Longer Summer Evenings...

Enjoy extended evenings this summer courtesy of outdoor heaters and lighting.

Most of us are guilty of taking life for granted or wasting time, but what if I said there was a way of extending time, a way of giving you the gift of an extra couple of hours of “me time”? Pretty grand statement I know and strictly speaking it is false as the laws of physics state that you cannot obtain extra time, but only make the most of these fleeting moments. The sun will go down when it goes down, but there are ways of enjoying your lazy summer evenings for that little bit longer with the aid of outdoor heating and lighting.

Whether it be with your partner or a group of friends, enjoying a drink or food in the surroundings of your flourishing garden with the warm summer breeze around you, patio heating and lighting solutions mean that the party doesn’t have to retreat inside just because the light begins to fade.

Several options are available to you; fixed garden lamps, spotlights lanterns or outdoor candles dotted around the garden makes the garden come alive as the sun sets. Usually inexpensive and easily set up, this is one of the more popular choices among al fresco evening diners and those entertaining. This sort of lighting is widely available at retailers such as B&Q and garden centres and is best suited to landscaped gardens and those with flower bedding where the lights can be embedded in and around foliage and focal points.

Floodlights are generally designed for outdoor use throwing light over wide open areas. For gardens with tall shrubs and trees, floodlighting may be blocked, casting shadows over much of the area. These however often have motion detectors and will automatically switch off when no activity is detected which cuts down on running costs. However, these options offer little in terms of heat generation and the lack of sun can mean the party being moved inside as guests get chilly. As prices continue to fall as manufacturing methods and fuel economy becomes more efficient, many opt for outdoor gas electric & infrared heaters for their patios, gardens and balconies - gone are the days where these we reserved for pub beer gardens and restaurant terraces!

Patio heaters come in all manner of design variations and strengths. The most common design on the market are upright gas burner heaters with reflective ‘umbrellas used to direct the rising heat downwards. This effective design has been adopted by many manufacturers – good news for the consumer as an over-saturated market drives prices down as they compete for your business – and are available from £100.

Less common, though arguably more environmentally friendly designs incorporate infra-ref heating technology and there are two distinct advantages of using infra-red patio and outdoor heaters. Firstly they run off electric so no need to keep dashing out and buying gas tanks – safer for the environment and easier on the wallet. However you will need to position it near a power source or risk trailing wires around the garden. The second is they are more efficient – they heat the object surface they are pointed at rather than the surrounding air and therefore also aren’t affected by wind. The downside is they will not heat the circular area around it, only the direction it is pointed in so consider the positioning of the unit if entertaining. Most combat this problem by using reflecting surfaces to project heat in a wide area but familiarise yourself with the types of heater available before committing to a purchase. Upright stand-alone heaters, such as the Zeus Infra-red Patio Heater by Westminster, are good if your social gatherings are varied as they are easily moved around. For those of you that are likely to entertain your guests around a garden table, a Parasol heater that fits onto the parasol pole just under the umbrella may be a better option. Both of these Infra-Red Patio Heaters are available here.

However, none of thee above methods capture the attention of the beholder quite like an open roaring fire. Generating both heat and light and lending itself as a centrepiece to any social gathering, no matter what the size, outdoor fireplaces are the original and still the best solutions if you are looking to continue festivities into the night with inexpensive and easily obtained fuel, though beware of the obvious dangers involved with an open fire when children, loose pets and intoxicated revellers are around. Weber, Dancook and Westminster as well as a host of other brands all offer their variations of outdoor fire pits but the design fundamentals and materials are fairly consistent throughout. So add a touch of energy and excitement to your next barbecue or garden party and er…don’t forget the marshmallows!

Here's to a BBQ Summer (Hopefully!)

So a new year, another promise of a “Barbecue Summer” that we all so hoped for last year. With the white winter we have just been through, you almost feel like the big man owes us one and sure enough, the MET Office is already spouting promises of glorious summer temperatures and beach days we feel were stolen from us last year. But is term “Barbecue Summer” splashed relentlessly across the tabloids such as the Daily Mail and The Sun just tempting fate?

Of course, we can only hope at this point. One thing is for certain, there will be plenty of opportunities, regardless of the weather for breaking out the Barbie this year. The summer music festivals have never been more popular, with new bands with seemingly endless energy bouncing around on stage, quite literally singing for their supper as the inevitable collapse of the music industry draws ever closer as illegal downloading and free music streaming tightens its stranglehold on Lily Allen and co’s pay checks. For the festival goers, it is a chance to discover new bands, drink beer and socialise with like minded people whilst grilling sausages on disposable or portable BBQs.

Though the benefits of disposable barbecues are limited to the short term cost savings, investing in a quality portable gas or charcoal barbecues such as those in the Weber range, with proper looking after are designed to last a lifetime and are ideal for taking on camping trips, to the beach or indeed to the festivals. The charcoal ‘Smokey Joe’s and aptly named ‘Go-Anywhere’ barbecues from Weber are compact enough the shove in the boot of your car leaving plenty of space for the wellies and hangover tables, yet provide the cooking facility to easily cater for a family of four or a small group of friends. Both are lidded to ensure thorough cooking of food without cremating the exterior of the food and come with nifty transporting functions.

If you prefer the convenience of gas, the ‘Q’ range from Weber might be right up your street. The affectionately nicknamed ‘Baby Q’ aka Weber Q100 primarily runs off gas cartridges (roughly the size of a pot noodle) which will provide fuel for around 10 sessions each negating the need for lugging around heavy gas tanks. Additionally, Weber also supply the optional extra, caravan adaptor meaning you can run the bbq directly from the caravan.

And how can we talk about Summer 2010 without a mention of the World Cup, with Wayne Rooney, Christiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi the subject of choice for the majority of June and July. Again, another fine opportunity to grace the garden, fire up the barbecue, and soak up the pre and post-game atmosphere with friends, beer in hand. Possibly one of the most iconic scenes of the modern day summer – one I am personally very much looking forward to, and a bigger crowd means a bigger barbecue!

Both Weber and BroilKing offer very well-made, upright gas barbecues at reasonable prices with similar tried-and-tested features and have the cooking area and space to accommodate for small and large groups alike. Plus with rotisseries, side burners and griddles available, the types of food that can be cooked varies sufficiently for even the most fussy guests.