/2026 13:48

Sherararara · 15/08/2026 14:35

Yes the likelihood is heightened vs the base level, but is still negligible for a bbq in garden with all the mitigations in place as described. Just because the risk is higher doesn’t mean it is high. It is well documented that people are fundamentally terrible at quantifying risk, as you and many others have demonstrated on this thread. One txt message from the gov and you and everyone’s perception of the risk has changed hugely, yet the risk is no greater today than is was yesterday for example or will be tomorrow.
I am I charge of risk in my house and garden
and as already stated i used my outdoor kitchen this morning and will continue to use it.

Edited

I am I charge of risk in my house and garden

But you don't give a flying fuck about your neighbours, townspeople, general population, fire-fighters, etc.

It's not rocket science, is it? And there have been fires springing up all over the country. Human life is not only in danger, but people are losing their homes.

There are some seriously irresponsible, self obsessed and incredibly dense posters on this thread who are incapable of seeing beyond their own back yards.

ThisAgileScroller · 16/08/2026 12:18

My alert said anything that could cause a fire. So id say no to any barbecue

takealettermsjones · 16/08/2026 11:32

Sorry haven't RTFT but has anyone asked OP where in the country she is? It's been raining where I am 😂

I'm not planning a BBQ, but if I were, I'd estimate the risk of my causing a wildfire from my garden (both given the weather and also the fact that I'm an adult with common sense) to be precisely zero!

MummyWillow1 · 16/08/2026 11:23

There is a high chance a neighbour will call the fire brigade on you. North Yorkshire fire service have had one of their busiest days yesterday - about 50% of the calls were due to people having controlled fires/BBQ’s in their gardens.

Just cook the food indoors unless your husband enjoy being dramatic?

SinisterGreenMan · 16/08/2026 11:09

Sherararara · 16/08/2026 09:16

Well at least I can read. What is a fire Sher?

By that very comment you are demonstrating you can't read or understand the bloody obvious! 🤣

Every attempt you make to be "clever" or put down others backfires badly on you, so, kindly (this is Mumsnet), I suggest you step away from the keyboard.

NotMajorTom · 16/08/2026 10:44

Sherararara · 16/08/2026 09:16

Well at least I can read. What is a fire Sher?

That poster was referencing your user name.

no need to be rude when you’re the one who misread