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Summer is just around the corner and here in GB we love a BBQ.  Even if the weather is un-predictable you can be sure us Brits know how to have a good time!

The more people you have to your outdoor bash the more work you’ll have to do, so streamline the process by taking these easy steps to manage the preparation and the day so that you as the host can have a great time too.

Plan Your Guest List.

Think about your space.  If you have a smaller garden then inviting the whole street won’t work too well and you’ll end up stressed.  If you are planning a street BBQ, then see if garden fence panels can be lifted to create a larger space, that way you can involve the neighbours in the planning too.  Use WhatsApp or Facebook to create your guest list, this makes it easier for your guests to be able to reply in good time as you’ll have a lot of planning to do.  The number of friends is directly linked to your budget.  If you have a large list and small budget then ask for help. Maybe you could share the financial burden by asking friends to supply certain foods, one gets the bread, the other the nibbles etc.

Weather proofing.

The British weather is not always the best, and what starts as a glorious summer day can quickly change into a downpour!  The simple solution is to have a load of umbrellas available, we all have them so just ask your guests to bring as many as they can!  Gazebos and tents are great if you have the space.

Seating.

Some people love to mingle and will be dancing and wandering amongst the guests for the whole party but you will need to provide some comfy seats for those that don’t.  Don’t cram everyone in together and if you are able to erect a gazebo or tent then scatter cushions and beanbags are perfect.

Decorations.

Having a theme is a nice touch and can be achieved quite simply.  Get the kids to help with hanging the bunting, colour co-ordinated flowers, table cloths and napkins.

Music.

Have a playlist with a mix of styles.  It’s easier to do this on your device or on a subscription service where you can have a good few hours music playing rather than just a few songs on a loop.  This way you don’t have any dead air whilst you look for CDs!  If you have space, leave a little free to use as a dance floor.

Food.

It’s sensible to ask as part of the invitation whether they have any dietary requirements.  Veggie, Gluten free and so on may need to be considered and this is much easier if you are aware as early as possible.  Include cheaper dishes that can be used alongside the expensive meat offering; rice and pasta salads can be made in bulk and are cheap and filling.  Don’t forget nibbles and snacks for the first footers and for when the main food has run out, if the drink is flowing it is better that your guests have something to line their tummies.

Drinks.

This is the tricky part of any gathering as you can’t be expected to know everyone’s tastes.  The easiest and cheapest way is to provide mixers and soft drinks and ask people to bring their own.  If you have a small budget for drinks then just buy the most popular bottles, Prosecco, Wine and Beers or you could just make a few jugs of punch.

Finally, let your hair down!  You’ve done the prep and the party is in full swing so don’t get bogged down with the cleaning and tidying, you’re friends are there to see you too.

If you are looking to treat yourself or are a guest and are looking for a great gift for the host why check out our brilliant BBQ Gift Box. Featuring everything you need except the heat and the meat!  With three delicious BBQ Rubs, Beer, an Apron and BBQ Tool we're sure they'll be thrilled.

Enjoy your party!

For obvious reasons, the UK has seen a boom in staycations over the last year, with the trend expected to stick around for quite some time - even after lockdown.  Staying at home is something we’ve all had months practicing the art of doing, so why not?  Swapping sunnier climes for unpredictable weather,  people of the UK are choosing stays at holiday homes, hotels, caravans and camping sites across the UK… and of course, home itself.

The relaxation of lockdown rules this year has thankfully brought families and friends back together again and the recent spell of Great British Summer weather has seen entertaining at home being indoors and outdoors in equal measure.  Of course, stays in the UK are not only an incredible boost to our economy, but a show a renewed sense of pride for our beautiful country!

Another boom (again, lots of time to practice) is the uptake in new hobbies – cooking being one of them and with all that lovely sunshine we’ve seen this year, nature has given us the chance to yet again, dust those cobwebs off the BBQ (thank you nature!) and showcase those culinary skills.  We are in the UK though and the weather is either “too hot” (yes, you can admit it sometimes!) or simply unpredictable.  But that shouldn’t stop us from doing what we love, should it?

So, what do we enjoy cooking?

It’s no secret that the people of Britain, over the years, have had a long-lasting love affair with curry.  Whether hot or mild, there’s something for everyone, but the level of spice can vary from place to place… and it’s not only the weather than can be “too hot” – curries can be too!  How great would it be to cook a restaurant-style curry at home, controlling your own level of spice?

For those times spent indoors, a curry gift box is the perfect gift, catering for those hard-to-by-for folks and budding chefs alike.  The Spicy Night In is the ultimate “Curry Kitchen Buddy” and even contains a (rather enjoyable) liquid refreshment - chef’s privilege, of course!

