This week was the hottest so far this year with temperatures hitting 28 degrees with bright sunshine.

When the weather is hot, Brits want to be outside as much as possible, even making chores into a fun activity. When summer hits, cooking is an excuse to bring friends together.

The smell of a smoky grill is now synonymous with summer and socialising together so having a good spot to do it is crucial.

However, due to the fire risk barbecues can pose, many places have strict rules forbidding them.

Meanwhile, others have overcome the risk by installing safe facilities or even allowing you to hire one from those in charge.

Here is a list of all the best and most beautiful places where barbecues are permitted around Swindon.

1. Best for bringing your own for free: Coate Water

You may not have expected it but you can hire a barbecue from the rangers at Coate Water. A Large BBQ, allowing with a third of the horse field, costs £70, while it is three times the price for groups over 100.

If you don’t have 99 friends or want to pay, you can bring your own free of charge. See a map of BBQ areas on Swindon Borough Council’s website.

2. For big groups: Lydiard Park

Lydiard Park is not as permissive as Coate Water: while you can hire a barbecue plot (large, £68; small, £47) you are not allowed to bring your own.

The BBQ site is to the right of the car park when you enter Lydiard Park via Hook Street.

The grills are available to hire between 29 March and 31 October from midday to park closure at dusk, and you can book them on their website.

(Image: Swindon Borough Council)

3. Best for free parking: Mouldon Hill Country Park

“ The park is popular during summer months for picnics and BBQs”, says Haydon Wick Parish Council on its website. There are no more listed restrictions at this park north-west of the town centre.

The park has free parking and has several footpaths and walkways making it the ideal location to walk off your big meal.

4. Best for swimming and beach: Cotswold Country Park

Here you can combine two great Summer pursuits: swimming and barbecuing. At the Country Park and Beach you can hire BBQs from 10am to 5.30pm, and they even throw in 3kg of coal with it.

For up to 24 guests it costs £60 on the weekend, or £40 midweek. Afterwards take a dip in the “swimming lagoon” and relax on the beach.

5. Best for freedom: Have a picnic instead

Many places have started to forbid barbecues due to the fire risk. One example is the Savernake Forest near Marlborough, where BBQ spots were previously available. 

Now you are urged to bring a picnic instead with Dorset and Wiltshire Fire service warning of the real fire risk disposable BBQs pose.

This means that with a picnic, your options are much wider: from inner Swindon’s Town Gardens or Queens Park, to Savernake Forest, or anywhere else, the world is your hamper with picnics (as long as you tidy up). You won't have to pay either - and no burnt sausages.

Read about the #BringAPicnicNotABBQ campaign here.