Shared memories and satisfied guests can be built around the barbecue

The tradition of cooking outdoors stretches back centuries, when people gathered around open fires to share a meal and stories beneath the open sky.

Today, this tradition continues, with barbecues remaining an enduring part of Australian life, bringing friends and families together to enjoy a meal in the great outdoors. From flipping snags with mates to relaxed family lunches near the playground, the barbecue has always been more than just a cooking facility.

First published in the Summer edition of AccomNews – read it HERE

Instead, a well-designed barbecue area acts as a social hub, encouraging guests to step away from screens and everyday stress while connecting with loved ones and even striking up conversations with new friends in a relaxed outdoor setting.

But what makes a great barbecue space, and how can you make yours stand out? AccomNews spoke with Andrew Taylor from DA Christie for some expert tips and advice.

What trends are you seeing in how accommodation providers are redesigning their outdoor barbecue areas to enhance both functionality and the guest experience?

Across holiday parks, we’re seeing much more thoughtful design around how outdoor cooking spaces are positioned and equipped to support different styles of guest use. In larger communal camp kitchens, multiple centrally located cooktops have become a priority to better manage peak mealtimes and reduce wait times for guests.

These areas are now being paired with generous bench space, practical food-prep zones and complementary appliances such as fridges and microwaves, creating a more complete and higher-amenity culinary experience.

Related AccomNews article: Outstanding outdoor areas: How these spaces boost guest enjoyment

At the same time, there’s growing demand for more private, resort-style cooking options. Many parks are now adding built-in cooktops on cabin balconies and decks, particularly within premium or higher-priced accommodation tiers.

These spaces support seamless indoor–outdoor dining and offer guests a more elevated and contemporary self-contained experience.

Accessibility is a vital consideration in the design of modern holiday park facilities.

Parks are increasingly committed to providing fully inclusive cooking spaces, with barbecue cabinets, benchtops, circulation areas and appliances designed to be safely and comfortably used by guests of all abilities.

Beyond meeting accessibility obligations, this approach ensures that communal areas are genuinely welcoming, practical and enjoyable for everyone, strengthening the overall guest experience.

When selecting equipment for high-use communal barbecue areas, what should operators prioritise?

Operators should prioritise equipment that delivers reliability, durability and consistent cooking performance. These zones often experience heavy usage and harsh environments, so the barbecues need to withstand all weather and environmental conditions along with frequent use, while delivering high quality cooking performance, safety, dependability.

Equally important is ease of use. Clear, simple operating controls and instructions positioned within immediate view help ensure guests can start cooking confidently.

This not only improves the guest experience but also reduces misuse and operational issues.

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Cleanliness and maintenance efficiency are also critical considerations. With high guest usage and minimal downtime between uses, barbecue equipment must be designed for fast, effective cleaning.

Features such as seamless and curved surfaces, self-draining hotplates and materials engineered for easy wash-down help staff reset the area quickly and maintain excellent hygiene.

Selecting cooktops constructed specifically to support these cleaning efficiencies ensures a consistently high user experience and keeps communal spaces operating smoothly throughout the day.

What design elements most effectively transform a simple barbecue space into a social hub that encourages guests to gather and stay longer?

Design elements that transform a basic barbecue area into a vibrant social hub start with thoughtful layout and flow. The placement and spacing of cooktops is critical—not only to ensure safety, but also to provide guests with enough room to prepare food, move comfortably and cook without feeling crowded.

Adequate shading, whether through roofing, pergolas or tree canopy, greatly enhances comfort and encourages guests to linger longer.

Capacity also plays a major role. Offering a sufficient number of cooktops to meet the needs of the park—often achieved by providing multiple camp kitchens across different zones—helps reduce congestion and ensures guests can cook when they want, without long waits.

Reliable access to essential services further elevates the space. Providing ample power and water supply allows for efficient cleaning, supports additional appliances, and improves the overall functionality and maintenance of the area. Well-positioned taps, sinks and power points make both guest use and staff upkeep significantly easier.

Equally important is the design of the surrounding seating and communal zones.

Spaces that accommodate multiple groups simultaneously, while still giving each group a sense of personal space, create a relaxed atmosphere where guests naturally stay and socialise.

Thoughtful lighting, durable furniture, clear sightlines and inviting landscaping all contribute to a barbecue area that feels welcoming, practical and inherently social.

Final thoughts and advice to operators?

As guest expectations continue to evolve, creating barbecue spaces that are well designed, inclusive and genuinely enjoyable is becoming a core part of delivering a great holiday park experience.

For parks looking to upgrade or expand their outdoor cooking facilities, working with suppliers who truly understand the demands of high-use communal environments can make all the difference.

reas pIt’s important to engage with companies who have long specialised in purpose-built commercial barbecue systems for public and holiday-park settings, designed around reliability, safety and ease of maintenance.

Whether planning a full camp-kitchen redesign or simply refining existing spaces, partnering with experienced industry specialists helps ensure your barbecue areas remain welcoming, resilient and ready to meet the needs of every guest who walks through your park.