Beach BBQ Rules

Nothing shouts summertime quite as loud as a barbecue on the beach. The mix of sunburn and sandy sizzlers by the sea is as quintessentially British summertime as it gets! However, before you fire up the charcoal on your favourite beach there are a few BBQ rules and regulations you may need to be aware of.

Are BBQs on the beach banned?

On the majority of beaches throughout the UK it is perfectly legal to have a barbecue. That said, some of the most popular beaches do have rules about where, when and if you can. These generally fall into 3 categories:

1. Outright bans on barbecues: At some beaches you are not allowed to have a BBQ under any circumstances
2. Barbecues only allowed at certain times / places: A few beaches do allow BBQs but there are rules as to what time of day. This varies between the local councils with some favouring evenings only and others daytime only. In some places you may be restricted to certain barbecue areas.
3. Disposable barbecues are banned: As of April 2023, a growing number of local authorities have introduced bans on disposable BBQs.

All of these regulations have been brought in as Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPO) by local councils. As it stands there is no countrywide policy on beach BBQs and you will have to check on council websites, or check for any notices on the beach itself.

It is always worth checking with the local council to see where, when and if you can have a BBQ on a particular beach. Also be aware the rules can change over time, particularly during heat waves. So check in advance.

What are the penalties for having a BBQ on a beach where it is banned?

Police or council enforcement officers can issue fines of £50 to £100. This fine can rise up to £1,000 for more serious breaches, e.g. not clearing up or disposing of the barbecue, or the size of the gathering.

Where are beach BBQs banned?

The following are a few of the local authorities which have implemented bans or regulations concerning public barbecues. The list is by no means exhaustive and serves only to give an idea of the kinds of rules at some of the UK's most popular beaches.

• Brighton and Hove City Council: One of the first councils to completely ban disposable barbeques. Reusable BBQs are permitted on the beach after 6pm, but not between the piers. 
• Canterbury Council, Kent: The city council here have banned disposable barbecues from their beaches which include Seasalter and Reculver.
• Thanet Council, Kent: Home to some of the finest beaches in Kent the council here have decided to only allow BBQs after 6pm.
• Southend-on-Sea City Council: After a public consultation this Essex council have decided to ban all barbecues from their beaches.
• Fylde Council, Lancashire: In a similar move to Southend, this Lancashire council have banned BBQs from all their beaches including Lytham St Annes.
• Adur & Worthing Councils, Sussex: These south coast councils have prohibited all barbecues at several popular beaches; Kingston beach, Shoreham beach, Southwick and Fishersgate beaches. BBQs are still permitted at Worthing beach.
• Bournemouth City Council: While disposable barbecues are permitted on the beaches they can only be used between 6pm and 10:30pm. Gas barbecues have been completely banned but there are free to use communal electric BBQs above the beach.
• Dorset Council: There has been a policy banning disposable barbecues from high fire risk areas across the county since serious wildfires in 2022.

Ascertaining whether BBQs are allowed on private beaches is somewhat trickier. In areas such as the South Hams in Devon, many beaches are privately owned and you may have to seek permission from the landowner if you wish to have a barbecue.

Why are disposable barbecues not allowed on some beaches?

The rules around disposable barbecues were brought in to protect beachgoers, wildlife and the environment. Over the years there have been numerous quite serious injuries result from disposable BBQs not actually being disposed of.

There are numerous stories of horrendous burns to the feet when people have stood on discarded BBQs buried in the sand. But there is another danger which has caught many people out.

As disposable BBQs tend to sit directly on the sand they also heat the beach surface up. The sand can get so hot where the barbeque was that people have been known to receive fourth degree burns after standing on it.

And if that wasn't enough to put you off, there have also been cases where the discarded metal grill mesh has sliced people's feet open.

Beyond injury to beachgoers and wildlife there is also a considerable environmental impact from these BBQs. To be fair, no barbecue is that good for the environment with one estimate equating them to an 80 mile car journey.

That aside, these are non-recyclable, single use items and end up in landfill (or worse). There are plenty of reusable alternatives out  there and some are pretty cheap.

BBQ safety advice

• Raise barbecues above the sand or pebbles to prevent them getting hot. As mentioned above they can really heat the surface up resulting in severe burns.
• Make sure the BBQ is on a level surface away from anything flammable.
• Never leave a barbeque unattended.
• Fully extinguish and use water to cool down your barbecue before disposal. Putting hot ash into a plastic bin will probably melt it.
• Be aware of others around you, especially children, animals and wildlife.