Summer BBQ Ice Guide: Keep Drinks Cold All Day
A hot day, a full garden and warm drinks – the classic BBQ fail. Here's how to avoid it.
How much ice for a BBQ?
- About 1–1.5kg of ice per guest on a hot day.
- 20 guests: 2–3 bags of 12kg. 50 guests: 4–6 bags.
- Add a bag of crushed ice if you're making cocktails or jugs of drinks.
Set up two coolers
Use one cooler or tub for drinks and one for food. The drinks cooler gets opened all the time; keeping food separate keeps it colder and safer.
Chill drinks before the party
Warm cans melt ice fast. Put drinks in the fridge the night before, then onto ice.
Keep ice in the shade
A cooler in the sun loses ice quickly. Cover tubs with a towel and top up from a spare bag. More tips: how long does ice last in a cooler?
Order early in a heatwave
When the weather turns hot, everyone wants ice at once. Book your delivery a few days ahead – you can choose your date up to a year in advance.
Ordering ice in London
- £10 per 12kg box: ice cubes, crushed ice or 6 x 2kg bags.
- Free delivery across London from 5 boxes.
- Order by 5pm for next-day delivery, Monday to Saturday, in a morning or afternoon slot.
- Book your date up to a year ahead.