The sun has dared to show its self, so that can only mean one thing - It's BBQ Time!!! 

There’s something magical about the smell of a BBQ drifting through the summer air. It signals long, relaxed evenings, children playing in the garden, and families gathering around the table to enjoy simple, delicious food. But great BBQ’ing isn’t just about burgers and sausages—it’s also a fantastic opportunity to celebrate fresh, local and seasonal produce.

We know SO many fantastic local farm shops that offer an abundance of meat options and vegetable options, plus, combine that with some INCREDIBLE recipes from a couple of our favourite books - Boom, you are now officially known as the King & Queen of the BBQ

Local Produce in the Stroud District area:
Think juicy tomatoes, sweet corn on the cob, peppers, courgettes, aubergines, and even fruits like peaches and pineapple. Using locally sourced produce doesn’t just taste better—it’s also a great way to support nearby farmers and markets. 

Fire Up the Flavour: BBQ’ing with Fresh, Local and Seasonal Produce

Where can I find local produce for our BBQ in Stroud:

Frocester Fayre, has to be on your go-to list when planning your BBQ this summer. They have even made the decision making easy for you by creating a variety of BBQ boxes. This allows you to order, pick up and get to the grills! Choose one of their Deluxe BBQ Boxes and also receive a Tubby Toms seasoning tin - We HIGHLY recommend Tubby Toms, too! 

Let's find out what else Frocester Fayre can offer: 

• Butchery - An exceptional selection of meats that are consistently fresh and of premium quality
• Deli Counter - Choose from a delicious array of deli-counter goodies, where each item is homemade by their skilled team or sourced locally.
• Fruit & Veg - They provide a wide selection of fresh, seasonal fruit and vegetables packaged in eco-friendly paper bags.
• Artisan Products - Alongside their own produce, they also offer a wide range of artisan products. Most of these products are local to the Stroud District, helping you to reduce your food miles, as well as supporting smaller and local businesses.
• Cakes - All of their cakes and tray bakes are homemade with love by their awesome kitchen staff. Eat your heart out with chocolatey gooey brownies, golden brown flapjacks, or delicious cakes! 
• Special Boxes - Unsure on what to cook for a romantic meal? Hosting a BBQ? Throwing a dinner party? Look no further, at our farm shop we offer a full range of boxes to help inspire you for any occasion.

Click here to find out more about Frocester Fayre

Recipes and Ideas for your Summer BBQ:

Here are Stroud Rocks we are huge fans of the BBQ, therefore we have gathered many BBQ recipe books over the years. Here are a couple of our faves:

DJ BBQ
This book will have your mouth watering in seconds, from the imagery to the dedicated play list at the very front will have you wanting to down tools and get to work on the most EPIC BBQ of the year!
We highly recommend 'Deep Fried Tomato Pie Balls with Chilli Sauce' as a show stopper side - see, I bet your mouth is watering already!

Click here to buy your copy of 'DJ BBQ' book

The Green Barbecue
Rukmini Iyer is an incredible cookbook author with a vast catalogue of recipe books under her belt. We feel in love with her recipes when we bought 'The Green Barbecue' book and knew we needed to buy more from her. We highly recommend the 'Chipotle Mushroom & Black Bean Burgers, with Peanuts & Lime' - this one will WOW the vegans and vegetarians in your life. 

Click here to buy your copy of 'The Green Barbecue' book

Practical Hosting Tips

Stress-Free BBQ Hosting for Busy Families
Entertaining friends and family can be stressful (It's not my favourite past time - I'll be honest), however like with most things, a little bit of prep goes a long way: 

• Keep the menu simple
• Pre ahead like a pro 
• Set up a self serve station 
• Ask folks to bring a plate (of food, of course) 
• Get a buddy to cook with you, grab a drink and chat amongst the coals 
• Keep the kids entertained with garden games 
• Choose quick and simple desserts to pull out at the end 
• Release the idea of Pinterest Perfection  

Mixing It Up: Catering for Veggie and Vegan Guests
Let's get some vegan and veggie ideas up and running to make the search process suuuuuper easy: 

Vegetarian Ideas: 

Halloumi & Veg Skewers
Halloumi (cubed), Bell peppers, zucchini, red onion, Olive oil, lemon juice, oregano, garlic
Toss veg & halloumi in marinade. Thread onto skewers. Grill 8–10 mins, turning until golden.

Grilled Corn with Chilli Butter
Corn on the cob, Butter, Chilli flakes, lime, salt
Grill corn until slightly charred. Spread chilli butter and squeeze lime.

BBQ Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
Large portobello mushrooms, Cream cheese or goat cheese, Spinach, garlic, BBQ sauce
Remove stems, fill mushrooms with cheese mixture, brush with BBQ sauce, grill gill-side up for 10–12 mins.

Vegetarian BBQ Burgers (Black Bean)
Black beans, breadcrumbs, egg, onion, cumin, smoked paprika
Mash beans, mix ingredients, shape patties, grill 4–5 mins each side, serve in buns with toppings.

Grilled Paneer Tikka
Paneer cubes, yogurt, garam masala, turmeric, garlic, peppers and onions
Marinate paneer & veg for 1 hour, skewer and grill 8–10 mins.

Vegan Options: 

BBQ Jackfruit “Pulled Pork”
Young jackfruit (canned, drained), BBQ sauce, onion, smoked paprika
Cook jackfruit with spices and sauce, shred and grill briefly, serve in buns.

Grilled Veggie Kebabs with Chimichurri
Mushrooms, courgette, peppers, onion, olive oil, salt, chimichurri (parsley, garlic, vinegar)
Skewer veggies, brush with oil, grill until tender, drizzle with chimichurri.

Vegan BBQ Burgers (Lentil)
Cooked lentils, oats, onion, garlic, BBQ sauce
Mash and mix, form patties, grill until firm and slightly crisp.

Grilled Pineapple with Cinnamon Sugar
Fresh pineapple slices, brown sugar, cinnamon
Sprinkle sugar mix on pineapple, grill 2–3 mins each side, serve warm.

BBQ Cauliflower Wings
Cauliflower florets, flour + plant milk batter, BBQ sauce
Coat florets in batter, grill (or pre-roast, then grill), toss in BBQ sauce.

When planning your BBQ in Stroud, start by visiting a local farm shop to see what’s in season. Summer favourites like courgettes, peppers, tomatoes, and sweetcorn are perfect for grilling. Pair these with locally produced sausages or grass-fed beef for a true farm-to-grill experience. Not only will your BBQ dishes taste fresher, but you’ll also reduce food miles and support local businesses in Gloucestershire.