Planning a Garden Party in Belfast: BBQ Menu Ideas for 20, 50 and 100 Guests

Belfast does garden parties brilliantly. Long evenings from May to September, lawns that come back to life after the slightest hint of sun, and a culture that doesn't need much excuse to throw open the patio doors and put music on. If you're hosting one this year — a milestone birthday, a christening, a graduation, a "we've finally finished the garden" — the catering decision shapes the whole event.

After hundreds of Belfast garden parties cooked from the back of our BBQ trailer, here's exactly how we'd plan the food for 20, 50 and 100 guests. Menus, timings, costs, the lot.

First, the questions that actually matter

Before you pick a menu, lock down these five:

1. Guest count. Be honest. Most hosts under-count by 10–15%.
2. Indoor backup. Is the kitchen/garage able to take 30 people if it rains?
3. Service time. When do you want the main food served? Belfast garden parties tend to land between 4pm and 7pm.
4. Drinks plan. Are you running the bar yourself, or hiring a service?
5. Kid count. Garden parties usually have a higher kid ratio than weddings.

With those five answered the menu basically writes itself.

Garden party for 20 guests (intimate / family)

This is the milestone-birthday-with-just-close-family or christening-lunch sort of event. The mistake people make is over-catering — a 20-guest event doesn't need a full trailer-and-team production.

Recommended menu:

• 2 mains: gourmet burger + marinated chicken burger (or 1 vegetarian option)
• 1 smoked side: sticky chicken wings
• 2 sides: hasselback potatoes + corn on the cob
• Fresh salads (3 small bowls)
• Homemade sauces

Timings: Service 1.5–2 hours. Cooking on a single BBQ point. Easy clean-up.

Budget: £19–£25pp = £380–£500 all-in for food cooked on-site. Add ~£100 for any travel outside Belfast.

Tip: For 20-guest events, even a Package 1 BBQ at £19pp hits the spot — guests don't want a 12-dish spread, they want generous portions of food they recognise.

Garden party for 50 guests (medium / milestone)

This is the sweet spot — a real party, but not a wedding. 50th birthdays, retirement parties, big family reunions. Expect a wider age range and more dietary variation.

Recommended menu:

• 3 main proteins: jumbo Louisiana hot dog + gourmet burger + chicken burger
• 1 smoked dish: ribs OR a big tray of bucket wings
• 1 vegetarian main: halloumi or veggie burger (about 5–6 portions)
• 3 sides: baked potato, corn on the cob, creamy slaw
• 2 salads
• 2 sauces

Timings: Service window 2–2.5 hours. Two chefs work the trailer. Music turned down briefly for the cake/speech moment, food kept warm.

Budget: £23–£28pp = £1,150–£1,400 all-in. Add for late-night extras or a dessert run.

Tip: At 50 guests you start needing a proper queue/service flow. We position the trailer so guests collect plates, walk past the food, finish at the salads/sauces table — keeps the queue moving and people fed within 20 minutes.

Garden party for 100 guests (large / event-feel)

At 100+ guests, a Belfast garden party basically becomes a wedding. The garden needs to feel like a venue. The food needs to do the heavy lifting on the wow-factor.

Recommended menu:

• 3 main proteins (same as 50-guest setup)
• 2 smoked dishes: ribs AND wings, served family-style on big platters
• 1 standout dish for photos: whole slow-roasted pork belly or a side of herb-crusted salmon
• 2 vegetarian options
• 4 sides
• 3 salads
• A bridal-breakfast-style spread earlier in the day if it's a long event

Optional add-ons:

• Late-night street food round (pulled pork buns, dirty fries) from a second trailer if budget allows
• Grilled pineapple skillet or S'mores for dessert

Timings: Service window 2.5–3 hours, then a quieter "grazing" hour for stragglers and second portions. Three chefs, two service points.

Budget: £25–£35pp = £2,500–£3,500 all-in. If you go premium (steaks, langoustines, dessert station) plan £4,000–£5,500.

Tip: At 100 guests you need to think about toilets, parking, neighbour notice (Belfast residential streets get cramped). Most of our 100-guest hosts hire a portaloo unit for £200–£400 — it transforms the experience.

What the trailer needs from your garden

We get asked this constantly. Honest answer: very little.

• Access: Side gate at least 2.5m wide is ideal; otherwise we set up on the driveway/front lawn.
• Flat ground: Slight slope is fine. The trailer needs to sit level.
• Power: Not required. We're fully self-contained.
• Water: Not required. Tank on board.
• Space: Roughly 5m x 3m for the trailer + chef working area.

If you're unsure, send us a photo of your garden via WhatsApp on 07710 244517 and we'll tell you in 30 seconds whether it works.

Belfast garden party catering — what to avoid

Things hosts regret afterwards:

• Under-catering. Outdoor guests eat more than indoor guests. Plan portions for 110% of headcount.
• Cooking it yourself. "I'll just do burgers" sounds easy until 6pm Saturday when the rain starts and you're not enjoying your own party.
• Forgetting kids' food. Mini hot dogs and chicken burgers without spice are massively appreciated.
• No shade option. Even in NI, June sun gets fierce. A gazebo over the food (which we provide if needed) keeps everything fresh.
• Booking late. May–September Saturdays book up by March. Don't leave it.

A typical Belfast garden party day (timeline)

• 4:00pm — Trailer arrives, sets up. Chefs prep.
• 4:30pm — Smoked items go on (ribs, wings) for slow cook.
• 5:30pm — First grilling starts. Smell drifts.
• 6:00pm — Guests arrive, drinks served.
• 6:30pm — Food service begins, runs for 2 hours.
• 8:30pm — Second-portion grazing window.
• 9:30pm — Trailer breaks down. Hosts and guests carry on.
• 10:00pm — We're gone, your garden left spotless.

Plan your Belfast garden party

For a written quote within 24 hours: our contact page, WhatsApp 07710 244517, or call 028 9066 7977. Tell us the date, postcode and rough headcount — we'll do the rest.

Or explore our outdoor catering in Belfast page and start your booking online.