FOI release

Barbecuing in public parks - permits/licences

Case reference FOI2023/00454

Published 24 January 2024

Request

We are a company which promotes ethical, legal and environmentally responsible barbecue (BBQ) cooking as part of our core values aligned to our products. With this in mind, we want to inform and educate people on the legality of cooking on a BBQ/Open Fire in public spaces across the UK. The article will be accompanied with information on appropriate legislation and fire safety. I would like your assistance in understanding the local laws/regulations that you apply when considering cooking on BBQs in a public space. Can you answer the brief questions below please?

1. Does your authority have responsibility for setting the local regulations regarding whether people can BBQ in a public space? 2. Is BBQ cooking permitted in ALL local authority public spaces WITHOUT a permit or prior authorisation? 3. If not, is BBQ cooking permitted in ANY local authority public spaces WITHOUT a permit or prior authorisation? 4. Is BBQ cooking permitted in ANY local authority public places WITH a permit or authorisation? 5. How many local authority places exist in your geography where people can BBQ? 6. Re Q5, if less than 6 in number, please name the places. 7. Is there a charge for a permit/permission? If so, how much is it?

Response

1. Does your authority have responsibility for setting the local regulations regarding whether people can BBQ in a public space?

No organisation has such overarching powers, it's a matter for individual landowners, subject to general adherence to the Countryside Act.

2. Is BBQ cooking permitted in ALL local authority public spaces WITHOUT a permit or prior authorisation?

We can only comment on the public spaces owned and managed by Oxford City Council, and it does not permit the use of BBQs at any of its sites, other than as part of organised and approved events.

3. If not, is BBQ cooking permitted in ANY local authority public spaces WITHOUT a permit or prior authorisation?

Please see above.

4. Is BBQ cooking permitted in ANY local authority public places WITH a permit or authorisation?

As highlighted above, only as part of an organised and approved event.

5. How many local authority places exist in your geography where people can BBQ?

You will need to contact other landowners to establish whether there are any, but we are not aware of any.

6. Re Q5, if less than 6 in number, please name the places.

See above.

7. Is there a charge for a permit/permission? If so, how much is it?

N/A.

Documents

There are no documents for this release.

This is Oxford City Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.

You can browse our other responses or make a new FOI request.