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5 Which? expert-picked essentials for a great summer party
From setting the mood with some classic tunes to a barbeque that's designed for cooking various dishes, our product round-up will help you make the most of those occasional sunny days and take the stress out of hosting.
We've put each of these products through our rigorous, unbiased testing and each has done well – we'd never recommend a bad product. Read our reviews to find out just how well each product has done, and whether or not it's good enough to be named a Best Buy.
Amazon's Prime Day sale is next week from 16 to 17 July: read our expert advice on how to get the best deals, plus our picks on early discounts
Expert-approved summer-party picks
JBL Charge 5
For proper summer parties with lots of people, you’ll want a speaker that's a bit more substantial. The JBL Charge 5 offers strong sound that makes it ideal for parties. It’s not too heavy at 1kg, and has a loud maximum volume. It's IP67 dustproof and waterproof, so it’s even suitable for a beachside party.
- We like: Can charge other portable devices
- We don't like: Heavier than other portable speakers
Music is the lifeblood of parties, and if you're looking for a speaker with oomph for a larger group, then this is an option worth considering. It's great for garden parties and, because it's waterproof, it will survive any surprise torrential downpours or a tumble into a pool.
You can connect two Charge 5s together through the JBL Portable app to cover more ground at larger parties. Just watch out for noise complaints.
If you want to learn more about how this speaker sounds, read our JBL Charge 5 review.
Compare prices below:
If you're looking for a more budget-friendly alternative, check out the Anker SoundCore Motion 300. It's about half the price of the Charge 5, but still has a decent maximum volume and is rated IPX7 waterproof.
You can read our review for more information, otherwise it's SQUIRREL_TEXT_50012962.
Not fussed by either option? Read our breakdown on the best outdoor speakers.
Cuisinart Gelato and Ice Cream Maker
Ice cream is always a crowd pleaser and for ice cream that requires little prep, we'd recommend a self-freezing machine. You don't need to pre-freeze the bowl so you can have ready-to-serve ice cream in less than an hour. We used a simple base mixture of double cream, condensed milk and vanilla extract in our testing. You can add mix-ins such as chocolate chips or fruit in the last half of churning to experiment with different combos, too.
- We like: Makes larger capacities of ready-to-serve ice cream
- We don't like: More expensive than freeze-first models
This particular model has a 1.5-litre capacity and, as it's a self-freezing model, you'll be able to serve the ice cream immediately. It's able to churn out multiple batches of fresh ice cream during a party – you can pop it on as you're sitting down for a dinner, and it should be done by the time you're all ready for some dessert.
It can also make sorbets and gelatos. You'll need to make sure you use the right churning paddle for each, though, otherwise you may not get the proper texture.
How does it compare with other models? Read our review on the best ice cream makers to find out.
You can compare prices on the Cuisinart Gelato and Ice Cream Maker below:
Self-freezing ice cream makers tend to be more expensive. If you're looking for a cheaper option, go with the Lakeland Digital Ice Cream Maker. It has a larger capacity than the Cuisinart, but you'll need to freeze the bowl at least 12 hours in advance.
You can read our review, or it's SQUIRREL_TEXT_50014151.
Don't get burnt this summer: we've found sunscreens that failed our testing – but we've also revealed some cheaper options we'd recommend
Ninja Woodfire Electric Outdoor pizza oven OO101UK
A pizza oven makes a seriously impressive addition to a summer party, allowing you to cook fresh, delicious pizzas in a matter of minutes. Look for ovens that are easy to use, heat up quickly and don't take too much effort to clean. We've covered all this in our testing on gas, electric, and wood-fired pizza ovens – and found Best Buys in all categories.
- We like: Multipurpose electric oven
- We don't like: Needs to be plugged in, but can only be used outdoors – you may need an extension cord
This electric pizza oven doesn't cook with flames, but you can still add smoky flavours using wood pellets in the attached chute. The Woodfire will burn these pellets as your pizza cooks to mimic cooking it in a traditional pizza oven. Because you'll be burning pellets, you won't be able to use this indoors.
It's not just a one-trick pony, either: it doubles as a smoker, a roaster, and dehydrator. In our testing, we made pizzas and then smoked some barbecue pulled pork. You get some wood pellets when you buy the Woodfire, but you'll need to buy additional pellets separately once you run out.
Does an electric model hold up against traditional pizza ovens? Read our guide to the best pizza ovens to find out.
You can compare prices below:
The Ninja Woodfire was among the cheaper pizza ovens we tested, but if you're looking for something even cheaper then the VonHaus Pizza Oven is a budget-friendly option to consider. You'll need to give your pizzas more attention, though, as it's fuelled by wood pellets.
Read our VonHaus Pizza Oven review, or it's SQUIRREL_TEXT_12874077.
Char-Broil Evolve Smart Gas BBQ
Ultimately, if you're cooking for a lot of people at an outdoor party you'll want a barbecue with a lot of grill area. Keep an eye out for models that can easily heat up different areas of the grill to different temperatures, as you'll likely be cooking multiple types of food at once.
- We like: Built-in temperature probes
- We don't like: Heavy grill plates
Barbecues aren't cheap, but they're often essential for a fantastic outdoor get-together. This model from Char-Broil has multiple burners and a spacious cooking area, which is great if you're going to be grilling a variety of food for several people.
This barbecue has lots of smart features. You can use an app on your phone to control the temperatures of the grilling zones, plus you can monitor the readings from the built-in temperature probes to keep an eye on your food without having to open the lid.
Gas barbecues won't always give your grub that traditional smoky flavour – if you're looking for that, a charcoal barbecue will be a better bet.
Read our Char-Broil Evolve Smart Gas BBQ review.
You can compare prices below:
If you're after smoky flavour, charcoal barbecues are not only your best bet – they're also cheaper. One model we've tested that's great for parties is the B&Q Pondera Black Charcoal Barbecue. It's got two adjustable cooking areas and you can typically get it for £100. It doesn't have a lid, though, which means you might have a harder time regulating heat, and grilling food may take longer.
Be sure to read our review, or pick it up from B&Q.
Looking for less expensive options? Read our expert round-up of 7 cheap barbecues that cost less than £300
Great food and drink
A good extra virgin olive oil can really elevate a range of summer dishes, enhancing the flavour of everything from roast veg and salads to steak and beyond. Our Great Value pick from Aldi impressed our experts in a blind taste test and offers a little taste of luxury for less. Worth getting hold of it if you can!
- We like: Delicious barbecue foods and meze
- We don't like: The cleanup
It seems obvious, but food and drink will make or break any party. Luckily, we've got you covered with our expert taste testing. We've assembled panels to help you find the best extra virgin olive oil, best sausages, best salt and vinegar crisps, best beef and veggie burgers, best cheap supermarket foods, and even the best ketchup – you don't need a Which? membership to view our results, either.
If you are a member, you can also view our test results on the best sparkling wines, best supermarket red wines, and best champagne to get a great bottle for your next summer get-together.
If you're looking for cheaper food, we track grocery prices. You could save money just by switching supermarkets – read our findings on the cheapest UK supermarkets. Paired with our taste tests, this means you won't need to sacrifice on quality.
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