I have seriously overstretched with a barbecue and I am panicking.

[Theresip]

I decided to have a barbecue next weekend because I’ve got my garden looking the way I want it and I do enjoy hosting. I’ve been inviting people for the last couple of weeks or so. I thought I’d invited around 10 people but I haven’t. I’ve invited almost 20. I’ve only just counted them up and now I am seriously panicking.

I’m not a particularly good cook, never mind on a barbecue. How on earth can I do 20 burgers and sausages and time it so people aren’t sitting starving? It’s a charcoal barbecue so putting more charcoal on after one batch would mean some people waiting another 40 minutes whilst the coals cook and I cook again?? What can I do?

And also, my garden isn’t tiny, but it’s not particularly big. I have a garden sofa and stools that could fit around six people near the kitchen door, and then on the upper decking I’ve got a high dining table that would seat another six. I do have additional small stools but they’re too little for the high table and it would be very squashed round the other table because it’s right in front of the kitchen where everyone will be getting their drinks.

Any advice gratefully received. I have never hosted for this number.

You know what I find odd. You didn't even know how many people you'd invited until recently. You are panicking about logistics. And you say:

I’m not a particularly good cook, never mind on a barbecue.

But when people suggest someone, usually a man, is bound to tak over the bbq:

Yes there are a few men invited, but I wouldn’t let any of them take over the barbecue.

You are now also a psychic:

I am confident that these men won’t offer to barbecue.

Despite not being a particularly good cook, and in a total lather over it all:

Because I am hosting and would find it very odd to allow a guest to cook the food. I am confident that these are not the type of men who would want to take over the barbecue anyway though.

And, bizarrely, you state:

Zero alpha males will be at this barbecue - or at least none of them would ever suggest they should take over the barbecue.

I am confident that none of the men invited to this one will want to show off their manliness by taking charge of the barbecue.

You wouldn't accept their non-existent help anyway:

I don’t really want someone to do it for me. It’s just the logistics.

But you aren't a very good cook and are in a panic over how will all the meat get cooked in time, etc etc. More fortune-telling:

It ranges from very, very good friends to people I’ve only met a couple of times.

None of whom you seem confident to state, barely knowing them at all, will be capable of or interested in turning a few snags on a bbq.

I don’t really want guests cooking the food. It’s just the logistics I’m worried about.

And on it goes, countless posts putting up roadblocks to the most sensible solution of all. Accept you will need help, and that most men like to bbq.

I think I’ll get disposable just for the ease, but will make sure they’re sturdy plates. There’s nothing worse than those flimsy ones which fold in half.

I’m just looking for barbecue advice. I’m not reading rants about what you find odd. Thanks anyway.

Amazon sell quite large folding tables for less than £20 if you feel you need more table space.

Thank you!

It's not a rant. You have posted 75 times on your thread, having said you are panicking. You also said in your OP.

Any advice gratefully received. I have never hosted for this number.

But the advice for you to take care of the food prep and accept help with the bbq is most definitely not gratefully received.

You could cook chickens in your oven the day before ,serve it with various salads, chips and dips and crusty bread in chunks. Personally I don't like a BBQ as food can be hit or miss . I remember a friend of mine telling me she had cooked 6 chickens as she had 14 adults there and she was also serving baked potatoes and salad .Are you doing puddings? Buy frozen pudding from a freezer shop and throw away the wrappers securely and pretend you have spent ages making them. A friend once served frozen lemon meringue and just heated it in the oven and agreed with people when they said home made was best. She also left a recipe book open on the side in case anyone wanted her meringue recipe. Kidology works so it seems.

This thread is brilliant! We’re having 27 people for a bbq for my dd2’s baby shower/engagement party on Saturday and now I have loads of ideas for extra things - I’ve been making a list as I read!

thanks everyone!

I can’t keep having this conversation on loop.

Oh? A vast proportion of your 70 plus replies on this thread have been to tell people - who you asked for their advice - that (although you are not a very good cook, "never mind on a barbecue") you will be doing the cooking, and that the men you've invited, including the ones you don't really know, are simply not the type to step in and help out by manning the grill.

Advice to pre-microwave the sausages (berk) is fine, though.

It seems quite likely you haven't even attended many if any bbqs. Perhaps you should just order in bulk pizzas.

Jfc, what is your problem?

OP has made it perfectly clear she doesn't expect nor particularly want anyone to help repeatedly throughout the thread, yet here you are picking her apart comment by comment, but not helping at all

What is it you want OP to say, ooh yeah thats a good idea I'll just get someone else to cook at the BBQ i invited them to. Then have a load of people pile on her for being a CF expecting one of her guests to cook.

Batshit!

Are all the guests work colleagues?

I spent £280 on a bbq for 6 last weekend!

are you providing booze?

I’m going to stop replying to your messages now. I have no idea why you’re so worked up about a barbecue you’re not invited to hosted by someone you don’t know.

You can’t poison people cooking sausages in oven and charring on bbq. As long as you store them appropriately after oven it will be ok

All either past or present colleagues, yes.

I’ll provide wine, lager and soft drinks/mixers but everyone will also bring drink with them.

Where are you getting your meat from?
Have you done a list?

Given your neighbours a heads up?

The supermarket. Not yet. And no.

Definitely give neighbours a heads up… terraced property? 18 people plus a bbq plus lots of drinking and music (?)… there will be a lot of noise. What time is it?

Do you want to run a list past the seasoned bbq mumsnetters @Theresip ? Might be helpful.

Cook things in your proper kitchen,wrap in foil, finish off on the bbq ( I hate bbqs,work of Satan). Have lots of salads, coleslaw, potato salad, rolls ( good quality from a bakery not supermarket crap). Pre roasted chicken torn up ,cold meats, pizzas ( cooked in oven).

Part cook meat in the morning then finish off on BBQ just have crisps dips to snack on, chop onion sliced cheese sauces and buns on a table, provide paper napkins and use plastic garden drinking cups, you won't need plates or cutlery really.

Ask everyone to bring there own drink job done.

4pm. I’m not worried about the neighbours, everyone is sociable.