Planning a corporate summer BBQ near Dublin? At Belmont Demesne in County Wicklow, a company afternoon can combine properly facilitated team activities with time to relax, eat and catch up. The key is to design one joined-up event rather than booking a BBQ and trying to squeeze games around it.
For HR teams, office managers and social committees arranging a 2027 staff event, this guide explains what to ask the venue and caterer, which Event Square activities suit different groups, and how to build in realistic setup, catering and weather contingencies. The programme examples below are illustrative, not fixed packages or confirmed availability.
Why combine a team activity with a summer BBQ?
A BBQ gives people the informal time that a busy workday rarely allows. A team challenge creates a reason for colleagues from different departments to mix first. Putting both into a sensible running order means people get an experience, not just a meal.
- Mix departments early. Allocate teams deliberately rather than leaving colleagues in their usual work circles.
- Make participation easy. Use challenges where strategy, humour, coordination and creativity count as much as physical effort.
- Keep the meal genuinely social. Finish the competitive element before serving food, or leave only optional games running.
- Give the organiser one clear plan. Agree who owns the venue, activities, catering, transport, furniture and weather decisions.
For a straightforward celebration with little physical activity, our wider employee experiences range is worth considering. If the objective is a more structured company away day, the activity programme can take the lead.
Why Belmont Demesne is an option for Dublin and Wicklow teams
Belmont Demesne is located at Lower Windgates, Greystones, County Wicklow. Its grounds, walled-garden setting and event options are described on the venue’s website and on Event Square’s Belmont listing. For a team coming from Dublin or North Wicklow, the rural setting can feel like a break from the office without requiring a residential trip.
The estate has several different uses and operators, so a photo of an area does not mean it is automatically private or available for your group. Before committing to an event format, confirm the exact lawn, any shared areas, arrival route, vehicle access, toilets, shelter and the permitted times for your date. Conference-room capacity and the number of people who can comfortably enjoy an outdoor BBQ are also separate questions.
There are on-site food and drink operators, including O Brother Brewing, which advertises group experiences by arrangement. That does not mean a brewery activity or private dining area is included in an Event Square team day; availability and any separate bookings must be checked.
Which team-building activities work with a BBQ?
1. Old School Sports Day: approachable and lively
Old School Sports Day works when the goal is to get colleagues laughing and interacting. Rather than a long, serious tournament, a facilitator can rotate smaller teams through selected games and finish with a light-hearted team finale. Ask about footwear, mobility needs and the ground conditions before deciding which games belong in the mix.
2. Celtic Games: Irish character for a mixed group
Celtic Games can bring a distinctly Irish theme to a company celebration, particularly when international staff or guests are attending. The activity selection should match the space, the group and the safety brief; do not assume every game can be run on every lawn.
3. Collaborative challenges: less emphasis on sport
If colleagues prefer problem-solving to racing, a selection of practical team challenges can focus on communication, delegation and shared decisions. A creative Big Picture activity is another approach when the right protected workspace is available. Consider where materials will be handled and stored before food service starts.
4. The Belmont Adventure: a more active alternative
For a group that specifically wants to move around the estate, The Belmont Adventure combines navigation and team tasks. This needs a separate route and timing plan. Participants should know in advance about expected walking, appropriate clothing and alternative arrangements for anyone who cannot use the route.
Some other Event Square programmes, including the Bushmaster Survival Challenge, are location-specific and require a different footprint, staffing and equipment plan. Do not simply add them to a BBQ schedule as if they were a 20-minute garden game.
Example running order: a company afternoon that flows
Here is a planning example for a group whose main aim is interaction followed by a relaxed meal. Exact timing depends on numbers, catering service, team rotations and the venue layout.
- 14:00–14:25: Arrival, registration, toilets, introductions and a short team-and-safety briefing.
- 14:25–15:45: Rotating facilitated challenges, with teams allocated before people disperse around the site.
- 15:45–16:05: Water break, changeover and checks before the final challenge.
- 16:05–16:40: Inclusive finale, scores, recognition and a group photo opportunity.
- 16:40–17:00: Move to the dining area while activity equipment is safely cleared.
- 17:00 onward: BBQ, casual conversation and optional low-key entertainment where agreed.
The point of a running order is not to keep every minute full. It is to avoid the familiar problem of lunch running late while facilitators, coaches and guests all wait in different places.
