The secret things your summer BBQ guests hate about your house – and how to avoid them gossiping your back

SUMMER party season is in full swing, but throwing your home open to the judgement of friends and neighbours comes with a whole host of concerns. As a nation of worriers, nearly half of Brits (46 per cent) planning to host fear that guests will notice flaws around the house, with four in five (81 per cent) admitting they’re more likely to crack through DIY jobs before a summer knees up. There are quick hacks to guarantee guests do not notice the everyday chaos of the family home Credit: Getty Etiquette expert Jo Bryant gives her top tips to make sure your summer gathering runs smoothly Credit: Michael Maurer But experts say there are quick hacks to guarantee guests do not notice the everyday chaos of the family home and leave feeling wowed by your hosting skills. Here, TV etiquette expert Jo Bryant, who has appeared on Good Morning Britain and BBC Breakfast, gives her tips for avoiding a summer BBQ backlash… Sign up for the Fabulous newsletter Thank you! Be a dishwasher demon Make sure to cram your dishwasher full so guests do not see your cluttered kitchen counters Credit: Getty Nobody has gone home from a BBQ and said: “Great food, but did you see the state of their skirting boards?” Unless your guests are channelling the late queen of clean, Kim Woodburn, they will not be conducting a Four In A Bed-style examination of your property, tipping up mattresses or inspecting windows for stray cobwebs and sticky fingerprints. But they WILL notice kitchen counters overflowing with plates and pans, so cram the dishwasher full and throw clutter into cupboards. Think about it from your guests’ perspective – all it needs is a 30-second wipe of surfaces, along with a quick vacuum and a little spray of air freshener, and you’ll be all set. Give guests a vibe guide Make sure your guests know the vibe of the gathering they’ll be attending Credit: Getty There’s nothing worse than rocking up to a party in your best heels, only to find out it’s a flip flops and frankfurters affair. So avoid a social own-goal with a simple text. Most read in Fabulous Years ago, a ‘vibe check message’ – in this case, a casual text pre-warning pals about the tone of an event – would have been considered rude, or even a bit weird. But now it is perfectly acceptable and I would encourage it. I think it is quite nice for guests to have an idea of what’s to expect and, and as a host, it’s really helpful to put yourself in your guests’ shoes. If you were to receive the invitation to a BBQ, you might like to know if it’s five people or 50 – and if it’s a smart or casual do. Trim your bushes Tidy up your garden if you’re hosting an outdoor gathering to ensure there’s plenty of space Credit: Getty Your guests will probably not go home obsessing over your geraniums, but they will remember wrestling through an overgrown side passage, or hopping over bins. So while your garden doesn’t need to look like an entry for the Chelsea Flower Show, it is a good idea to physically walk the path guests will take in and around your home. For example, if you are hosting an outdoor gathering and they will be navigating pathways, then tidy up nearby hedges and look out for weeds. But you do not need to go overboard. Small changes ahead of guests arriving – like moving bins out of their way – is another easy win. Demand guests BYO (but only if they’re besties) Asking your own guests to bring food and alcohol is a delicate matter Credit: Getty Standing at the checkout with a trolley full of burgers, buns and booze, you’ll notice the total can rack up pretty quickly. But asking guests to BYO is a delicate matter, and there’s a fine line between suggesting they bring a bottle of Prosecco, and asking them to show up with the weekly shop. Don’t mistake your mates for Deliveroo. If it’s close pals or family, you can tell them whether you need dessert or beers. But please don’t ask newer friends or acquaintances to bring something. If you’re going to someone’s house for the first time, it’s off putting to be told to bring burger baps and a salad. Hide your knickers Keep the private areas of your house firmly out of bounds Credit: Getty Images Everyone loves to snoop, but don’t give people the opportunity to see anything too personal. We have all watched those episodes of Come Dine With Me where prying guests find compromising items – and you don’t want your belongings to become the talk of the party. So I’d advise closing off more private areas of the house, simply by shutting the door. After all, no one wants to see your knickers – or worse – on the bedroom floor. Think of it as showing them the highlights, not a full behind-the-scenes tour. So without sounding like a bossy air hostess, show your guests where the bathroom is, but keep the other areas firmly out of bounds. Don’t be a plonk-er People want their food to be served, which is tricky if you’re sozzled Credit: Getty There will always be one that takes it too far – the ‘thirsty’ uncle who’s overdone the beers, or your sister-in-law who’s powered through a bottle of prosecco before you’ve even sparked up the BBQ. While it can be tempting to join in, as a host you must be careful. People still want their food to be served, which is tricky if you’re sozzled.Skip the MasterChef audition, too, and stick to what you know We have all been inspired after watching a pro chef rustle up something fancy on telly, but there’s nothing worse than watching a host faff over a ‘deconstructed kebab’ as their famished guests wilt in the heat. You want to be confident in what you’re cooking, so it’s not the time to start trialing new recipes. Leave that to Jamie Oliver. Go wild with the WiFi If you have teens coming around, make sure the WiFi password is instantly accessible Credit: Getty The burgers are burning, guests are asking for a top up and now the kids are getting impatient because their devices aren’t working – we have all been there. Well, there is an easy way to avoid one of these problems. It may seem anti-social, but particularly if you have teens coming around, make sure the WiFi password is instantly accessible. While you are running around making sure everyone is having a good time, what you don’t want is a kid hounding you because they can’t get on TikTok. So just pin the password to the fridge – it’s an easy win. Deal with dogs Your pooch may be a softie but that doesn’t mean people will want them drooling over their hot dogs Credit: Getty “Don’t worry, he’s very friendly,” is the battle cry of dog owners the world over. But it is unlikely to reassure your guest as your over-excited labrador launches itself at the plate of food they’re trying to balance on their knees. Your pooch may be “a big softie” and a well-loved part of the family, but that doesn’t mean people will want them drooling over the hot dogs the second their back is turned – or helping themselves to a burger straight off their plate. So keep excitable canines out of the way while people are eating and don’t let them jump up at visitors. It’s far more welcoming if guests aren’t having to fend off an over-friendly greeting before they’ve taken their first bite. Engineer a polite exit There’s polite ways to get guests out of your home Credit: Getty Images Call it a French exit or an Irish goodbye, it is unfortunately impossible to sneakily leave your own function without saying farewell. Luckily, there are ways you can slowly wind down the evening. The first – and easiest – way to do this is to subtly call last orders. This means starting to slow down the pouring of the drinks, or seeing if anyone would like “just one more”. While it’s best to avoid starting a full deep clean while your guests are still there, you can make it known you’re starting to clear up by taking a few glasses indoors. Or there is the classic check in on how they are getting home, but this needs to be done carefully. Say: “How do you get home from here?” for example, as opposed to “Can I book you a taxi?” to ensure guests leave on a positive note. 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