What started as a sun-drenched siesta ended up more like a disaster movie as the grill got out of control and set fire to the terrace's wooden decking. More than 5,000 people working in the office block fled the building, and roads around the HQ were sealed off while 20 firemen brought the fire under control.
A spokeswoman for Google said pragmatically: "We regularly have these sorts of events for staff, although I think this might be the last barbecue we have this summer."