Barbecues

Summer’s in full bloom and the piquant scent of grilled meat is once again permeating the air, whetting the appetite of anyone within mere sniffing distance.

Since National Barbecue Week was launched (yes there is such a thing), BBQ use in the UK has skyrocketed from nine million occasions in 1997 to about 137 million in 2019. In much the same way Brits and Europeans flock to pubs, bars and restaurants with al fresco facilities the moment the spring sun warms the air, so it is that, somewhere in the country, every cloudless day becomes a barbecue day. And who can blame us? After all, grilling food outdoors over an open flame is cooking in its simplest and most stress-free form.

Before you even consider jumping on the barbecue bandwagon, you need to ask yourself what type of barbecue you want: charcoal, gas,