Tips on organising the perfect corporate summer BBQ

It stands to reason that a corporate BBQ is going to be a much grander affair than your standard Sunday afternoon BBQ at home. Catering for a greater number of people means that you need to pay careful attention food and drink because you have to make sure that there is enough to go around.

One of the easiest ways to deal with a corporate BBQ is to hire a professional catering service. It might surprise you to learn that there are companies that will come to your chosen venue and set up a BBQ for you, providing you with a professional BBQ chef to ensure that all the foods are properly prepared and cooked.

Doing things this way has a number of advantages. The main benefit is that the “messy” jobs are taken care of by people who know exactly what they are doing. It also means that the range of foods you can offer is extended. Instead of doing burgers, sausages, and BBQ chicken, you can look at other cuts of meat, exotic marinades, and plenty of different side dishes to go with them. Why not consider a hog roast? This is something a little different and special. Your BBQ caterer will also make sure that there are options on the menu that are suitable for vegetarians so that nobody feels left out. 

Your caterer might able to offer you a bar service for drinks, but if you are sticking to a low budget then this is also something that may want to do on your own. Just make sure that there are plenty of bottles of water, soft drinks, and beers. You might want to add in a few bottles of wine, or you could really embrace summer and consider Pimm’s. This is easy to prepare in jugs with lemonade and chopped up fruits, and it is a great accompaniment to your BBQ dishes.

All you need to do is make sure that there is plenty of seating. Work out how many people are likely to attend – include colleagues, partners, and family members in your calculations – and make sure that there are plenty of tables and chairs out. Consider adding in a few parasols for shade; not everyone wants to bake in the sun! Patio furniture can be hired if you can’t source enough locally. Finally, don’t forget a bit of entertainment. This does not mean you have to hire a band; a few CDs of party music will usually do the trick.