Two glorious Bank Holiday weekends have got the barbecue season off to a blazing start, offering plentiful opportunities for butchers to add value and gain a competitive edge, with expert advice and greater spontaneity in their offering. British barbecue occasions are expected to exceed 130 million this year, up from 120 million in 2010, with around five million estimated over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend and seven million to have taken place on the Royal Wedding Bank Holiday weekend, according tothe National BBQ Association. "There has been so much of a swing towards alfresco living," says Brian George, president of the Association, which organises National BBQ Week. "Many people are treating the outside as inside and, with petrol prices and cutting back in general, people just aren't going out as much. "Everyone is more cautious, as retail figures show, and the only area where people aren't being as cautious is with barbecues and alfresco living," he says. "There is this move - despite the tough climate - to view barbecues as an affordable indulgence.
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