Do you ever bbq in parks/at beach?

[Vopik]

Maybe I’m unobservant but when we’re at the beach/local parks I rarely see this. Perhaps I will see a group of teenagers using the foil tin bbq on the odd bank holiday. But it’s not something I routinely see.

I have a big birthday coming up. We just bought our first home so tight on cash. Dh suggested we find a nice stretch of the Thames (we are in Buckinghamshire) and do a bbq with close family. Just seems such a faff. Would involve a fair amount of walking/lugging.

I’m quite happy just to put together a posh picnic with wine and call it a day.

but is this a thing you do regularly? BBQ in public?

I've done both with Scouts. BBQ at beach and bbq in parks.

And yes it's a faff. But fun.

Not here. Spent a lot of time in Australia over the last few years and have very frequently made use of the public BBQs that are at the beach/parks/rest stops.

When we were kids, dad used those disposable BBQs on days out, burger with fried onions on the beach, the smell still takes me back. Shame people can't dispose of them properly these days which is why a lot, if not all, places have stopped selling them

What do you mean "find a nice stretch of the Thames?" how is that a park or beach?

Could you do the bbq at your new home? Also the disposing of it would.be difficult...

Where I live (near loch Lomond) it happens at even the smallest hint of sunshine or clear weather. Personally, I find it anti-social and rude because I want to go to the beach to enjoy fresh air but instead, get someone's BBQ blowing at me and a hoarde of people guffawing loudly. Would you not rather have a BBQ in your garden?

However, like I say, its so common that I now just take it into consideration as something I'll need to deal with if I choose to go to these kinds of places.

If you do decide to do it, please make sure you tidy everything up after you. The litter that is left behind after nice weather is appalling.

BBQs are not allowed in many parks and open spaces due to the fire risk.

No. Apart from the fire risk, BBQs in public places can be very antisocial unless you're able to stay well downwind of other people. We had a boat on the Norfolk Broads recently, moored up in a lovely peaceful spot, lovely fresh air ... till the people on the boat next to us set about barbecuing on the bank and stank out a large area with acrid smoke and the smell of burning meat. Urgh.

A good picnic will probably be much nicer food than anything that can be cooked on a portable BBQ.

I agree that a picnic is a lot more practical, but if you are determined to do it, do check if there are any local rules around it. In our area (in the north) they're banned in public parks, and I've seen them being confiscated at local nature reserves (tbf because every year or so there's a massive peat fire that takes days and ££££s for the fire brigade to get under control)

Lots of barbecues at the beach. It really is a faff but it keeps DH happy (and busy).

Banned in lots of places, our local country park has several brick bbqs with grills that you can book. Always packed with parties. Our nearest beach has a total ban because twats kept leaving the disposable bbqs on the beach and / or ripping the dune protection to burn.

'nice stretch of the Thames' is neither park or beach though.

Unless there's a designated area for barbecuing, I always think it's a bit antisocial to commandeer a public space for a barbecue. They smell and they generate a lot of smoke. Plus they can be a big fire risk - lots of moorland/woodland fires are started by a spark from people barbecuing at beauty spots.

I think it will be tedious to take everything there and you are likely to end up annoying others.

Why not get the same outdoor eating sensation by using a camping stove or perhaps by buying a rotisserie chicken or other hot food just before you arrive?

We have on the beach a few times. Never a park though

No I haven't and no, I wouldn't. It's a huge fire risk, it is very anti social and you're left with the safe disposal of the embers once you've finished which can be messy and a faff.

Parks and nature reserves etc are doing their best to discourage BBQs for a list of obvious reasons. Don't be that person.

You need to be really careful of doing a BBQ on the beach. The sand can really hold the heat and someone could get a serious burn if they step on it

I thought the same

I love it abroad where they are set up for this and have BBQ tables and it's all nice and safe.

In the UK it all seems a bit hit and miss.

have a nice picnic.

I wouldn't even consider this, its anti social and a faff and if not illegal it should be.
Picnic is fine, set fire to stuff at home if you must

My dad used to dig down to the wet sand, put the BBQ in and then pour cold water over it, it would stay there until we left and would have coooled down enough to bag and take home. Sadly these days they get left, chucked in overflowing bins and cause fires

Yes, there have been some horrendous stories of children running through sand where someone had a BBQ and sustaining horrific burns. I think BBQ's should be firmly for private gardens and not public spaces. I know that disadvantages people without gardens but I don't think a having a BBQ is a human right.

Not since I was a teenager, way too much faff and is quite an obnoxious thing to do in a public place where other people might also be trying to enjoy the very tiny window of nice weather we have.

Posh picnic with wine sounds much much nicer! Do that!

in the UK? No. Rude and antisocial!

And dangerous as explained above. Add some music on top, and you deserve a place in hell.

Just have the BBQ at home.
It's antisocial to do it in public places.

The other day people were barbecuing in my local park. It’s a large park with woodlands, playing fields and shrubberies and they had chosen a spot on the grass by the shrubberies. Playing loud music as well. Ruining the tranquility.

There are 2 parks/public spaces near where I live that have specific BBQ areas (like brick stand and surround, that you can stand disposal in, water supply near by & designated metal ash bin with lid). In somewhere like that, it's fine. In a generic park, I wouldn't though I did years ago as a much less responsible teenager.