| The summer months in London and the rest of | | | | likely to break nice expensive china? What are |
| the UK are the best times to throw an outdoor | | | | your guests going to drink from? If you are |
| party for you and your mates. Long sunny days | | | | catering for both food and drinks you might need |
| and cloudless skies give ample opportunity to | | | | to consider employing the services of a catering |
| invite friends over and enjoy a summer barbecue | | | | equipment hire company, who can supply you |
| and a few cheeky ciders - preferably Magners on | | | | with extra glasses, cutlery, linen and pretty much |
| ice! | | | | anything else you need. |
| To throw the perfect barbecue requires a bit of | | | | What are the chances of bad rainy weather? |
| planning and you need to make sure that you | | | | In London there is always this chance. Even in |
| have the right equipment to cater for all those | | | | summer. The barbecue comes out and so do the |
| friends, and friends of friends... | | | | rain clouds. It's like the weather gods in the UK |
| Consider the following: | | | | are in a permanent bad mood - well they |
| How many people are coming? | | | | probably are because the smoke from the |
| You may be catering for a large party of over 20 | | | | barbecue goes up into the skies and stinks out |
| people or it may be a small event. Always be | | | | their homes! Rent an outdoor heater & some |
| prepared and then some as you will always find a | | | | garden umbrellas to keep you safe and dry and |
| few extras arrive including their brood of starving | | | | your party intact. |
| children. If you have a splash pool or blow up pool, | | | | Are you going to cook on a gas grill or with |
| get this out to keep the kids entertained and out | | | | charcoal? |
| of the house. | | | | Or maybe you don't even have your own |
| Will the food be presented outside or inside? | | | | barbecue - what kind of a man are you? You can |
| If you are going to be eating mainly outdoors, | | | | rent a barbecue from a local company in the |
| you will probably want to keep the salads and | | | | event that your next door neighbour or best |
| other cold foods indoors until you're ready to eat. | | | | friend won't lend you theirs. Consider how many |
| Mayonnaise will go off in the sun and salad leaves | | | | people are coming and how much charcoal you will |
| will wilt making your delicious rabbit food look like | | | | need. The last thing you want is to run out of |
| a dried up kelp farm. Do you live in an area with | | | | charcoal midway and have to explain to the wife |
| many insects and bugs that come out later in the | | | | why her tenderly prepared chicken is STILL so |
| day? You may want to consider renting some | | | | tender and raw. |
| bug lights or putting out a few citronella candles to | | | | Finally and most importantly keep your guests |
| keep the pesky bugs away. | | | | well-oiled during the day as you don't want them |
| Are you catering for food only or drinks as well? | | | | getting thirsty no matter what their tipple. |
| Do you want your guests to eat off paper plates | | | | Diversity is the flavor of life! |
| or would these be for the children who are more | | | | Good luck and have fun! |