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Hosting tips - what makes a great bbq party?

21 replies

whereiscaroline · 02/06/2022 06:23

PANICKING! Hosting for the first time tomorrow and I'm terrified everyone will be bored/have a rubbish time.

So please could you give me your best tips on how to host a great party? In particular how to keep other people's kids happy/entertained as I'm thinking if the kids are bored, the parents definitely won't be able to relax and enjoy themselves 😬

OP posts:
balletmuffin · 02/06/2022 06:46

Kids seem to entertain themselves when at our big BBQs. How old are they and how many? When our lot were younger, we had the paddling pool out. One year we did a slip n slide. That was messy. I don’t recommend that, particularly when the drinks are flowing. We’ve had giant Jenga, twister and rounders too but mainly they do as they please. They are older now 10-18. They know to help themselves when here. I think the best thing is to be as prepared as possible food and drink wise so you can enjoy the day yourselves. Don’t be a slave to the kitchen. If food is late, it’s late.

Make sure there is plenty of food. We have crisps and dips on arrival and then ribs and then the BBQ meats, salads, bread etc and then ice lollies or magnums. I don’t do pudding as I’ve learnt over the years they end up in the bin. Make sure there is plenty to drink and some background music. I also make sure there are plenty of soft drinks for the drivers and a variety too. The weather makes a difference but you can’t control that.

I do big BBQs in the Summer and enjoy it mostly. Try not to stress about it. I have no issue in saying I need an extra pair of hands or getting someone to top up ice, move stuff from the fridge etc.

I draw the line at making tea and coffee on BBQ day! That said, folk just help themselves in my house and they know they can make one if they want it.

Caspianberg · 02/06/2022 06:51

Depending on kids ages:
Bubble and chalk for drawing on patio are pretty harmless and cheap to get

Also pack of kids small ice lollies ie mini milk type things or just vanilla ice cream and cones for something simple

Fivemoreminutes1 · 02/06/2022 06:57

Last time we entertained, we had a few pre-schoolers, 2x 7 year olds and a 10 year old. For the pre-schoolers, I tipped a load of Duplo into an upturned sandpit lid on the lawn which seemed to do the trick until about 8ish when they crashed in front of a film (Happy Feet!). The 7yos played jenga, hungry hippos, buckaroo etc…. for most of the evening at a little plastic table behind where we were sitting. The 10yo just floated between us adults and the other kids, and spent a good amount of time on her phone!
Make sure you have a good range of drinks which people can help themselves to, and some music that’s quite easy listening.

StottyCakeandJam · 02/06/2022 07:07

Plenty of pre-barbecue nibbles while people wait and maybe some garlic bread/pizza slices for the children? Then there’s no one getting “hangry”. Water and paintbrushes for toddlers….they love “painting” the wall/fence.

Cinnabomb · 02/06/2022 07:07

Help yourself/ plenty of drinks eg just plonk the bottles in big buckets of ice. Enough seating or plates that are small/ easy enough to hold standing, non breakable stuff ideally you can just chuck makes clean up easier. Several rounds of food depending on how long people are staying- something every 2-3 hours even if it’s the same eg more burgers on the bbq. Big jugs of water available. Music playlist.

whereiscaroline · 02/06/2022 07:08

The kids are 7, 5 and 4. Bubbles and chalk is a good idea. I do have Twister so could put that out for them.

Do you put anything on for adults or just them drink and chat?

OP posts:
Trivester · 02/06/2022 07:08

Leave out drinks and sides for self service. I serve home made lemonade to the non drinkers (and a variety of other drinks too) or, depending on the crowd, a Prosecco bar with lots of fresh juices, syrups and sparkling water/lemonade so everyone can make their own fancy drinks to whatever alcohol strength suits.

With kids it depends on ages. For very little ones I put out a low table of snacks - cheese triangles, yogurts, fruit, veg, crackers. Teens usually end up on the PlayStation.

I clear away the food at some point and put out some kind of dessert - serve yourself ice cream/ chocolate fountain/ or just a spread of cakes and pies. It gets everyone moving and chatting again and injects a bit of life into things.

Intrigueddotcom · 02/06/2022 07:10

3 kids?

how many adults?

Intrigueddotcom · 02/06/2022 07:11

I would never ever ever expect host to entertain my children
they would bring books, ball, colouring pens and then towards end of day I’d bring out the iPad

balletmuffin · 02/06/2022 07:17

Just let adults drink and chat.

TheLadyDIdGood · 02/06/2022 07:22

Don't charge your guests to attend your bbq, I've read this so many times over the years. X was invited by Y to a bbq, Y asks X for a monetary or premium meat/ alcohol contribution. Usually the food provided is of a lesser quality than the contribution asked for. If people volunteer and bring food as a gift then that's different.

Mumdiva99 · 02/06/2022 07:24

I would put some toys in a quieter room for the kids too....and some robust ones in the garden. Lego, pretend tea set, a few cars and a ramp....

Make sure the food is cooked and not cremated.....if you aren't that skilled at the BBQ cooking.....leave the coals to burn down and mostly cook the food in the oven - just finish off on the BBQ. If you know what you are doing then crack on.

If it won't upset the neighbours some music not too loud.

PARunnerGirl · 02/06/2022 07:35

I throw a big bbq every year - it’s such a great day (if I don’t say so myself 😁).

i usually decorate the garden a bit with some very cheesy stringed decorations I have that are colourful balls, tropical birds, pineapples etc 😆 Outdoor lights for switching on later. I’ve got a massive daft inflatable pineapple drinks cooler thing that is a conversation starter, if not the height of class!!

