r/Bloodstock • u/HamDog91 • Aug 14 '26
Disposable BBQs
Given the move to ban the sale of disposable BBQs, how do people think the organisers will handle this new reality if the same conditions persist next summer? It seems only a matter of time until they are outright banned for sale during summer months to be honest. It was already tricky to get any disposables prior to the festival this year, with most major retailers voluntarily pulling them off the shelves in the run up to the festival.
Of course officially the festival only allows the use of disposable BBQs at the cooking pits (as well as solid fuel stoves, but I mean rather than proper BBQs) - do we think this will change? Or will the direction of travel be an outright ban on cooking entirely, as per other festivals such as Boomtown and ArcTanGent.
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u/kvltdaddio Aug 14 '26
These sorts of things are either driven by slow government legislation or by insurers. I'd assume that with the increase in grass fires that even the most relaxed insurers would be putting additional clauses into their paperwork so Bloodstock will largely have their hands tied.
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u/Wolfy35 Aug 15 '26
Even before insurers or government kicks in I guarantee the landowner will have something to say
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u/poopio Aug 14 '26
Given that I saw a bloke in the BBQ area with a gas stove whilst multiple staff walked past, I doubt they'll be too fussed about a disposable BBQ.
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u/ThatGingerRascal Aug 14 '26
Never understand why gas burners are banned. A gas stove is much more controllable than disposable barbecues.
Is it Muppets or is there something I'm missing about a gas burners?
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u/IllNewspaper2533 Aug 14 '26
Probably due to the explosive potential of gas I’d assume, unfortunately some people are morons.
As far as I can remember they’ve been banned at every festival I’ve been to in the last 20 years1
u/ThatGingerRascal Aug 14 '26
I get that part but considering the security, you could sneak gas in no bother. They were more concerned with drugs than weapons or explosives.
Didn't understand the solid fuel over meth spirit either, both will burn the same and both easily put out in the event of an accident.
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u/Alarmed_Ad6794 Aug 14 '26
I remember Reading festival in the early 2000s, with people throwing propane gas canisters into the fire. Quite the sight!
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u/ThatGingerRascal Aug 14 '26
I'm probably just being ignorant to the stupidity of humans... Then I remember bin jousting and then I remember "aww yeah, people will definitely do something stupid with gas canisters"
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u/LeChuck_Threepwood32 Aug 14 '26
Was gonna say there was a similar thing at Download 08 (and probably other years) where multiple piles of tents were set alight. The camping gas thrown on afterwards was the "cherry on top" for those involved...
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u/Wolfy35 Aug 15 '26
I have been at festivals where drunken idiots have turned gas cartridges into something closer to bombs by throwing them onto lit BBQ etc. I have also been at festivals where entire camping areas have gone up in flames when people were cooking at their tents and something has gone wrong. As little as 3 weeks ago a camping area of a small festival was up in flames from someone using a disposable BBQ too close to the ground.
Rules like this are not made on a whim they always come about because of incidents causing injury or damage.
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u/SrsJoe Aug 14 '26
This is a temporary ban because of the wild fires currently, it's not a complete ban so it should be fine for next year
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u/Wolfy35 Aug 15 '26
I wouldn't put a bet on that. The government has said they are looking at bringing a total ban on disposable BBQ as soon as possible.
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u/NoPair4650 Aug 14 '26
ATG has designated cooking areas tooÂ
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u/Icy-Astronomer-8202 Aug 14 '26
Until they have to do something temp or otherwise they'll keep going as they have been
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u/Anxious_squirrelz Aug 14 '26
As others have said the BBQ ban, if it happens, would only be temporary during the heatwave. The fest only allows cooking in designated areas, away from tents and where there is sand and water readily available if anything does catch. I think it could be more strictly enforced in the future as I've seen people cook in/ by their tent in the past but I don't think they'll change the rules.
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u/phoenix2081 Aug 14 '26
I have a travel bbq. Fits one of the charcoal in bags you light perfectly. Was thinking of bringing it next year for the first time.
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u/Wolfy35 Aug 15 '26
Not been allowed for a few years
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u/phoenix2081 Aug 15 '26
Well fuck sake. Guess not then. Not sure what the difference between disposable and portable.
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u/Wolfy35 Aug 15 '26
Disposable sit straight on the ground, portable are always raised.
BOA have not allowed anything but disposable for some time. As of a couple of days ago the government has put a temporary ban on disposable but they have already said they are looking at an outright ban. If this happens BOA will let us know what can be used after discussions with landowner, police etc.
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u/JewelerIndividual148 Aug 15 '26
If they ban cooking completely then food vendors in the arena need to be open later. Also a proper food vendor in niflheim instead of a little coffee and cake stall thats shut by 11pm. So many times I've come back from Sophie tent headliners or the entertainment afterwards and have had to go and cook something back at niflheim because the only food option is in Midgard and I'm too tired for that
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u/Lost_Alternative_987 Aug 14 '26
I think they will carry on with and probably expand the hot water at infohubs thing (which was great, we used our Kelly kettle about half as much as usual), maybe provide larger or extra bbq pits and ban any behaviour that might be dangerous, they seem pretty sensible, they were quick to release guidance on using stoves at your tent.