As the year progresses and we draw nearer to cooler days and nights, now is a great time to plan a poolside party! There are many advantages to having a poolside party in the colder months; for starters, everyone will feel a lot more comfortable outside when the heat is gone, but you’ll also have less chance of flies hanging around, and you can enjoy some delicious hot foods to keep you warm.

Whether you’re thinking of a party for the kids, or an intimate evening meal with friends, there are plenty of delicious meal ideas you can use to feed hungry guests. Below, we share some of our favourite meal ideas for winter entertaining by the pool, so feel free to use them for your next gathering!

For the Kids

Having the kids’ friends over for a party in your heated pool? Your best bet is to stick with easy finger foods – they’re easy to prepare and easy for little hands to hold on to. Finger foods are also affordable, making them ideal for parties with plenty of little guests!

Our oven-cooked picks for kids are:

• Chicken meatballs
• Sausage rolls
• Potato rostis
• Spinach and cheese pastizzis

If you’ve got a barbeque, you might want to try the following meals:

• Lamb, capsicum and onion kebab skewers
• Sausage sandwiches
• Mini beef and cheese sliders

For the Big Kids

It’s great for our mental wellbeing to spend time with friends, and one of the best ways to share each other’s company is by having a lovely dinner together, in your outdoor entertaining area, with the pool in view.

For a winter night’s get-together, why not splurge a little and treat you and your guests to a barbequed dinner?

Using your barbeque is another great way to stay among the activity of your outdoor dinner party, rather than spending half the evening in the kitchen!

When you expect to have quite a few dinner guests, you might want to consider barbequing a lamb shoulder. Couple the meat with barbequed corn cobs brushed with butter and paprika, and serve the lamb and corn with a green salad (think mixed greens, green beans, cucumber and mint).

If a more low-key dinner is your style, you can still use your barbeque for a delicious meal. Why not opt for some sausages, beef, onion and garlic rissoles, and vegetables like capsicum, tomato, zucchini, and asparagus? All of them can be cooked on the barbeque, saving you time, and helping you to avoid lots of washing up!

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It doesn’t matter if you plan on an informal gathering or a luxurious dinner party, your poolside area can offer you an ideal space to entertain.

With winter fast approaching, start preparing for your winter get-togethers by stocking up on some outdoor blankets and candles, to keep your guests warm and to create that winter glow for your table. You might also want to invest in an outdoor heater, especially if you live in a really cold area.

If your pool has lights installed, turn them on ahead of your evening party, and you’ll have a beautiful glowing view as the backdrop to your event!

Don’t yet have a pool, but like the sound of entertaining poolside? Your local Narellan Pools Builder is ready to help you get the pool you’ve always wanted for your backyard. Take that first step to incredible poolside winter entertaining and the lifestyle you deserve by arranging your free quote today.

While you wait for your free on-site consultation, you can play around with the Narellan Pools AR App to see what designs will work best in your yard. Download it here!