A Practical Guide to the First Bank Holiday Alfresco Weekend

As soon as the May bank holidays roll around and the sun makes an appearance, it is officially time to get out into the garden.

We assume, like many, you will be hitting the patio for your first BBQ or al fresco lunch of the year. Whether you are inviting the neighbours over, having a quiet afternoon with the family, or just want to sit outside with a good book, a juicy burger, and zero company, here are a few tips and reminders to make the day go smoother.

These tips should work just as well if you are indulging yourself and planning a relaxing afternoon or inviting guests. To make sure you actually get to sit down and enjoy the start of the summer, it helps to be a little organized for minimum effort and maximum fun.

Here is how to set up the perfect garden afternoon.

Part 1: The Prep

The best way to enjoy the afternoon is to get the small jobs out of the way before the grill even gets hot. You can do this on the morning of the day, or even the day before if you prefer a proper bank holiday lie-in.

Check the Hardware and Source the Coal

Do not wait until you have food ready to cook to find out your BBQ grill is rusted or you are out of fuel. Give the grill a quick scrub early on. Since it is still early in the season, your local supermarket might not have a full summer aisle stocked yet. If you are struggling to find fuel locally, you can easily order proper, high-quality lumpwood charcoal from a reliable specialist like  Big K Products or a major hardware retailer like  B&Q a few days in advance.

Prep the Grazing Snacks

Do not leave snack preparation until everyone is hungry. Get the classic favorites ready to go early: grab a few bags of good quality tortilla crisps, a selection of dips (hummus, fresh guacamole, and a cool tzatziki are always reliable), and some savory roasted nuts like lightly salted cashews or almonds. Empty them into serving bowls, cover them, and leave them in the cupboard or fridge so you are not fighting with plastic packaging when you should be relaxing in the sun.

Stash the Sweets in the Freezer

After eating BBQ food, a dense slice of cake is usually the last thing anyone wants. The brand new Sorbet Truffles from Beech’s Fine Chocolates are a brilliant alternative. They come in zesty Lime Sorbet or a classic, sweeter Strawberry and Cream variety.

The packaging actually recommends that they are best served frozen, so pop the tubs in the freezer early on. They need about two hours to freeze properly. Since they can also be enjoyed at ambient temperatures, we won't hold it against you if you can't resist the temptation to sneak a few before they freeze—but don't say we didn't warn you if you end up finishing the whole pack before the food is even served!

There are a generous 10 pieces in each 100g tub, which should be enough for two people to share, depending on how much of a sweet tooth they have. While we highly doubt there will be any left, if there are, they can go straight back into the freezer for the next day.

Sort the Sauce Situation

That slightly watery ketchup at the back of the fridge might still do the trick, but the first BBQ of the year is a great excuse to restock. Add your favorites to the weekly shopping list: a fresh bottle of ketchup, good mayonnaise, sticky BBQ sauce, English or French mustard, and a jar of proper burger relish.

If you feel like making something yourself—or need a quick activity to keep the kids occupied—a classic burger sauce is super easy and quick to make. Both teens and younger kids usually love the process. For extra fun (and to avoid any arguments), let each child make their own custom batch. Give them a base of mayonnaise and ketchup, then let them carefully chop up a few pickles instead of just using pickle juice. Let them raid the fridge and spice cabinet to see what else they might want to try adding. It makes them feel involved and adds a bit of fun experimentation to the afternoon.

If you want to try your hand at a homemade sticky glaze or a proper meat marinade, BBC Good Food is the best place to look. Head to their website, type "BBQ marinades" into the main search bar, and make sure to click the "Easy" filter on the left-hand side. This will give you a highly reliable list of quick recipes that don't require obscure ingredients.

Queue Up the Playlists

We know music is very personal, and no doubt you will have your own tastes and go-to tracks. However, having your music sorted early really helps set the tone for the entire afternoon.

If you are having people over, it pays to set up a few different playlists in advance. Having multiple options ready to go gives you the freedom to easily switch up the mood—perhaps moving from upbeat summer classics in the afternoon to something a bit more mellow later on—without having to stand by the speaker searching for tracks. Another great trick if you are hosting friends or teenagers is to create a collaborative playlist a few days before and let everyone add a few of their own favorites. If it is just you relaxing solo, the benefit is total control. Play exactly what you want, at whatever volume you like, without having to skip a single track.

There is Never Enough Ice

Whatever amount of ice you think is enough, double it. Half will melt in the afternoon sun, and the other half will end up in the drinks. Unless you are lucky enough to have a fridge that makes it automatically, most of us simply do not have enough ice cube trays to keep up with a warm bank holiday.

Fortunately, grabbing a few bags from the supermarket in the morning is easy. However, if freezer space is tight—perhaps because it is already full of sorbet truffles and burgers—you have a great backup plan. These days, delivery apps like Uber Eats or Deliveroo can drop off bags of ice from your local convenience store at very short notice. It completely saves you from doing a panicked dash to the shop right when the weather is at its best.

Here is the fully updated Part 2: The Main Event, bringing together all the edits, links, and the light-hearted tone we have perfected.

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Part 2: The Main Event

The prep is officially over, the sun is out (we hope—this is the UK, after all, and the weather could turn at any minute), and it is finally time to get outside and enjoy yourself.