(Responsible!) music- so many bbq party playlists on Spotify.

I have garden games like rope ring toss, boules and a couple of other similar things and tbh it’s always the adults that end up using them most! Kids seem to entertain themselves although I do put out those bubble shape things and water guns (always regret this 😆).

The most important part of it is the food but my partner is from South African and the bbq (or “braai” as he calls it!) is very much his domain! I actually ask guests to bring salads and things like that, but it’s an annual thing with about 30-40 people and I know them all really well so it seems to work.

hope you have a great day!

PARunnerGirl · 02/06/2022 07:38

One thing I will echo about food is that it should definitely be accessible/ help yourself so that people feel comfortable to just grab want they fancy at any point during the day. I also don’t stress about when food comes off the bbq because it’s sometimes nice to string it out a bit, and my partner is quite happy behind the bbq with a beer!

Fivemoreminutes1 · 02/06/2022 08:55

A couple of bottle openers on the drinks table wouldn’t go amiss..

Thankfully it’s not wasp season yet so you don’t have to worry about wasp traps.

FrancescaContini · 02/06/2022 08:58

Don’t cook chicken - it makes everyone nervous about whether it’s been cooked properly.

And don’t have a big gap between people arriving and food being ready - everyone gets full on crisps and pissed too early on.

Fivemoreminutes1 · 02/06/2022 08:59

Put a bin next to or near the salad table so people can discard their paper napkins, used plastic cups, leftover food etc….
Think about your neighbours (if you have any) by letting them know that you’re hosting and telling them approx what time it ends and that people may be parking outside their house.

User280905 · 02/06/2022 09:07

Enough seats for everyone and somewhere to put your plate down. I hate standing holding my plate and my glass and not quite knowing what to do with them

Itwasgoodwhileitlasted · 02/06/2022 09:17

We went to our new neighbours bbq years ago and they introduced us to other people and didn't speak to us all night. Not a word. I went into kitchen to try and join a conversation and got glared at!

The dad also shouted at DS1 for wrecking the ball pit. It wasn't ds1, it was another boy, I was just helping sort the problem.

Don't do either of those things!

In hindsight, we were only invited so they could show off new kitchen.

The worst hosts are the stressed, snappy, tired ones.

MoodyTwo · 02/06/2022 09:27

We are off to a BBQ today, I would never expect any household to have things to entertain my child... even if they had kids themselves
I always bring my DS toys and games with him
I would say make sure you have crisps and dips on arrival and lots of nibbles , this also cuts the cost of the meat ... only cook what you need then you can keep everything else for meals later in the week

BiddyPop · 02/06/2022 10:22

Show/tell people where facilities are (where to leave coats/bags, bathroom etc) as they arrive.

Have things like crisps, dips, carrot sticks etc out on a table in the garden to pick at on arrival. A beer or other drink pressed into hand on arrival also helps.

LOTS of napkins. You could wrap cutlery in napkins and put in a basket on the table with salads etc so everyone just grabs a little bundle, but also have spare napkins somewhere they can be grabbed but won't fly away - or maybe a roll of kitchen towel beside BBQ or on salads table to pull off a sheet/2 if needed.

Seating options - whether that's garden chairs, rug on grass, cushions on a wall, indoor chairs brought out....and if possible, at least some places to place a plate/glass when both hands are needed for something.

Plenty of salads. And yes, cook plenty of meat but based on how many are ready for it at a time - often doing sausages etc for smallies (and a bowl to hand around to adults ...) first can keep them happy and then you can do burgers/steak/chops for adults in peace. You might need to do a second round of sausages/burgers for smallies later - or persuade them to have lots of carrot sticks, pepper sticks, cherry tomatoes, slices of cheese etc from the salad table.

Pile of Meringue nests, big bowl of mixed berries, bowl of cream (and maybe some chocolate flakes crumbled in another bowl) is an easy way for people to make their own dessert as they choose. Or a cold tart to slice (chocolate, lemon, cheesecake etc).

Try and prepare ahead of time, and run the dishwasher/do washing up before guests are due. So that there is space to put dishes when needed (I usually run it to finish just before guests are due, however half empty it is, and once I have emptied the clean things, restock the tablet so anyone can turn it on once it's refilled later). Use decent paper plates to reduce clearup later. Put a bin where people can find it (like dishwasher, empty that and put in an fresh liner shortly before guests due regardless of how full it is at the end of prep time).

And also, have your serving dishes and spoons and other utensils organised - both clean and easily accessible. (I often make salads the evening before and morning of a party, put in regular plastic tubs in fridge to save space, and decant into bowls at food time - but have the bowls stacked and ready to decant quickly and with a couple of spoons/spatulas there to do the decanting).

And what condiments will you want? Mustard, ketchup, mayonnaise, salad dressing(s), salt and pepper, BBQ sauce, burger relish....decide beforehand, move them together in the fridge (and put things you won't want to the back out of the way), so you can easily grab or tell someone else to grab at the right time. Or put them all together in a spot on the counter.

Lots of ice - if you don't have plenty yourself, buy a couple of bags from the supermarket. And unless you have a fabulous double fridge and tonnes of room, put drinks in a container of ice to chill. If you don't have a proper icebucket for the job, a garden bucket (that has no holes) or baby bath not in use are good - just give them a very good wash so they are clearly clean. Plenty of soft drinks too, and water (cold fizzy water to make up squash is great for lots of DCs, as well as people wanting it straight).

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