The great outdoors for living and eating

Eating outdoors throughout the year here in Jersey is no longer the preserve of the very rich (or very crazy), says Gill Maccabe

As many kitchens and spare rooms have been turned into home offices and indoor space is at a premium, Islanders are calling on architects and DIY manuals to squeeze value out of every square metre of their land.

A brief trawl of the current online Planning Application Register will reveal that pool houses and outdoor kitchens are topping the leader charts, from simple gazebo structures providing a bit of shelter from the elements to full blown garden rooms that can be used all year round.

How much it costs to put in an outdoor kitchen depends on your budget and how ambitious or how clever you are. You could buy a top-of-the-range B&Q barbecue and build your own cooking area outdoors with cabinets, worktops and shelving made from weatherproof materials which will stand the test of time against the elements such as concrete, bricks and reclaimed wood – or you could call in the experts and name your price.

The benefits are enormous, and you don’t need a huge garden. Choose a sheltered spot free from high winds (this is actually easier in a smaller garden surrounded by other properties) and treat it as a spare room.

“The benefits are enormous, and

you don’t need a huge garden. Choose a sheltered spot free from high winds (this is actually easier in a smaller garden surrounded by other properties) and treat it as a spare room

In the cooler months pretend you are in a ski resort and bring out your padded jackets and hats, light a fire and stick a hot water bottle under a rug on your lap.

In the summer, close the door on your housework and march friends and family straight out into the garden. From the minute the clock turns six you can enjoy our brilliant sunsets, listen to the sounds of the birds saying goodnight and just be at one in the outdoors, chatting, reading, listening to podcasts or music instead of sitting bunched up in front of the telly with the door open moaning about the heat and flies.

When designing your new room think of ways to make your life as easy as possible by creating cupboard space and drawers for storing outdoor crockery and glasses, and plant pots of culinary herbs such as basil, parsley, mint and chives next to your cooking area. You can narrow down the costs by fitting a sink on an external house wall below an existing outdoor tap and you could use cold water and ice for drinks instead of an outdoor fridge. However, if your budget stretches to it there are some super marine grade stainless steel outdoor fridges on the market, which can operate in temperatures from sub 0c to 40c. Prices start at around £900. A local company has created a number of outdoor kitchens for their clients, many of whom don’t go in their kitchens at all in the summer months. A recent project designed for Patrick and Yvette Jones in their St Peter home is a fusion of hardwood seating and table tops with concrete worktops and copper taps. A bamboo roof provides shelter from the rain and a ‘Big Green Egg’ cooker takes pride of place. Yvette said: ‘The outdoor kitchen was completed just as lockdown struck and was such a blessing. As life has opened up, we all continue to use it in all but the worst of weathers. The children have their friends over and love it. We have cooked roasts, pizzas and brunch in the Big Green Egg and the bar is a wonderful focal point. It’s given our house and our social life a whole extra dimension.’

“The outdoor kitchen was completed

just as lockdown struck and was such a blessing. As life has opened up, we all continue to use it in all but the worst of weathers. The children have their friends over and love it

Big Green Egg

This completely charcoal fuelled cooking system is a versatile roaster, a smoker, a bread maker and pizza oven, and is loved by many top chefs such as Tom Kerridge and Angela Hartnett, as well as celebrities such as the Beckhams and Holly Willoughby. The Atlantic Hotel has two on the go in the summer.

If an outdoor kitchen is not your choice, then a barbecue hut may be a good alternative. A 10m version can seat up to 15 adults inside. Expect to pay around £10,000 for a hut of that dimension, but many other sizes are available.