They promised a barbecue summer and so far (touch wood) they’re delivering. However, you need more than good weather to create the perfect barbie, writes Sarah O’Meara.

MARINATED meat, colourful salads, and adventurous dressings are all very well but they’re useless if you haven’t got a good barbecue spot.

Like building up your briquettes, staking out a top location is fundamental to barbecue success.

Happily, finding local venues to barbecue is becoming easier every day, thanks to groups such as Red Tractor, who are working hard to open up the world of cooking. The latest campaign from Red Tractor beef and lamb is called Grillocations.

“If you’re short of garden space or simply fancy a change of scenery, Grillocations shows you public places all over England where it’s legal to barbecue,” says spokesperson and TV presenter Andi Peters. Visit simplybeefandlamb.co.uk/grillocations to discover your nearest barbecue-friendly spot.

The website also gives visitors handy information on issues such as whether dogs are allowed, and if there are any toilets, playgrounds or parking close by.

“Good weather in England is hard to come by, so when the sun does shine I’m encouraging everyone to make sure they are ready to take full advantage,” says Andi.

Now try our recipes from Simply Lamb and Beef to boost your repertoire...