Hosts supplying shared drinks
Concentrated squash suits a cottage where guests have drinking water and can mix their own drinks. Check how many servings the particular bottle states and how it must be stored once opened.
Who is each format for?
Hosts providing individual portions
Ready-to-drink cans suit arrivals or outings when guests need sealed portions without mixing. Tesco Groceries lists multipack fizzy-drink cans separately from squash and cordial; the cans are a different kind of drink, not squash concentrate.
Hosts checking sugar and ingredients
Compare the nutrition information for the drink as served and read the exact pack’s ingredient and allergen information. A no-added-sugar squash can still contain sweeteners, while guests may have other ingredient preferences or restrictions.
What should you check before buying?
Concentrated squash bottles
Choose when: Guests can dilute squash with drinking water and a shared bottle suits the cottage.
Bear in mind: Guests need mixing instructions, and opened bottles need to be kept according to their labels.
Ready-to-drink multipack cans
Choose when: Sealed portions for individual guests or outings matter more than providing squash concentrate.
Bear in mind: These drinks are not squash, and each serving leaves a can for guests to dispose of.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Servings and storage | Compare the stated servings and dilution ratio, not bottle volume alone. Waitrose & Partners lists 20 servings at 1 part concentrate to 4 parts water for a Robinsons 1L squash, and 60 servings at a suggested 1-to-9 dilution for its Essential 1.5L squash. | I’m supplying shared drinks and need to plan for the number of guests and length of stay. |
| Portion format | Check whether the pack contains squash concentrate or ready-to-drink cans, and how many individual portions it contains. | For arrivals or days out, I’d rather leave guests a sealed drink they can take without mixing. |
| Sugar and ingredients | Compare nutrition information for the prepared drink and read the exact pack’s sweetener and allergen declarations. NHS guidance suggests water or sugar-free, diet or no-added-sugar drinks instead of sugary squash or fizzy drinks. | I want guests to be able to identify a drink that fits their preferences or declared ingredient restrictions. |
| Disposal | Check the cottage’s local recycling arrangements. Recycle Now advises emptying and rinsing drink cans before recycling. | Guests need a clear place to put empty cans, especially when several people are staying. |
Common buying mistakes
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Treating fizzy-drink cans as squash
A ready-to-drink can cannot supply concentrate for guests to dilute. Tesco Groceries separates its squash-and-cordial and fizzy-drink-can categories.
Decide whether guests need drinks from a shared bottle or sealed individual portions before choosing a category.
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Comparing squash by bottle size alone
Dilution instructions and stated servings differ between products, so litres alone do not tell you how many drinks to plan for.
Use the serving count and dilution instructions on the exact bottle when stocking for the expected guests and length of stay.
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Assuming no added sugar settles ingredient needs
No-added-sugar squash can contain sweeteners, and some products list sulphites.
Keep the current label available to guests, check declared ingredient restrictions and offer plain drinking water as another option.
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Leaving guests unsure what to do with cans
Each ready-to-drink can needs disposing of after use; recycling arrangements depend on the property’s location.
Check the local collection arrangements, label the appropriate cottage bin and ask guests to empty and rinse cans before recycling, as Recycle Now advises.
Relevant brand and retailer ranges
Robinsons
Robinsons offers concentrated squash for guests to dilute. The Orange No Added Sugar 1L example listed by Waitrose & Partners states 20 servings at a 1-to-4 dilution.
- The stated dilution and serving count help with stocking a shared drink.
- That example says to consume it within four weeks of opening; check the instructions on the bottle you buy.
Tesco
Tesco Groceries lists own-label no-added-sugar quadruple-strength squash, including 1.5L bottles, alongside branded squash.
- Its range provides an own-label concentrated-squash option.
- Check the chosen bottle’s dilution, servings and ingredients rather than applying one product’s instructions to the range.
Waitrose Essential
Waitrose & Partners lists an Essential No Added Sugar Apple & Blackcurrant 1.5L squash labelled double strength.
- The product states 60 servings and suggests 1 part squash to 9 parts water.
- Check its current ingredient and allergen label for guests with restrictions.
M&S
M&S lists an Orange Squash 1.5L labelled double strength, no added sugar and made with 20% orange. Its Pink Grapefruit High Juice squash states 50% grapefruit juice.
- The two products provide different stated fruit-content and flavour options.
- M&S says its Orange Squash is not suitable for babies; the Pink Grapefruit product lists sulphites. Check the exact pack before serving.
Joybuy drink options
These options cover concentrated squash for shared drinks and ready-to-drink fizzy-drink cans for individual portions at a holiday cottage. The cans are not squash.
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Ribena No Added Sugar Blackcurrant Squash 1.5L
A concentrate for shared drinks: the product description states 20 servings and instructs guests to use at least 1 part squash to 4 parts water. It lists sweeteners and sodium bisulphite, says it is not recommended for children under 3, and instructs refrigeration after opening and use within four weeks. Check the current pack for guest ingredient needs.
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Robinsons No Added Sugar Summer Fruits Squash 6 x 1L
This multipack contains bottles of concentrate, not ready-to-drink cans; the product description states up to 25 servings per 1L bottle. Guests will need the pack’s dilution instructions. The description lists aspartame, saccharin and sulphites, so check the current label and opened-bottle storage directions before stocking the cottage.
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7UP Zero 24 x 330ml Cans
These are individual, ready-to-drink fizzy soft drinks rather than squash concentrate. The product description states zero sugar and zero caffeine and notes a source of phenylalanine. Check the current label for guest requirements and the cottage’s arrangements for recycling cans.
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Tango Apple Sugar-Free 24 x 330ml Cans
The 24 ready-to-drink cans provide individual portions without mixing, but do not replace squash concentrate. The product description states zero sugar and lists sweeteners. Check the current label for ingredient preferences and confirm where guests should put empty cans.
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Robinsons No Added Sugar Orange Squash 1L
A bottle of concentrate for guests to dilute as directed on the pack. Its description provides nutrition information for the diluted drink and instructs refrigeration after opening and use within four weeks. It lists sweeteners and sulphites; check the current label for guest ingredient needs and the pack for its dilution and serving instructions.
Questions about cottage drinks
Are multipack cans a substitute for bottled squash?
Not if you need squash concentrate. Tesco Groceries lists concentrated squash separately from fizzy-drink cans. Buy bottles for guests to dilute with drinking water, or cans when sealed, ready-to-drink portions are the aim.
How do I compare the number of drinks squash bottles make?
Use each product’s stated servings and dilution instructions, not bottle volume alone. Waitrose & Partners lists 20 servings at a 1-to-4 dilution for a Robinsons 1L squash, while its Essential 1.5L squash states 60 servings at a suggested 1-to-9 dilution.
How long can opened squash stay in the cottage?
Follow the instructions on the particular bottle. The Robinsons Orange No Added Sugar product listed by Waitrose & Partners says to consume it within four weeks of opening; another squash may have different directions. Leave the label visible so guests can follow them.
Does no added sugar mean no sweeteners or allergens?
No. No-added-sugar squash can contain sweeteners, and some of the squash products discussed here list sulphites. Check the current ingredient and allergen information on the exact pack, particularly if a guest has declared a restriction.
What should guests do with empty drink cans?
Recycle Now advises emptying and rinsing drink cans before recycling. Check the cottage’s local collection arrangements and give guests a clear instruction for the appropriate bin or nearby recycling option.