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Original poster

BBQ in a terraced house

37 replies

BumpLoading · 25/03/2022 00:49

Just wondered what others views are on having a bbq in a terraced house? Our garden is small with a small patio by the patio doors then grass at the bottom (so bbq on the patio), we moved from a flat last autumn and had a warm week of bbqs in the garden which we really enjoyed however our next door neighbours made a comment recently along the lines of “what we’re all those bbqs about” which has got me thinking what do others in terraced houses do?

OP posts:

MarmiteCoriander · 25/03/2022 00:56

There was another thread tonight about someone who was vegan and their neighbours have been having meat BBQ's all week. Is this YOU OP???

Are their windows open with the warm weather and near to your BBQ? Could you move the BBQ away from their windows? or invite them around too?

Hard to say without seeing the layout. Maybe they are joking that they werent invited? Maybe the smoke has been driving them nuts and they'd had to shut all their windows?

singlepringlenotbychoice · 25/03/2022 00:56

If course you can have a bbq. I'd possibly try and make space away from the house for the bbq but if that's not possible so be it.

If my neighbour had washing out or windows open I'd maybe pop round to tell them the bbq was going on but if they were arseholes I wouldn't even do that.

Glitterandunicorns · 25/03/2022 00:58

I've lived in terraced houses for many years. I've had neighbours who have had daily BBQs when the weather has been nice, but it has just been the family who live in the house with no guests and eating outside with normal levels of conversation without playing music.

We've also lived near people who have had BBQs with music playing, every man and his dog there and shouting and bad language during the daytime and late into the night on weeknights.

If you're like the first family, by all means have your BBQs. If you're like the second one, perhaps keep it for weekends and don't take the p!

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Gardening

caringcarer · 25/03/2022 01:01

You have just as much right to BBQ food in the garden or yard than any one else OP.

SmugOldBag · 25/03/2022 01:13

We used to live in a block of mansion flats in central London with a small shared garden. One GF flat was occupied by Aussies and they used to BBQ every night. Sun, rain, snow their dinner meat went on the BBQ.
No issues at all. Mainly becuase it was a gas BBQ so no smoke and they were in an out with a bit of steak.

Also there's a 'BBQ' in the sense you are just cooking your dinner outside or 'BBQ' in the sense of a long gathering with friends, music drinks etc.
The former you could do it when ever you want frankly. I'd be aware of whether I'm generating masses of smoke for hours and maybe issue a warning but you can resolve that with a gas BBQ. If it's the latter and you are having frequent noisy gatherings you'd probably be neighbourly by not having one every night...

TravelDreamLife · 25/03/2022 01:21

I have no problem with BBQs that are gas. They smell yummy & are only in danger of me gatecrashing!! I've never had an issue with smoke.

What people in suburbia shouldn't have are fire pits. It's 11am & my neighbours have lit theirs. So my house & washing now stink & I've had to shut the house up & it's quite hot today. If you want a camp fire.... Go camping.

Seafog · 25/03/2022 02:09

It's just cooking outdoors, there's nothing wrong with it.
People cook, food has smells,.
It's just part of life.

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 25/03/2022 06:37

We live in terraced housing and there's always someone having a BBQ on sunny days. The dog goes mental at the smell

It's absolutely fine though - I love the smell of BBQ's as they're just intrinsically summer to me. Crack on!

Original poster

BumpLoading · 25/03/2022 08:17

This has given me a lot more confidence to bbq yay!
We’re not having lots of drinks and playing loud music, it’s a chilled family dinner with our toddler and baby
It is a coal bbq though as we just bought a small cheap one, maybe if we keep doing lots we will have to invest in a gas one.
Funny a fire pit is mentioned, we’ve always longed for one but maybe will avoid getting this as imagine they are even more annoying

OP posts:

HoppingPavlova · 25/03/2022 08:23

I’m Australian and will say I have lived in terraces at various times and don’t know anyone in a terrace that wouldn’t have one on the patio out back, and use it many times a week. What’s the problem with them and are you talking about just cooking your meal or having a gathering?

Mufflette · 25/03/2022 08:31

Only bad if the neighbours have washing out and you don't give them a heads up! I'm already dreading how many times I'm going to have to rewash things over the summer because it's too late by the time the smell reaches inside...

