If you were having a BBQ and you don’t have enough seating

[DaisyYellowGold]

If you were having a BBQ for 15 adults and you only have 7 garden chairs, what would you do? I have 6 chairs around a dining height table and one odd low but comfortable one.

I was going to do a poll but there’s too many options.
Ideas: One option would be to buy a nice bistro set of 2 or 4 which I would have bought eventually anyway. Then maybe 4 cheap folding garden chairs.
One option would be to hire, but they don’t seem to look much cheaper or more comfortable than what I can find in The Range etc.
Another option is I do also need spare indoor dining chairs so I could get 4 indoor type folding chairs and 4 outdoor.
Images of the cheap indoor and outdoor options attached.
Another option would be to ask people to bring some spares but most people I know have the garden sofa type.
Any other ideas appreciated! This isn’t something we will do often so although I want people to be comfortable, I don’t want to waste too much money.

I'm going to a friends bbq soon and asked if I could bring anything. She asked me to bring my garden chairs.

Maybe use that tactic or just ask a friend who is coming.

I'm more than happy to do that for her.

Buy a little garden bistro set with 2 chairs. It’s nice having somewhere further down garden to sit day to day when no guests also with coffee, and gives you another small table for bbq for a couple to put plates in or drinks.

combine with indoor dining chairs, and asking guests to bring a chair or two if they can.

Can you get to an IKEA? They have folding wooden chairs, and chair cushions, that are cheap, work fine for occasional use in garden and fold away quite small. I have 3 of those in my apartment to use on the balcony or as dining chairs.

I’d also use indoor chairs outdoor for the occasional event once it’s dry (you’ll likely move indoors anyway if it’s raining).

... just ask them to bring a chair...

I'd get the camping chairs out, possibly also dining chairs and open the patio doors so they could sit in the lounge or conservatory too. Failing that ask if anyone has camping chairs they can bring.

If you need indoor ones anyway I would get 4 indoor folding chairs and 4 cheap camping type chairs. Or bring 4 of your normal indoor chairs outside.
You could also ask if any of your guests have camping chairs they could bring - I wouldn’t mind doing that if asked!
You have to have enough seats for people, I get back/hip pain so wouldn’t be pleased at having to sit on a picnic blanket for a whole evening.

Absolutely strange people suggesting you buy chairs for a rare bbq (semiannual at most) just ask people to bring their own chair/s. For those that don’t own a folding chair you can help out as you have a few.

Tell people to bring their own chair

It wouldn't bother me at all - barbecues rarely have enough seats for everyone! I'm also 40's and find that generally people sit down for a bit when eating but most people stand around chatting. Only really people who are older or have mobility issues stay seated. I often just sit down on a rug if I am someplace with limited seating. If it bothers you you could check facebook marketplace, ask people to bring some or pop to the range and buy some stackable chairs or some camping chairs. Tescos often have cheap deals on camping chairs too. My mum usually puts out a few camping seats and rugs with her usual garden furniture but there is never enough seats for everyone.

I’d bring the inside chairs outside.

And/or ask people to bring a few camping chairs with them. It’s something nearly everyone has, so all you need are a few extras.

Also not everyone needs to sit all the time.

When we did this, Dh and I and a few of the able bodied adults just stood to eat, which was fine.

Me too

And you can 100% sit on a picnic blanket in your 40’s. Or 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. Unless you’ve all hot mobility problems I don’t see why that wouldn’t work?

Another option would be to ask people to bring some spares but most people I know have the garden sofa type.

I bet they will have a couple of caping chairs in the shed!

I'd beg and borrow and put the dining chairs outside.

Some people can. Some of us will be in pain after a few minutes.

Why would you buy something for a one off?
Ask people to bring a camping chair, if they don’t have one they can one of the guests that get the precious indoor chairs!

We use bales as suggested by a pp but we are hillbillies.

I tell people to bring camping chairs.

I wouldn't waste money on chairs I didn't need so I'd just ask people to bring a chair. We had to do it one Christmas as we only have 4 dining chairs.

yeah this.

Or borrow from neighbours, those plastic ones, just have to pass them over the fence

Take some indoor chairs outside. Or ask a few guests to bring camping chairs. Otherwise you'll be stuck with furniture you rarely use.

Take your kitchen chairs outside, or any other stools etc you have.

Get a bistro set if you really need / want one , or a garden bench

Borrow folding or camping chairs, ask a few reliable people to bring camping chairs/ picnic chairs

These fold up very slim www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/gunde-folding-chair-black-00217797/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=surfaces&utm_campaign=shopping_feed&utm_content=free_google_shopping_clicks_Dining&gStoreCode=144&gQT=1

I'd have a bring a chair party. Definitely not buy a bunch of uncomfortable chairs you will never use again

I think it would be fine to be up front and ask any guests who can to bring a camping type chair. We’ve often taken a couple of chairs to a barbecue.

There’s 18 of us in my friendship group and no one has 18 chairs, so when we host dinner bbqs the invite usually has a “please bring a camping chair!” add on. But that’s okay for us as we’ve been on camping trips before and know the majority of us own a camping chair we can bring.
Depending if you think your friends will have some in the loft, I’d either ask this or just see if neighbours/family can lend you anything.

We have some folding IKEA chairs that live in the cupboard under the stairs and get pulled out when we have guests, whether indoor or outdoor. Very useful. However, you don't need to buy especially. Take indoor chairs out or ask people to bring a camping chair if they have one. And yes to kids on picnic blanket