Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have a BBQ on Sunday - Yes or No?

111 replies

BarbieQuestion · 12/08/2022 23:23

Yes I'm unreasonable for lighting a BBQ and cooking food or no I am not unreasonable?

Just in a garden, no grass just hard standing.

OP posts:
SmellyStinkyPong · 13/08/2022 08:22

girlmom21 · 13/08/2022 08:05

@SmellyStinkyPong I'm not being thick. You're very rude though.

You are if you think having a BBQ and going against the fire brigades advice justbecause 'it's too hot to cook inside!'
You do realise that these people put their lives at risk everytime they are called out to a fire don't you? Why risk it?
Selfish, irresponsible and unnecessary
Fucking hell, I despair

Butitsnotfunnyisititsserious · 13/08/2022 08:22

We've got a gas bbq but still not using it. The ground and plants/trees are just so dry at the moment so I'm not willing to risk it. It can wait until it's rained a bit (due early next week here), then gets sunny again.

Sunnyqueen · 13/08/2022 08:22

I'm going to one today, it will not be cancelled lol.

AlwaysLatte · 13/08/2022 08:22

Do it, just keep the hose nearby.
Oh, wait...
Joke, obviously!!

I think I'd actually be quite nervous about having a BBQ. We've got a bonfire pile which is a good 30 metres from our BBQ but I'd be worried about a spark being carried on the wind. Just cook the same foods indoors and bring it outside.

Quia · 13/08/2022 08:26

BigSandyBalls2015 · 13/08/2022 08:11

I thought it was only disposable bbqs that were risky? If it’s a proper one, waist height off the ground then it’s ok surely?

It's the risk of sparks blowing in the wind. Even if you have buckets and sand all around, there's no guarantee that sparks won't blow past them and we know from experience how quickly a grass fire gets out of hand.

Original poster
BarbieQuestion · 13/08/2022 08:28

PeppaPigIsAnnoying · 13/08/2022 08:15

As an adult you should be able to make this decision yourself not ask an Internet forum

May as well just close Mumsnet down now then.

OP posts:
girlmom21 · 13/08/2022 08:29

@SmellyStinkyPong or maybe I'm just an adult who can have a bbq sensibly without setting fire to anything that shouldn't be on fire.

Velvian · 13/08/2022 08:29

@Sunnyqueen , why lol? People have lost their homes. The fire service are outside working in high temperatures, dressed in fire protective layers, in front of fires, no respite between calls.

We also had 2 ambulances out of action to treat the firefighters while they were continuing to fight the fire.

Original poster
BarbieQuestion · 13/08/2022 08:29

BigSandyBalls2015 · 13/08/2022 08:11

I thought it was only disposable bbqs that were risky? If it’s a proper one, waist height off the ground then it’s ok surely?

To be honest this is where my query stemmed from as I googled Bbq in the news section and it all relates to not having disposable bbq in the countryside- none of the advice states absolutely no BBQs anywhere.

I wasn't sure so thought I'd get a sense check from the wise owls on MN.

OP posts:
toomuchlaundry · 13/08/2022 08:30

@girlmom21 how do you control sparks from it?

stuntbubbles · 13/08/2022 08:30

girlmom21 · 13/08/2022 08:29

@SmellyStinkyPong or maybe I'm just an adult who can have a bbq sensibly without setting fire to anything that shouldn't be on fire.

So thought every idiot whose barbecue has caused a fire this summer. The risk far, far outweighs the slim benefit of “food cooked outdoors”.

Velvian · 13/08/2022 08:31

@girlmom21 , it seems unlikely.

WhoWants2Know · 13/08/2022 08:33

BigSandyBalls2015 · 13/08/2022 08:11

I thought it was only disposable bbqs that were risky? If it’s a proper one, waist height off the ground then it’s ok surely?

Yesterday supermarkets in the drought areas were asked to remove disposable barbecues from shelves altogether.

But really any source of heat/sparks is dangerous when the ground outside is so dry. Car exhausts, fag ends, even glass bottles can set fires at the moment.

rainbowstardrops · 13/08/2022 08:36

I'm in the south in a drought area and have a hosepipe ban at the moment as it's so very dry here.
Several shops are stopping selling disposable BBQs and the advice here is not to take the risk.
I wouldn't even chance a gas BBQ right now. It's just not worth the risk.
Cook it in the oven and eat outside!

NothingIsWrong · 13/08/2022 08:36

Please don't. The risk of sparks at the moment is just too much. The fire service is on the ropes in some areas trying to deal with fires, they don't need the additional pressure of avoidable garden fires.

bluesky45 · 13/08/2022 08:39

We had a fire in the garden last night, in a fire pit but over grass. We're not in a drought area and the grass here is still very green. Didn't even think twice about it tbh.

Popcorncovered · 13/08/2022 08:43

onlythreenow · 13/08/2022 07:56

I don't think I will ever understand the UK. People keep going on about a drought and how dreadful it is - but you don't have fire restrictions????

I agree. They should just ban bbqs/ outdoor fires until we've had some rain

SmellyStinkyPong · 13/08/2022 08:44

girlmom21 · 13/08/2022 08:29

@SmellyStinkyPong or maybe I'm just an adult who can have a bbq sensibly without setting fire to anything that shouldn't be on fire.

Or maybe you're not?
I doubt anyone sets out to cause a fire from a BBQ
🙄
We have been asked not to have them, why can't you understand that? It's sensible advice that shouldn't need to be spelled out to us
No one is going to die because you are hot cooking in your kitchen, you poor petal, think how hot the fire fighters get?
It's not fucking rocket science
Again, I despair and pray that not everyone thinks like you
Me
Me
Me

Porridgeislife · 13/08/2022 08:45

Of course you can use your BBQ if it’s a standard gas or enclosed coal type. We will certainly be using our gas BBQ.

I grew up in Australia & have been through many summers with fire restrictions but BBQs are not considered a fire & they don’t use disposable BBQs because no one would eat the inedible food they produce.

Popcorncovered · 13/08/2022 08:45

girlmom21 · 13/08/2022 08:29

@SmellyStinkyPong or maybe I'm just an adult who can have a bbq sensibly without setting fire to anything that shouldn't be on fire.

Accidents can still happen!

Sunnyqueen · 13/08/2022 08:46

Because of course someone will be along to moan and right on cue....
It's not in a field surrounded by dead grass/bushes/trees but on a patio away from anything like that, will be fully supervised until its properly out and lastly no hosepipe ban here.

girlmom21 · 13/08/2022 08:46

@SmellyStinkyPong you're acting like a massive fool right now. I haven't even had a bbq and nobody's instructed us not to or requested that we don't.

I've had plenty of bbq's and managed to never set fire to anything.

girlmom21 · 13/08/2022 08:47

toomuchlaundry · 13/08/2022 08:30

@girlmom21 how do you control sparks from it?

Gas bbq and a big bbq with plenty of metal around it?

midgetastic · 13/08/2022 08:49

Fire service advise is not to use a disposable BBQ even at home as well as being careful in general

WanderingFruitWonderer · 13/08/2022 08:51

stuntbubbles · 13/08/2022 07:16

If you’re in a drought area, don’t do it. Do all your neighbours have paving or do some have gardens? Those gardens will be fuel.

Agree. I'm in a drought area, and it's bone dry round here. If you're not in a drought area, and it's not so dry, then it might be OK. Though personally, I think a picnic of cold foods (in the shade obviously) would be nicer in this weather. Have a lovely day whatever you decide 😊