Barbecue weather has been prevalent this summer and – if you've exhausted every new marinade recipe, cut of meat and salad dressing going – investing in barbecue-friendly decor and accessories can spice-up a cook-a-thon.
Colourful lanterns, bright, statement furniture and funky table decorations (like mismatched china) set the scene for a contemporary garden get together, and it pays to plan ahead with an unusual menu and carefully devised playlist.
Set the scene with bright teal or classic grey garden chairs, multicoloured lanterns and eco-planters (made from recycled materials) in statement pinks, blues and greens. Then add retro touches with mismatched crockery.
But it's all about the gadgets if you want to create perfect food and entertainment – and these three fantastic gizmos will make your late summer barbecue sizzle.
Keep the cooking station modern, with a brilliantly designed barbecue, and impress your guests with must-have gadgets for producing perfect food and entertainment. A seasonal playlist is a must – and make sure you have (tasteful) solar-powered lights dotted around the garden to create atmosphere when the sun goes down.
A cooler barbecue
Efficient and innovative, the family-friendly Halo Cooltouch barbecue (£495) retains more heat inside the cooking area, reducing food preparation times and keeping the outside cool to the touch. Made in the UK, the stainless-steel grill plate is dishwasher safe and the retro-tinged design comes in six statement colours. haloproduct.com
Talking temperatures
The clever Weber Style Talking Thermometer (£44.99) is a wireless, battery-powered device for barbecuing your meat perfectly. It has a range of 30 metres, so you can make sure your meat is cooked just as you want it while you busy yourself with prepping side dishes and glamming up the garden. weberbbq.co.uk
Beats alfresco
Impress your music-loving barbecue guests with the compact Beats Pill speaker (£169.95) that also acts as a portable system for taking calls in the garden. With seven hours of battery life, it provides the soundtrack to your entire event, and the eye-popping neon colours are totally
on-trend. beatsbydre.com
