The island's Beach Code encourages everyone to be respectful and mindful of the environment and other's enjoyment of the landscape. It also exists to promote safe enjoyment of the island's beaches.
Beach barbeques can be lit between 5:00pm and midnight on the Island's north and west coast beaches, excluding the Richmond end of Vazon.
Barbeques are not to be held on the South or East coasts, i.e. from Soldier's Bay to Pleinmont.
Permission is required for beach barbeques to be attended by more than 50 people. More information on permits can be found below.
The Beach Code
- Observe any warning signs and stay away from the base of cliffs in case of rock falls.
- Take your litter home with you or place it in an appropriate litter bin.
- Take reusable plastic containers onto the beach rather than glass, as glass is easily broken and broken shards can cause a risk of injury to you or other beach users.
- Show respect for all other beach users.
- Keep music to a volume which does not disturb other people or wildlife.
- Check the time and height of high tide to ensure you can exit the beach.
- Enjoy viewing wildlife from a safe distance and do not approach.
- For barbeques and contained fires you should follow these safety standards:
- Light in a small fire bowl or bucket.
- Remember to have a container on hand to collect seawater to cool the barbeque.
- Light below the high tide mark, at least 4m away from any vegetation and away from shingle (stones can explode if they get too hot!).
- Light after 5pm and put out by midnight. Light in a spot where smoke won't disturb other people.
- Safely extinguish a barbeque, embers and surrounding sand by dousing in water until they are cold. Handy tip: embers are cold enough if the ash no longer hisses, there is no more smoke and the remnants are cold to the touch.
- Dispose of the cold remnants properly by either taking them home or by putting carefully in a litter bin.
To find out information on bringing your dog to the beach, please click here
Do I need permission?
- Organisers of small barbeques to be attended by 50 people or fewer don't need to contact us to obtain permission.
- If you would like to hold a beach barbeque which will be attended by more than 50 people, this is then classed as an event and permission will be required.
- Please read the Beach Code and then complete the Beach Barbeque Application Form
- Public liability insurance, with an indemnity of £5,000,000 on any one incident, is required for an event of public land
- You will be contacted by a member of staff to confirm the details of your barbeque and to confirm that permission has been granted.
- In the interest of public safety the Joint Emergency Services Control Centre are advised of all authorised beach barbeques.