You could go straight to the grill and start cooking the main meal, but most people prefer to take their time. Half the fun of a garden afternoon is grazing on snacks and having a few drinks while the BBQ slowly gets up to temperature. Here are a few straightforward tips and recipes to help you handle the drinks and nibbles so you can actually relax.

Batch Your Drinks

Playing bartender all afternoon means you will miss out on the sunshine. Instead of making individual drinks, mix up a large jug of the season's first Pimm's and leave the glasses next to it.

If it has been a year since you last made one, here is the standard recipe:

• Fill a tall glass or pitcher with plenty of ice.

• Pour in 1 part Pimm’s No. 1.

• Add 3 parts chilled lemonade and stir gently.

• Toss in the chopped strawberries, cucumber slices, and orange.

• Garnish with a fresh sprig of mint.

• Give it a light stir and serve immediately.
  

Not everyone wants alcohol, so it is just as important to have a pitcher of iced tea or a jug of cold coffee sitting on the table.

Get the Iced Coffee Right

A cold coffee is the ultimate afternoon pick-me-up. If you want to do it properly, a true cold brew requires steeping coarsely ground coffee in cold water for 12 to 24 hours, then straining it. The result is incredibly smooth and naturally sweet, entirely lacking the harsh acidity you sometimes get from hot coffee.

If you did not plan ahead, you have two very easy backups. First, supermarkets now stock excellent, ready-to-pour cold brews in their chilled aisles that you can easily add to your weekly shop. Alternatively, you can take the practical route: simply brew a hot double espresso from your usual kitchen coffee maker and pour it directly over a tall glass filled to the brim with ice. While a coffee purist might point out this is technically an iced coffee rather than a true cold brew, when you are managing a busy garden party and a hot grill, it is fast, highly refreshing, and absolutely does the job.

Roll Out the Grazing Station

Since you already prepped the savory snacks in the morning, simply pull the covers off your bowls and place them strategically around the seating area. Spreading the tortilla chips, dips, and nuts across a couple of small tables encourages people to move around the garden and prevents a bottleneck right next to the hot BBQ.

Once the savory snacking slows down, people usually want a small sweet bite to go with their iced tea or coffee. This is where nougat comes in.

Many years ago, we used to think of nougat strictly as a seasonal treat in the UK. But these days, just like on the continent, it is fast becoming a daily staple. People are increasingly enjoying it with their afternoon tea or coffee, or simply snacking on it by itself.

In Italy (where it is known as torrone), France (famous for its nougat de Montélimar), and Belgium, this confection has always been served year-round alongside a strong afternoon coffee. Made from a classic base of whipped egg whites, sugar, and a heavy crunch of roasted almonds, it is specifically designed to be savored with a good drink. The soft, chewy texture acts as the absolute perfect counterbalance to the deep, roasted notes of an iced coffee or the crisp, dry tannins of an iced tea.

Crucially for a garden party, because traditional almond nougat isn't covered in chocolate, it won't turn into a melted puddle in the afternoon heat. If you want a dependable option for the snack table, the Almond Nougat from Rita Farhi is a brilliant choice. They have been making it since 2004, and it has remained a customer favorite for two decades precisely because it is a practical, culturally authentic treat that you can safely leave out in the sun for hours.

Claim a Shady Spot

After being sun-starved for the entire winter, it is completely natural to want to spend every possible second soaking up the rays. This is especially true for kids, who will happily run around in the direct sun all afternoon. However, it is important not to overdo it.

Make sure the younger ones are wearing hats, and take a look around your garden to see if you have any natural shade, like a good spot under a large tree. If your patio is completely exposed, it is definitely worth investing in a garden parasol if you haven't got one already. Giving yourself or your guests a dedicated place to cool down means everyone can comfortably stay outside chatting for hours without feeling completely drained by the heat.

What If It Rains?

As we mentioned, this is the UK. Nobody is going to be genuinely surprised if you feel a few raindrops right in the middle of your bank holiday afternoon. Most of us are entirely used to this and will stubbornly stay in situ, holding a plate over our food and hoping it blows over quickly.

However, if the sky really darkens and it becomes obvious the sun isn't coming back, don't force it. Grab the snacks, scoop up the drinks, and head inside. As a handy piece of advice to keep in your back pocket: if you ever have to abandon a carefully planned outdoor setup, there are ways to make the sudden move feel completely intentional. If you want a few tips on how to make it look like the rain was almost your idea just so you had an excuse to bring everyone indoors, Good Housekeeping has a brilliant archive of practical entertaining ideas. A quick read-through can give you plenty of inspiration to keep the afternoon flowing smoothly, no matter what the weather does.

Part 3: Winding Down

The food is finished, the plates are cleared, and the afternoon is drawing to a close.

Serve the Frozen Truffles

Now is the time to grab those Beech's Lime or Strawberry and Cream Sorbet Truffles out of the freezer. Serving them straight from the freeze means they act like miniature ice creams. They provide a brilliant, completely fuss-free palate cleanser without layering heavy sweets on top of a big meal.

Beat the Evening Chill

Finally, remember we are still in the UK. The minute the sun dips below the fence line, it will suddenly feel quite cold. Have a few blankets folded by the back door, or simply put the kettle on for a fresh pot of tea or coffee to keep the chill off as the evening rolls in.