What the organiser needs to decide before booking
Space, furniture and access
Ask for a site plan that marks the activity zone, food-service area, guest seating, indoor or covered alternative, toilets, first-aid point and coach/drop-off route. Allow safe clearance around games and catering equipment. Confirm if vehicle movements or deliveries will cross guest routes, and whether the estate has restrictions on sound, signage, staking or temporary structures.
BBQ service and dietary needs
Agree whether the food is buffet-style, plated or served in batches. Collect dietary information early, including vegetarian, vegan, allergen and other requirements, and agree how the caterer identifies the correct meals. Activity teams should not be released into a food queue without a plan for traffic and seating.
Staffing and event ownership
A successful activity day needs more than equipment delivered to a field. Decide who briefs teams, marshals games, oversees setup, controls the clock, handles equipment checks and speaks to the venue and caterer if a change is necessary. For larger groups, the number of stations, walking distance and time needed to rotate matter more than a single headline attendee number.
Accessibility and the non-participation option
Ask attendees about access needs without requiring them to discuss personal details in front of colleagues. Provide accessible routes where possible, seated or lower-mobility roles in the games, sufficient rest and water, and a genuinely optional role for anyone who does not wish to take part. A good event should make room for observers, scorekeepers and team strategists rather than treating them as an afterthought.
What happens if Irish summer weather changes?
Build the contingency when booking, not the morning of the event. Identify the conditions that would cause an outdoor game to pause or stop, who makes that decision, and what an alternative programme would look like. A marquee or covered seating area is not automatically a safe substitute for every activity. Wet ground can also affect footfall, equipment, race formats and accessibility.
If indoor space can be confirmed, practical tabletop challenges or a creative session may be more suitable than trying to move field games indoors. Our guide to hotel team building explains how room shape and breakout space change the event options.
What changes between a small staff party and a larger company event?
For a smaller group, keep the programme conversational: fewer activity stations, more opportunities to change partners, and a compact meal service. For a medium-sized group, time the rotations carefully and give each station a clear staff lead. For a larger attendance, consider staggered participation, multiple activity areas, extra circulation space, more check-in support and separate queues for catering.
Guest count alone does not confirm venue suitability. Venue approval, access, staffing and the specific game footprint need to be agreed before a programme is offered. For more planning detail see large-group team building in Ireland.
What information should go into the enquiry?
Send the organiser’s estimated numbers, preferred dates, start/finish times, whether the group is Dublin-based, likely coach or car arrivals, preferred BBQ style, dietary considerations, activity level, and any indoor requirements. Let us know if you want one complete event proposal or activities to sit alongside catering already arranged by your company. It helps to say whether the priority is team connection, a summer celebration, welcoming colleagues or a mix of all three.
We can then put together an outline built around the group, the venue’s confirmed arrangements and the other suppliers involved. Quotes, venue hire, catering, transport and extras are checked for the specific brief; no package price or date availability is assumed here.
Frequently asked questions about Belmont BBQ team days
Can Event Square organise both the team activities and the BBQ?
We can help coordinate an integrated event brief and discuss catering arrangements. The precise supplier responsibilities, inclusions and commercial terms need to be agreed in the proposal.
Is Belmont suitable for a Dublin company day without an overnight stay?
It is a Wicklow location within practical reach of many Dublin teams. Build travel into the schedule and confirm actual journey times for the date and time of day.
Can people skip the competitive games?
Yes. The programme should offer alternative team roles, a comfortable place to watch or socialise, and adjustments for different activity and mobility preferences.
Can we add a brewery visit or tasting?
There is a brewery operator at Belmont offering group options by arrangement. Any visit, tasting, age requirements and fees would need a separate availability and inclusion check.
Are activity areas and indoor backup space included?
Do not assume so. Ask the venue and organiser to confirm each area, any private-use arrangements, hire conditions and the wet-weather alternative in writing.
How far in advance should we plan a summer BBQ?
Earlier is better if you need a specific date, a large amount of space, a caterer, a marquee or coordinated transport. We cannot guarantee any date without checking.
Do you provide activities for large groups?
Yes, depending on the programme, space and staff plan. The practical design of rotations and access is as important as the final number of guests.
Can the event be branded for our company?
Discuss signage, team colours, prizes and any additional branded materials in the initial brief. Venue permissions and production costs must be checked.
Plan your Belmont summer team day
If you are organising a Wicklow or Dublin staff BBQ for 2027, contact Event Square with a rough attendee number, preferred dates and the atmosphere you want. We will help determine which activities fit, what needs confirming with Belmont and the caterer, and how to keep the event relaxed without leaving the logistics to chance.
