UK consumers are now enjoying more than 110 million barbecue occasions a year
If anyone doubted that outdoor living, and in particular barbecueing is growing in popularity, then they need look no further than the National BBQ Association's latest findings.

According to the association UK consumers are now enjoying more than 110 million barbecue occasions each year.

And with Britons becoming ever more sophisticated in their barbecuing tastes, its value shot up to more than £185 million in sales of bbq grills, charcoal, firelighters, accessories and garden furniture in 2006 alone.

"Barbecue occasions were up in 2006 by some 10%, strengthening the UK's position as the biggest BBQ nation in Europe," says Brian George president of the National BBQ Associaton.

"Now around half the households are proud owners of their own barbecues, while 14% claim to have at least two useable grills and 4.4% of households invested in a new barbecue in the last 12 months."

The month of May traditionally signals the start of the barbecue season in the UK and to celebrate the National BBQ Association will be running its highly successful awareness and promotional National BBQ 2007 campaign throughout the summer.

Now in its 11th year, the campaign's theme will be 'Gastro Alfresco'.