Do you ever bbq in parks/at beach?

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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?

A friend's dog died after eating sand on the beach where some moron had drained their barbeque fat.

I think it sounds like a pita tbh. I'd go with posh picnic. It's lugging the bbq, coals and raw meat there, cooking it all then making sure everything is cold enough to take home.

Banned in all the council parks near me!

I absolutely hate to see people using these disposable BBQ’s in public areas. My DD suffered burns to her foot running over hot sand where some dicks had lifted a BBQ from. Sand heats up and doesn’t cool quickly so please don’t use these things on a beach. I still shudder thinking of her screams that day.

I live on the south coast and by a stretch of beach. Yes it happens a lot where I am and some beach areas have dedicated BBQ areas and in some areas it is prohibited. I live by a quiet stretch and it's very common on hot days, but only in the evening. I don't think it's antisocial as it is only a few weeks worth of days when people do it, and I love walking past people enjoying themselves and socialising on a hot evening. It's a lovely atmosphere.

I would rather just cook at home though. It is a ball ache and sandy food isn't particularly appetising either. Picnics are just as good. Just cook the food up, wrap hot food in foil and if you time it right it will be warm still. Or take a camping stove to reheat.

I wouldn’t have a public bbq. I would take one of those gas hot plates and cook on it, because it’s safer and not smoky.

We used to do simple disposable bbqs at the beach when the kids were small. Usually just a couple of hotdogs. Used to be fun.
I'd be wary of bbqing on grass as wouldn't want to damage it or risk a fire ) probably unlikely with the weather we are having at the moment.
I'd do a nice picnic instead

Oh your poor daughter.
We had ours up on a rock and took it back home to dispose of after.
Some people are so inconsiderate and downright stupid.

I've barbecued on a beach, but using a folding barbecue with legs so that it doesn't heat the sand, and only late in the afternoon/early evening when there aren't loads of people around.

It's anti-social to stink everyone out on a crowded beach imo, and twats who use disposable barbecues and don't cool the sand down afterwards are utter dicks.

We do occasionally some evenings on a fairly quiet stony beach near here, with a non-disposable "kettle" bbq. It's double skinned and raised a bit off the stones so I don't think it gets them that hot, and by the time it's cool enough to go in a bin bag and back in the car the stones will be fine.

There's never more than one group between each set of groynes, so no-one gets smoked out, and if everything is taken home then no-one seems to mind - passers by seem to generally approve.

It's a hassle though - personally IMHO birthdays should be a picnic with prosecco, egg sandwiches, crisps and cake.

This.
Too much of a fire risk

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

This. Where I live they are banned due the risk of a moorland fire which is devastating to wildlife and puts peoples lives at risk.

Have a picnic instead.

I have done in the past but it’s a massive faff to dispose of the waste. Plus I was at a park recently and someone had a BBQ going and it knocked me sick the smell off it. Fuck knows what they were cooking and it actually stressed me out a little bit what they would do with the silver tray afterwards 😂😂

I think disposable BBQ should be banned in public areas ( runs off before I get jumped on)

No, it my absolute pet peeve

BBQs on stands will still heat the sand below and rocks will still heat. Admittedly it's a smaller risk, but the risk to unsuspecting passers by is still there. Unless there are specific BBQ stands available to use, they're not suitable for the beach. There's no way of knowing who will be there after you, even in the evening

Disposable BBQs in public places are absolutely antisocial, particularly when they are just left on the grass/sand/wooden picnic benches to cool. They take hours to cool and in our local park twats sit there cooking smelly burgers all afternoon and then leave their fucking debris all over. The hot BBQ foil is an absolute danger and the damage to wildlife and dogs who eat the left rubbish is awful.
If you want a BBQ do it at home.

No as I find it a bit antisocial (and also seems like it would be a massive faff to do properly)

But surely those are the same few weeks that other people are using the beach and it's likely to be busier, so harder to avoid the smoke?

We live by the sea and it's extremely common to BBQ in public here.

Most people have their own portable BBQs rather than disposable foil trays though. Popular BBQ beaches have dedicated hot ash bins and otherwise you stand your portable BBQ under the beach shower until it's properly out and then take it home again.

The only place I ever see it is at a local lake where they have areas set up for it. I’m think a nice picnic sounds much nicer.

I think disposable BBQ should be banned in public areas ( runs off before I get jumped on)

I think a lot of us on this thread would agree.

Its antisocial and a fire risk. However careful you are at least some of your guests will almost certainly discard litter.

Love a beach bbq, even better when they are a spur of the moment thing.

But then again I live in a hot country and there are brick bbq spots available at many places.

When we were younger we always kept one of the folded BBQs in the boot of the car, and would grab some charcoal, sausages and rolls while on a day out and just go with it.

I have been along the Thames and am not sure what type of spot you are referring to. For a fair few people, it will take a fair bit of forward planning though. I'd only do it on a casual basis.