What to buy for a sports club barbecue

A sports club barbecue needs more than meat and charcoal. Plan food and drinks for the full guest list, then add enough serving equipment, coolers, tables and weather cover for an outdoor group event. Dietary requirements should be collected before shopping so vegetarian, vegan and allergen-free options are not an afterthought. This checklist also covers lighting, power, waste stations and sports equipment, which are easy to overlook until setup starts.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Party tentsqty 2
Foldable tablesqty 6
Chairsqty 55
Buffet tablesqty 2
High tablesqty 4

Tableware

Reusable platesqty 60
Reusable bowlsqty 30
Reusable cupsqty 100
Cutlery setsqty 60
Serving plattersqty 12
Serving spoonsqty 8
Pliersqty 6

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 4
Chef’s knives and bread knivesqty 6
Mixing bowlsqty 4
Aluminum traysqty 10

Equipment

Barbecuesqty 2
Gas cylindersqty 2
Coolersqty 4
Coffee machinesqty 2
Kettlesqty 2
Extension cordsqty 3
Power stripsqty 3

Lighting

LED light stringsqty 4
Battery lanternsqty 4

Decorations

Buntingqty 6
Tableclothsqty 8

Sports equipment

Footballsqty 3
Beach volleyballsqty 2
Frisbeesqty 4

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 6
Washing-up tubsqty 3
Spongesqty 6
Dish brushesqty 3
Hand broomsqty 2
Crates for cans and bottlesqty 4

Catering

Groceries
- Beef burgers - 50 pieces
- Beef sausages - 50 pieces
- Chicken skewers - 50 pieces
- Marinated chicken breast - 2 kilograms
- Vegetarian burgers - 15 pieces
- Vegetarian skewers - 15 pieces
- Hamburger buns - 60 pieces
- White baguettes - 10 pieces
- Herb butter - 1 kilogram
- Mixed salad - 3 kilograms
- Cucumbers - 8 pieces
- Tomatoes - 4 kilogram
- Red onions - 1 kilogram
- Peppers - 3 kilograms
- Corn on the cob - 30 pieces
- Mushrooms - 2 kilogram
- Potato salad - 4 kilogram
- Pasta salad - 4 kilograms
- Raw vegetable salad - 3 kilograms
- Herbs - 5 jars
- Barbecue sauce - 3 bottles
- Garlic sauce - 3 bottles
- Satay sauce - 2 kilograms
- Mayonnaise - 2 bottles
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Tzatziki - 2 kilogram
- Plain chips - 6 bags
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Peanuts - 3 bags
- Still water - 8 bottles
- Carbonated water - 6 bottles
- Cola - 8 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Sinas - 6 bottles
- Iced tea - 6 bottles
- Fruit juice - 6 cartons
- Alcohol-free beer - 3 cases
- Beer - 5 crates
- Rosé - 8 bottles
- White wine - 6 bottles
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Milk - 4 liters
- Sugar - 1 kilogram
- Lemons - 10 pieces
- Ice cubes - 15 kilograms
- Charcoal - 4 bags
- Firelighters - 2 boxes
- Aluminum foil - 4 rolls
- Baking paper - 2 rolls
- Paper towels - 8 rolls
- Napkins - 200 pieces
- Trash bags - 40 pieces
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Hand soap - 4 bottles
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls

Tips

Plan roughly 250–300 g of meat or vegetarian barbecue food per adult, plus bread, salads and toppings. Buy separate serving utensils for allergen-free dishes rather than reusing the main buffet spoons.
Allow 2–3 drinks per person for the first hour, then about 1 drink per person per hour. Chill drinks in coolers several hours before guests arrive; a small fridge rarely holds a full club group’s supply.
Count one reusable plate, bowl, cup and cutlery set per guest, then add at least 10% extra. Serving platters, mixing bowls, knives, cutting boards and aluminum trays are often forgotten because they are not part of the food order.
Check power before bringing coffee machines, kettles and lighting. Take extension cords and power strips, and prepare battery lanterns as a backup if the barbecue continues after daylight.
Do not leave weather planning until the day itself: arrange party tents and enough seating before checking the final forecast. Set out clearly marked waste stations and allergen labels before food reaches the buffet.

Frequently asked questions

How much food do I need for a sports club barbecue?: Allow around 250–300 g of barbecue food per adult, with extra bread, salads and toppings. For children, plan approximately 150–200 g each, depending on age and the length of the event.
How many drinks should I buy for a sports club barbecue?: Start with 2–3 drinks per person for the first hour, then add about 1 drink per person for every following hour. Include water and non-alcoholic options, and chill the main supply at least 3–4 hours before serving.
How many plates and cups do I need for a barbecue?: Provide one plate, bowl, cup and cutlery set per guest, plus at least 10% extra. For 50 guests, that means preparing at least 55 of each item where practical.
What do people usually forget for an outdoor club barbecue?: The commonly missed items are refrigeration, power leads, lighting, serving utensils, allergen labels and waste stations. Check these 1–2 days before the event, rather than waiting until the barbecue equipment is being set up.

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