Facts to help you 'chill n'grill' this National BBQ Week

The summer weather may not have reached us quite yet, but since when has that stopped us from firing up the coals?
What's your favourite thing to eat on the BBQ?What's your favourite thing to eat on the BBQ?
What's your favourite thing to eat on the BBQ?

Today marks the start of National BBQ Week, so if you were waiting for a reason to pig out on burgers, hot dogs and anything else you can pop on a skewer, now's your chance!

The initiative, which began in 1997, is celebrating its 20th birthday this year.

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So, to help you prepare for the delicious week ahead, here are nine BBQ facts for you to enjoy, provided by National BBQ Week HQ.

1. BBQ & at-home eating and entertaining is now the UK's number one summer home leisure activity, with two in three households now owning a BBQ grill.

2. Last year the UK was once again Europe's leading BBQ nation, hosting over 130 million barbies and beating the Germans for the fifth time.

3. Hosts will now spend around £35 on food and drink for a BBQ, up from £17 in 2011.

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4. After-work or mid-week barbies now account for more than 48% of all BBQ occasions.

5. Twenty-four per cent of us now have BBQs during the spring, with a further 15% claiming to BBQ all year-round.

6. Couples are three times more likely to host a BBQ than singles, only 4% of pensioners are likely to hold one and 8% of adults claim to have found love over the coals.

7. Flat-bed grills remain most popular, but hooded BBQs are growing fast and now account for over 46% of all sales.

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8. As new house building begins to pick up, developers are incorporating patio areas and built-in BBQs as key purchase incentives.

9. The average number of BBQs held per family during the summer has risen to nine. Ten years ago, this number was at 2.5.