Top 10s Top 10 beaches for barbecues

Date Published:

14/07/2009

Take your barbecue for a trip to the seaside as Charlie Cottrell seeks out the best Blue Flag beaches to get grilling on for 4Food

Sandsend Beach is a beautiful, picturesque place to paddle or indulge your inner palaeontologist with a spot of fossil gathering. However you while away the hours, you're bound to earn your burgers and baps and maybe a pint of the local ale too. Rude not to, really.

With 300 metres of golden sands, there's plenty of room to pitch your grill on King Edward's Bay. Swim, surf or just laze in the sun with one hand on your beer and the other on your hot dog.

Awe inspiringly beautiful, this magnificent beach boasts a nine metre high ridge of dunes that are brilliant to run through to work up an appetite. Embrace the Scottish outdoors with a beautiful view and some tasty barbecue chicken. They'll never take your free-range.

There's excellent surf to be had at Porthcawl, which also means excellent surfers. Whichever side of the sea you're on, make the most of the golden sandy beaches to cook up an alfresco feast, complete with patriotic char-grilled leeks.

The South West generally boasts the warmest of the UK's summer weather, perfect for sun worshippers with an eye on their carbon footprint. Bring a cooler of cider and set up for the day at this family friendly sandy beach.

Eating on the beach as the stars come out is a recipe for a memorable evening, so head to Holywell for some fun in the sunset. Barbecues are permitted between 6pm and 11pm, and if you're bringing booze, make sure you're not in a 'no drinking' area.

Bournemouth is one of Britain's favourite holiday resorts offering something for everyone, from kiddies to crinklies. The whole family can enjoy picturesque evening feasting at Fisherman's Walk, where barbecue time starts at 6pm and not a second sooner, you scamp.

If you're after olde English seaside charm, Sheringham is the beach for you with its quaint fishing village and local steam train rides. If there's less than 12 of you, grab your grill and get barbecuing. Larger groups will need a council permit for their seaside barbie.

Londonites, get out of the big city and head to the Clacton coast for a weekend of rolled up trouser legs and knotted hanky hats. This is a proper, old fashioned English beach resort complete with a pier and a promenade. Find a secluded spot and bring a small disposable barbeque.

A lovely sandy beach with colourful traditional beach huts for sheltering, old school style. The cliff top gardens are pretty as a picture; take in the bouquet before heading beachside for the equally lovely bouquet of meaty skewers cooking on warm coals. Drop the council a line if you're planning a beach barbecue so they can inform the coastguard.

Get brilliant 4Food barbecue recipes for your beachside bonanza

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