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Hosting a backyard barbecue or dinner party for friends and family is fun, but a lot of effort goes in behind-the-scenes. Setting up a fully stocked drinks trolley will be a huge helping hand for the host. Not only does it add a stylish feature and focal point to the event, but guests can fix and refresh their own drinks, while you focus on the food and the finishing touches. Plus, by positioning your D.I.Y. drinks station out on the deck, balcony or lawn, it encourages people to circulate and gets them out of the kitchen – and out of the way of the chef!
Safety tip: Always wear the appropriate safety equipment (safety glasses, gloves, ear muffs and a mask, for example) and always follow the instructions for the product or equipment. When spray-painting, work outside or in a well-ventilated area, covering surrounding areas with a drop sheet to avoid overspray.
A drinks station can be set up on any surface, but a drinks trolley can be wheeled out to wherever you want it, or moved as the event progresses. A folding table is also easy to manoeuvre and can be put away into storage when your event has finished.
A mobile garden station (essentially a raised garden bed on wheels) is ideal for converting into a drinks trolley for outdoor entertaining. It’s lightweight and has wheels, so you can move it around. It’s also solidly constructed from robust materials, so it’s fine to place outside. And when the barbecue season is over and the beverages are finished, you can turn it back into a potting station!
Tip: To tie in the drinks trolley with your outdoor décor or event theme, you can change the colour with a couple of coats of spray paint. We’ve chosen white for a fresh, beachy look.
The hot summer sun will melt ice and turn your mocktail mix into slush in no time, so it’s best to find a shady spot to set up your drinks trolley. You can also strategically position an outdoor umbrella to cast shade over the drinks cart. Try placing the umbrella in a large pot, which you can then fill with potting mix to secure it, then plant it out with herbs like mint or thyme. This looks fantastic and it also gives your guests easy access to the fresh herbs to garnish their drinks.
To stock your garden bar, start by filling a generous-sized ice bucket with ice. Add a cooler box if you’ve got bottles or cans to keep cool and place it beside the drinks trolley. Next, load your drinks station with everything your guests need to fix themselves a refreshing drink: a few beverage options, glassware, paper straws and bowls of cut fruit to use as garnishes.
Make sure your friends and family are catered for with a selection of non-alcoholic drinks. A pre-mixed mocktail in a big pitcher or retro punchbowl looks great and will be a party-pleaser. Try this simple summer recipe to wow your guests:
Pineapple, passionfruit and mint nojito(Makes 8 large glasses)
1 large pineapple
⅓ cup caster sugar
⅔ cup water
⅓ cup mint leaves, plus extra sprigs for garnish
Ice cubes
1 ⅓ cups passionfruit pulp (about 6 large or 10 small passionfruit)
2 large passionfruit, cut into wedges, for garnish
650ml lime sparkling mineral or soda water
Cocktail sticks
Paper straws
Step #1:Trim the ends of the pineapple. Cut in half lengthways then into 4cm wedges. Cut eight thin slices from one wedge of pineapple, leaving the skin on for garnish. With the remaining half, remove and discard the skin and core, then roughly chop into pieces.
Step #2:Place the chopped pineapple pieces into a high-speed blender. Add the sugar, water and mint. Blend to a smooth consistency.
Step #3:Half-fill eight large glasses (about 450ml) with ice cubes. Spoon 2 tablespoons of passionfruit pulp over ice in each glass, followed by 125ml of pineapple mixture. Top up each glass with ⅓ cup of mineral or soda water. Use a swizzle stick to stir.
Step #4:Thread a wedge of passionfruit and pineapple onto a cocktail stick and rest on top of the glass. Repeat with the remaining mocktails. Place a sprig of mint into each as a garnish and add straws. Serve immediately.
Follow these tips for setting up an outdoor party.
Photo Credit: Cath Muscat
Asbestos, lead-based paints and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber are health hazards you need to look out for when renovating older homes. These substances can easily be disturbed when renovating and exposure to them can cause a range of life-threatening diseases and conditions including cancer. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer or visit our Health & Safety page.
When following our advice in our D.I.Y. videos, make sure you use all equipment, including PPE, safely by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Check that the equipment is suitable for the task and that PPE fits properly. If you are unsure, hire an expert to do the job or talk to a Bunnings Team Member.
