THE COOL CLUB
As the mercury rises, many of us will be dusting off the barbecues and planning our next get together. But if you’re the host of the summer BBQ this time round, you might be left a bit hot under the collar with the thought of all the prep.
We don’t blame you, hosting can be tough work. Though with a bit of planning, you can ensure your summer BBQ runs without you even breaking a sweat. Read on for some summer party hosting hacks to get you started.
Hosting hack one – Use a small paddling pool to create an ice table
There’s nothing worse than a bowl of warm dips or a soggy salad. Bring the cool outside by filling a small paddling pool with Party Ice and creating your own ice table. The best bit? You can top it up all night long and keep your food fresh for longer. Winner!
Hosting hack two – Don’t forget about the drinks!
A summer BBQ wouldn’t be a summer party without ice-cold drinks. And as nobody likes to sup a warm glass of fizz, one thing is for certain – you’ll need a way to keep the drinks cool. With fridge space probably at a premium, you’ll need to improvise.
Dot ice buckets all over the garden, and make use of any old trays you have around by making DIY coolers. If you’re using a deep bucket or trough, a great tip is to put the drinks at the bottom, followed by a layer of ice, with another layer of drinks on top. You can keep doing this as the day goes on, but make sure you’ve got enough ice to hand.
Hosting hack three – Use a fitted sheet as a tablecloth
There’s nothing worse than watching your fancy cocktail go flying on a tablecloth. To prevent flyaway drinks at your summer party, use a fitted sheet on an outdoor table. Or, take the food to the floor and use a bed of blankets for a boho vibe. Check out our blog on BBQ Party Themes here.
Hosting hack four – Prescoop ice cream
We all know that getting those round, crisp scoops is virtually impossible and takes ages. Save yourself the bother of doing it on the day, and prescoop the ice cream and pop it back in the freezer. Then all you’ll need to do on the day is take one off the tray and stick it on a cone. Voila!
Hosting hack five – use ice bowls to keep dips cold
If you’re going to have dips around the garden, keeping them cool is a must. Pop the dips in ramekins and place that in a larger bowl full of Party Ice. It’ll keep it cooler for longer, leading to less wastage too.
Hosting hack six – Make cocktails ahead of time
If you’re like us, a summer BBQ must include at least one fancy cocktail with loads of crisp ice. But making them all up on the day takes time. Save yourself bother on the day by making some batches of summer punch and store them in mason jars. On the day, you can place the jars in ice buckets and open when you’re ready.
Hosting hack seven – Spray paint games on the grass
We’ve all seen the giant Jenga and outdoor Twister games on offer, but they can be super expensive. As a cheaper alternative, invest in some washable spray paint and create your own lawn games. DIY Twister normally goes down a storm, or you could even go old school and create your very own hop scotch!
Hosting hack eight – Tie bottle openers to your ice buckets
‘Where’s the bottle opener?’ is a common phrase at a summer BBQ. Save your guests the trauma of using their teeth and tie bottle openers to your ice buckets. That way you’ll avoid any dental catastrophes and keep the party running smoothly.
Hosting hack nine – Put condiments in muffin tins
If ramekins aren’t your thing or you hate washing up, put condiments in a muffin tin. Sure, it may not look the part, but who cares! It does the job, saves you washing up and is easy to rest on a bed of ice to keep it cool.
Hosting hack ten – Cover drinks with cupcake liners
Most of us have a few spare cupcake liners lying around. Rather than sitting at the back of your cupboard, utilise them by making your own drink covers. Pop one over your drink, stick a straw in the middle and sip safe in the knowledge you won’t be swallowing any flies at your summer party.
Looking for more hosting hacks ready for your long-awaited summer party? Check out more here.
