Garden Party Must-Haves for the Summer

The summer of 2023 has unfortunately mostly been something of a washout. If you enjoy holding garden parties for your family and friends, that’s likely to have proved a big disappointment.

Nevertheless, let’s look on the bright side and start planning how we can make next year’s parties extra special to make up for missing out this year. Whether it’s changing the layout of your garden so that it makes for an even better party space, coming up with the perfect food and drink for your guests or creating a unique atmosphere with the right music and lighting, there are any number of things you can do.

Here are a few ideas from the team at KG Smith & Son to help you create the perfect ambience for next year’s summer garden parties:

A traditional British barbecue

No good outdoor party is complete without a barbecue. It’s relatively easy to organise, you don’t have to worry about making sure everything is ready at the same time and it’s bound to send your guests home happy – as long as you don’t forget to cater for the vegans and vegetarians! Of course, the real secret to a good barbecue is using top-quality barbecue charcoal that will infuse your steaks and sausages with that heavenly smoky flavour everyone loves. You also want it to burn long enough that you don’t have to spend your whole evening worrying about when you’re next going to have to top it up. Our cooking charcoal is used by professional chefs across the country, who know they can count on it to be their perfect partner in any outlet selling grilled or barbecued food.

Drinks for all ages and tastes

Obviously, your guests will need something to wash all that barbecued food down and, in the same way that you want to include the veggies in your food plans, so you need to make sure you don’t forget the non-drinkers and younger partygoers. We’ve written a separate blog that lists ten great drinks for a summer party, including five alcoholic and five non-alcoholic drinks.

Eco-friendly disposable plates

There’s nothing worse after a good party than having to clear up the mess – and the last thing you’ll want to be doing is washing up literally dozens of plates, bowls and sets of cutlery. Nor, however, do you want to use disposables that are going to contribute to the planet’s pollution problems. Thankfully, it is possible to get biodegradable and compostable options that you can use with a clear conscience.

Solar-powered lighting

Even at the height of summer when it’s still light at 10 o’clock at night, you don’t necessarily want to be bringing things to a halt once the sun goes down. Some stylish lighting – powered by energy from the sun stored up during the day – won’t just add some atmosphere to the evening’s enjoyment, it will also ensure you can keep going as long as you want to. And if you don’t want to worry about whether the neighbours are going to complain about any noise as you party into the early hours, then make sure you invite them too!

Garden parasol

The British weather in summer being what it is, you can’t rely on there being good weather, but that doesn’t mean you’re going to want to call the whole thing off the minute you spot a dark cloud either. Something to protect your guests during a brief shower – or to allow them to shield from the sun if you’re really lucky – means that whatever the weather decides to throw at you, you’ll be able to face it down and carry on partying regardless.

A nice garden!

If you’re going to invite lots of friends and family round for a garden party, then it definitely helps to have a nice garden for them to enjoy themselves in! Of course, this isn’t something you can knock together in a few days, this will need a whole lot of advance planning. Thankfully, at KG Smith & Son, we’re not just about smokeless coal, wood briquettes and cooking charcoal. We also supply customers with the perfect tools to turn their outside spaces into perfect party patios for groovy garden get-togethers. From railway sleepers that bring rustic charm to the compost and farm manure you need to grow beautiful plants and flowers, our garden and landscaping range is the ideal place to get you started.

To lay the essential groundwork for your next summer garden party, why not talk to the friendly team at KG Smith & Son? We can offer free and fast delivery on all our home heating, charcoal and garden supplies, plus exceptional customer service built around your convenience and needs.