A hot, still August evening, a dry field and a dozen disposable barbecues going at once. Every site owner knows that picture, and it is why a clear campsite barbecue policy matters. Barbecues are part of the camping experience, and most guests use them sensibly. But a hot grill on dry grass, a bin full of warm coals or a disposable tray left on a picnic bench can cause real damage in seconds.

This guide covers what to allow, where to allow it, how to deal with coals and ash, and how to get your rules in front of guests before they arrive. It works for a five van CL, a CS site or a larger touring park.

Decide what you will allow

There is no single legal rule for barbecues on a campsite. It comes down to your risk assessment, your insurance and the layout of your field. Start by choosing which types you are happy with.

Many owners now ban disposables outright and say so clearly on the booking page. Others allow them only in a designated area. Both are reasonable. What matters is that you pick a rule and apply it to everyone.

Set rules for where barbecues can go

Location rules prevent more problems than anything else. Think about what could burn, melt or be damaged nearby.

Keep a safe distance

Barbecues should never be used inside an awning, under an awning canopy, inside a tent or on a caravan step. Carbon monoxide is the silent danger here, and fabric catches fire fast. Ask guests to keep a sensible gap from tents, vehicles, hedges and fences. Many sites say at least three metres from any unit, and further in dry weather.

Protect the ground

A raised barbecue stops grass from scorching. If you allow barbecues on the pitch, ask guests to use a stand or a fire-safe mat. If your ground is peat, very dry or full of dead bracken, you may decide barbecues need to go on a hard standing area only.

Consider a communal barbecue area

On a busy site, a single marked area with a brick or metal base can be easier to manage than dozens of individual pitches. It also gives you a proper place for disposing of coals. The downside is that it needs supervision and cleaning, so only do it if you can keep up.

Plan for dry weather and wind

The same field that is fine in May can be a tinderbox in July. Build a trigger into your policy so you can change the rules quickly.

It also helps to keep water close. A hose within reach, a few buckets and at least one fire extinguisher on the site are sensible. Our campsite fire safety guide explains what equipment to have and how often to check it.

Sort out coals, ash and disposables

Most barbecue fires on campsites do not start at the barbecue. They start in the bin.

Cool ash properly

Hot coals can stay dangerous for many hours. Ask guests to let them cool completely, ideally overnight, or douse them with water until the hissing stops. Never tip warm ash into a general waste bin or a wheelie bin. A plastic bin that melts is a real expense, and a bin fire next to a toilet block is worse.

Provide a coal bin

A lidded metal bin, clearly labelled "Cold coals only", is cheap and solves most of the problem. Put it somewhere sensible, away from buildings, and empty it regularly. You can read more about handling site rubbish in our campsite waste and recycling guide.

Deal with disposables

If you allow disposable barbecues, ask guests to take the cold tray home or leave it in the coal bin. Leaving a disposable tray on the ground, even once cold, kills the grass underneath and leaves an ugly black mark that takes weeks to recover.

Think about children, pets and neighbours

Barbecues are a magnet for children and dogs, and a hot grill left unattended is a burn waiting to happen. Ask guests never to leave a lit barbecue alone and to keep it clear of walkways and play areas. Smoke matters too. On a small field, one smoky charcoal barbecue can drift straight into the next tent, so a polite request to be considerate after quiet hours start is worth adding. Our quiet hours guide shows how to word this without sounding heavy handed.

Check your insurance and risk assessment

Before you finalise any policy, read your insurance schedule. Some policies have conditions about open flames, and some insurers expect you to have a written fire policy in place. If you are not sure, ring your broker and ask them directly. Our campsite insurance guide covers the questions worth asking.

Barbecues should also appear in your risk assessment. Write down the hazard (fire, burns, carbon monoxide), who could be harmed (guests, children, pets, you), what you do to control it, and when you will review it. If something goes wrong, a written assessment that you followed is far better than a verbal assurance.

Make sure guests actually see the rules

A policy nobody reads is not a policy. The best rules are short, friendly and delivered at the right moments.

If you send your messages by hand, this is the kind of job that falls through the cracks on busy weekends. With automated guest messages you can set your barbecue rules to go out with every booking confirmation and a reminder before arrival, so every guest has been told.

The key takeaway

A good barbecue policy is simple. Decide which types you allow, say where they can go, give guests somewhere safe to put cold coals, and tell them before they arrive. Add a way to tighten the rules in dry weather and you have covered most of the risk. Most guests are happy to follow clear rules. It is the unclear ones that cause arguments.

If you want your rules to reach every guest automatically, try CampSuite free. It is free for CL sites and CS sites, and you can be set up in about 15 minutes.