SquitMcJit · 25/03/2022 08:37

I agree - bbq is fine in a terraced house area. It’s cooking food and would only be at meal times. Normal part of summer. A fire pit is not.

Someone nearby has bought a fire pit or some other crappy thing. Any fine day it is lit and it stinks. Washing drying outside is ruined daily. If it’s drying inside we have to run around closing windows. We then have to have windows closed at night too as it burns for hours. Whatever they are burning on it stinks and it’s not a regular woodsmoke smell.

It is very antisocial in areas with house close together - please don’t get a fire pit.

MrsPear · 25/03/2022 09:00

We bbq and have a mid terrace - I let the neighbours know if I see washing. That’s it. You can enjoy your home and garden.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 25/03/2022 09:05

It's fine. It's your home. I live in a Victorian semi, gardens are all on top of each other. The people whose garden backs onto mine are always BBQing and having people over. You have to accept it when you live in close proximity to others.

AwkwardPaws27 · 25/03/2022 09:08

@MrsPear

We bbq and have a mid terrace - I let the neighbours know if I see washing. That’s it. You can enjoy your home and garden.

^ this We are semi detached but the patio areas are almost as close as terraced. I can see the neighbouring gardens from the upstairs window so just check for laundry before lighting the bbq.

HeddaGarbled · 25/03/2022 09:12

It’s not just the cooking smells though, it’s the plumes of smoke, which can permeate next door’s home for quite a while, and certainly affect their enjoyment of their own garden. These can be particularly acrid if you use those fire-starter bricks, and can be a problem for people with asthma or other lung conditions, as well as just being unpleasant.

That’s not to say, don’t ever have a barbecue, but you should watch which way the smoke is drifting, and if it’s into your neighbours’ house, think about moving the barbecue somewhere else in the garden.

JorisBonson · 25/03/2022 09:20

We're mid terrace. When we had a coal bbq we would cook at the bottom of the garden to stop the smoke going all over the neighbours. Next door did similar.

We've got a gas one now (much to DH's upset) and it's much better. We have it right by the decking / table and no antisocial smoke.

Mumdiva99 · 25/03/2022 09:28

I was going to say move it to the end of the garden so the smoke doesn't go in the neighbours window. Then no problem.

MaChienEstUnDick · 25/03/2022 09:30

We're not terraced but our gardens are very close together. We use a gas bbq so little smell and no smoke, I do think that makes a difference.

We're also much more likely to use the bbq when it's just a case of switching it on and cooking, rather than starting it off, waiting to see if it catches, arsing about with coals etc. They're definitely worth the investment imo.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 25/03/2022 09:32

@Mumdiva99

I was going to say move it to the end of the garden so the smoke doesn't go in the neighbours window. Then no problem.

This is what we've done, also because I didn't want to have the smoke in my own windows!

Bramshott · 25/03/2022 09:45

I think if you can wait until 5pm that's better than barbecuing at lunchtime. Our neighbours always warn me when they're about to light theirs so I can take the washing in.

Makeitsoso · 25/03/2022 09:48

My neighbours all have BBQs as do we. I’ve never thought anything of it! Why wouldn’t you have a BBQ. Unless someone is being very noisy (they are just normal chatty, kids laughing volume) I can’t imagine I would have the right to be irritated.

Makeitsoso · 25/03/2022 09:49

Just seen people upthread mentioning gas BBQ. All the neighbours and our BBQ is gas so perhaps that’s why it’s a non issue.

weightandmeasure · 25/03/2022 10:01

We lived in a terrace for years. Whilst you do have a perfect right to BBQ be aware that if it's right near your house then not only is the smoke and food smells going into your open windows but also into your neighbours. Occasionally is fine. Every day is rude.

We also put a couple of paving slabs at the bottom of the garden and moved it there which improved things.
It's one of those situations where you are able to do something but need to be careful you're not being really inconsiderate if you want good neighbour relations.

Bit of compromise really.

Kego · 25/03/2022 10:04

It’s fine. BBQs can’t just be for those who can afford to live in a nice detached homes. I’d be mindful of open windows and washing and give a heads up if practical and crack on.

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