The Met Office has forecast sweltering July temperatures of up to 28°C. Heat maps show the hot weather from Spain, France and Portugal is set to hit London on 12th July, spreading quickly across the whole of south-east England and the rest of the UK.
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The heatwave is set to linger well into July, with temperatures of 25°C forecast for Leeds and Norwich, while the Lake District will bask in 20°C heat.
Brits host, on average, six barbecues per household for family and friends during the summer months. This equates to 136 million barbecues across the nation. We will be cooking 700 million burgers and 626 million hotdogs, flavoured by 326 million bottles of tomato ketchup!
Whether you're a seasoned barbecue host, or whether you're new to this traditional British summer pastime, read on to find out how to host the ultimate barbecue in your garden...
What type of BBQ should you have?
A gas BBQ is efficient, convenient and ready in an instant. It will do the job with ease, enabling you to start cooking with the flick of a switch. The heat is consistent and direct, with the accuracy of the gas grill enabling you to set the temperature with precision. It also allows better overall control and you can sear with ease.
Despite the simplicity of gas barbecues, a lot of us still prefer traditional charcoal. The consistent radiant heat means you can sear quickly, at very high temperatures. You can also slow-cook large cuts, including ribs and briskets, while you can place food directly into the hot coals for a chargrilled taste - although it is more usual to wrap it in foil first!
Food and drink
The best barbecues need the usual BBQ meats such as burgers, sausages, hotdogs, ribs, beef steaks and of course vegetarian and vegan alternatives. It's also a good idea to prepare salads as a side dish; coleslaw, dips, dressing and the relevant condiments perfectly complement the barbecued meat dishes.
Make sure there are enough beverages for everyone. Alcoholic drinks such as chilled beers and wine always go down well. You will also need non-alcoholic alternatives, whether it's zero alcohol lager or cider for people who are teetotal or driving home, or soft drinks for adults who prefer them and for the kids.
Food storage
As its National BBQ Week starting 2nd July, this is the perfect time to start organising a little get together. One thing you must take care of is food storage.
Food-quality airtight storage containers with a lid will not only to stop insects from getting to your prepped food before you do, but they will also keep it fresher in warm temperatures.
Keep your beverages in bottle storage crates, which will also make it easier to carry your drinks into the garden from the fridge.
Don't forget to be environmentally friendly at the end of your BBQ by practicing recycling - having guests over for a meal can create a lot of waste.
If you're a regular recycler, you will know what your local recycling centre accepts already. Make sure you separate each type of waste from your BBQ - including plastic food wrappers, plates and cutlery and glass or plastic drinks bottles.
National BBQ Week
National BBQ Week was first launched in the UK in 1997 and has taken place every year since. It runs from 2nd July to 11th July this summer. The event has helped expand the BBQ market from only nine million per year in 1997 to today's figure of 136 million!
This year's event was timed in the hope the Covid-19 social distancing regulations would have been lifted, as planned, on 21st June. As we all know, the date has been delayed due to a resurgence in the virus, although we are still permitted to hold BBQs in our garden.
The government advises still taking care and following the latest health advice, even when outdoors, until the health crisis is truly over, although this shouldn't stop people from enjoying themselves at an outdoor BBQ.
According to the latest government health updates on 21st June, most restrictions on meeting people outdoors have been revised, although gatherings must not exceed 30 people. The government's website suggests if you're meeting friends and family, you can choose whether to remain socially distanced, although you should still be "cautious".
Enjoy some fresh summer air as you BBQ with your friends and family – oh, and don’t forget to save me a sausage!