A disposable barbecue seems like a harmless holiday treat, but for owners near the New Forest or other open countryside it is one of the riskiest things a guest can bring. The disposable bbq holiday accommodation question matters because these cheap trays cause devastating fires and stay dangerously hot long after the food is gone.
The disposable bbq holiday accommodation risk explained
Disposable barbecues reach high temperatures, stay hot for hours, and are easy to tip or abandon while still smouldering. Near dry grass, heath, peat or woodland, that is a recipe for wildfire. Forestry England points to the nearby Wareham Forest fire in 2020, believed to have been started by disposable barbecues, which blazed for over two weeks and destroyed a huge area of rare habitat.
Why whole areas have banned them
The response has been dramatic. The New Forest National Park is now a complete no barbecue and fire zone, with disposable barbecues described as a major wildfire risk that have also caused injuries when hot coals and sharp metal are left behind. In a single weekend, rangers working with the fire service once extinguished over 60 unsafe barbecues. Dozens of local retailers have taken disposable barbecues off sale entirely.
What this means for your property
If your let is anywhere near forest, heath or open countryside in Hampshire, the safest policy is to prohibit disposable barbecues outright, and to make guests aware of any local bans that apply. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service runs joint patrols in the New Forest every summer for exactly this reason, so the risk is far from theoretical.
If you allow barbecues at all
The Home Office guidance says barbecues, patio heaters and fire pits used in gardens should be sited at a safe distance from the property, and never used on balconies in blocks of flats. A fixed, stable barbecue on a hard standing well away from the building is far safer than a disposable tray on dry grass. Provide a metal container for the safe disposal of hot coals, and clear instructions never to leave a lit barbecue unattended.
Put it in writing
Spell out your barbecue policy in your guest information pack and record it in your fire risk assessment. It belongs alongside your candles and smoking policies. A competent assessor can help you weigh outdoor fire risks for your location.
Why disposable BBQs deserve special caution
Disposable barbecues are a particular hazard because they stay dangerously hot for hours after the food is done and can reignite dry grass long after guests think they are finished. In the New Forest they are banned outright, and Forestry England operates no-barbecue and no-fire rules across its open access land, after fires such as the 2020 Wareham Forest blaze that burned for weeks. If your let is near heath, forest or open countryside, the safest policy is to prohibit disposable barbecues entirely and say so in your guest information. Where you do allow barbecuing, the Home Office guidance says to site any barbecue well away from the building and never on a balcony. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service patrols the New Forest with rangers through the summer and has put out dozens of abandoned barbecues in a single weekend.
Providing a fixed, stable barbecue in a safe spot, well clear of fences and the building, removes the temptation to use disposables and gives guests a safer way to cook outdoors during their stay.
Get the right advice for your property
Property near forest or heath and worried about BBQ risk? For advice tailored to your property from a competent professional, speak to Jamie at ESI: Fire Safety on 01276 300 351.