Cooking our own curries from scratch, let’s face it, gives us legitimate bragging rights.  Although they may be fun to cook, curries can, at times, demand a lot of time in the kitchen – especially when cooking those complex recipes, which use what seems like a million different spices!  The Indian Spice gift set in our gift box may be just the ticket to more time spent with family and friends… and they get to eat a delicious curry when they visit!

Sourced in the UK from an inspiring family-run business (not a million miles away from us), Spice Kitchen, we introduce you to their award-winning Indian Spice Tin, which we though would be perfect to feature in our curry gift set.  We absolutely cannot praise this enough - as far as making the perfect curry goes, you really can’t get better than this!

Presented in a fully-reusable (and very stylish) quality stainless steel spice tin with window, this set has nine separate compartments for the various hand ground curry blends included - they even included a spoon!  Their blend of Garam Masala (included) is even a Great Taste Award Winner.   This tin also has an added benefit in that it keeps spices airtight, leaving them nice and fresh for when they are ready to be used.  Each spice blend has been hand ground (which really does save a lot of time!) and is ready to be measured for the curry – the only thing left to do is just add meat and veg.

As everyone needs to start somewhere, included is a recipe guide and there are further inspiring recipes on their website too… what’s not to like?

From another place (again, not a million miles away from us - just down the road in fact), we also introduce you to Lost Days Pilsner from a hidden gem of The North, Donkeystone Brewing Co., a local brewery tried and tested (and completely adored) by many members of our team.  This is a wonderfully refreshing Pilsner, perfect to enjoy whether cooking a curry or eating it - you decide.

So you see, staying home can be fun and you don’t always have to travel far and away to find the things you enjoy.  We didn’t.

I love May!  First off it’s my birthday….”Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me”, and there are two bank holidays, one at the start, May Day and the other, very often around my special day commonly known as Spring Bank Holiday!

The UK as a nation has the lowest number of Bank Holidays in the world except for Mexico which has just seven to our eight but India has a massive 21 days!   Mind you up to 1834 we enjoyed 33 days off which were mainly to celebrate feast and Saints days, that was until some misery guts decided that was too many and reduced it to a measly 4 days which were Good Friday, Christmas, All Saints Day and May Day.  It was politician and banker John Lubbock who made these four days official and as such they are referred to as “Bank” holidays, it seems Lubbock’s Days didn’t have the same ring to them!

The early May holiday which falls on the first Monday of the month is traditionally a celebration of the start of the summer season, the end of winter and a celebration of fertility.  It is a time for parties, dancing and merriment.  People would exchange gifts and enjoy parades and food and drink in the village green. Traditional dancing of the time would be around the Maypole.  Historically the Maypole itself was said to be a sign of male fertility and the baskets and hampers were meant to signify female fertility and new birth.  This colourful dance consisting of long brightly coloured ribbons attached to a tall pole also dates back to Roman Britain where men would dance around decorated trees to worship the Roman Goddess Flora. The maypole was banned under Oliver Cromwell and was not brought back until Charles the Second returned from exile and helped to erect a huge maypole in London’s Strand.  This brought back the party hence the Kings nickname “The Merry Monarch”.

Another traditional form of dance, often related to May Day is Morris dancing.  There are differing opinions on the history of the dance but most are agreed that it was a form of folk dance with numerous styles across the different regions around the country, from clog dancing to sword dancing.  It is now synonymous with May Day with the most common dress of the jingly bells, the hats and the sticks.  Something so brilliantly British!

Spring bank holiday or the late May holiday, used to fall on the first Monday after Pentecost in the Christian calendar and was previously known as Whit Monday.  It would have been in early June but for a change by the financial and banking industry in 1971 moving it to the last Monday in May.  There are no real traditions to celebrate and so this late May holiday is typically one for families to relax and enjoy an extra day off and longer weekend.  With the warmer weather we can enjoy being outdoors or in the garden with friends and a few drinks.  This is where if you’ve been paying attention the seeds from your Garden Gift Box will now be coming through!

Although there are no notable historic traditions there are some very British events and festivities attached to it, notably the Gloucestershire cheese rolling contest!   Stretching back over 200 years this event sees a huge 4kg roll of Gloucester cheese sent spinning down Coopers Hill, a steep hill in Brockworth and contestants race down and try to catch it!  There are injuries every year and the event was officially banned in 2010 but volunteers are determined to keep the tradition going.  The first to finish wins the cheese and the glory!

We might only have eight bank holidays per year but we sure know how to make the most of them!  After May the next holiday is in August and then the next is Christmas!!  Oh we definitely need the numbers restoring back up to 33 don’t you think?

Enjoy the break,

Julie

Excited about returning to some normality but also nervousness about being out and about after so long?  This guide aims to open the conversation when the government announces that it’s safe to go back.