10 Tips to Make Your Summer BBQ More Social

With BBQ season now underway, we’re here to share our top tips on how to make your next summer gathering the most social yet. From forfeits for phone usage, to the fun party games you need to be playing, find yourself a pen and get ready to make notes!

Let people know what you’re planning!

If you’re wanting your BBQ to be more social, then make sure to tell your guests! There’s nothing wrong with asking folks to politely keep screentime to a minimum – after all, they’re coming to see you, not to spend their time texting!

Ask people to leave their phones at the door.

To keep your evening fully ‘unplugged’, why not ask friends if you can collect their phones at the start of the evening, and return them at the end? An honesty box by the front door works really well – then, anyone who needs to keep their devices on them for emergencies can do!

Bring back forfeits!

Yes, you heard us right – adults aren’t exempt from a good old forfeit, no matter what they might think! If a guest is glued to their gadget a little too much, why not task them with one of our five fun forfeits, such as doing a shot without using their hands or drinking a ‘cocktail’ of your choosing…

Get the games going.

There’s no better way to get a gathering started than with a few fun games. Our Break the Ice blog is full of ideas for a spot of pre-dinner socialising – try challenging your friends to a round of Heads Up!, Protect the Egg or Act and React, and watch everyone’s competitiveness come to the fore!

Select the soundtrack.

Perhaps the easiest way to create an upbeat vibe and get people socialising is to put on the party tunes! Our summer playlist on Spotify is full of hit tracks from artists such as Dua Lipa, Calvin Harris, Pharrell Williams, so be sure to give it a listen!

Initiate some outdoor activities.

It’s a no-brainer – no BBQ would be complete without a game of swing ball or badminton (weather-permitting!). For a bit of extra fun, why not split your guests into teams, and have a mini tournament – who knows you might find the next sporting superstar!

Or bring the movies to your back garden.

If you’re someone who prefers to socialise at a slightly more sedentary pace, then why not accompany your BBQ with a film night? Whether it’s on the telly inside, or using a projector, a movie is always a fail-safe way to entertain – you could ask your guests to all write down a suggestion and then pick one out of a hat!

Crack open the classic ‘picky bits’.

Onto the food! A staple with almost every British household, there’s always a crowd around the table when the crisps and nibbles come out – the perfect opportunity, therefore, for your family and friends to socialise!

Serve up some sharing cocktails.

On the same theme, why not whip up one of our delicious sharing cocktails or fishbowls for your guests to enjoy? The raspberry mojito is a particular favourite of ours!