British BBQ Society Forums

Hi all,

I tried to search for info on the forum, but I'm getting hit with keywords being too common, so apologies if posts like this are nauseating to those of you who have been around for a while.

I've got a big cheap gas BBQ on its last legs - and I'm keen to get myself a good quality grill, and a smoker - hoping people could point me in the right direction to make sure I get something half decent, which I won't then want to be upgrading in a couple years time.

Can't believe I haven't found this British community before - can't wait to learn more.

Cheers,

Adam

Hello and welcome, the first and most painful question is how much money have you got to spend? A bit like cars you could go with a Tatra or a Bentley depending on your budget & wants and needs

Hi chum,
It is a question that has been asked before but always a good one. Often folk here are reserved in making actual reccomendations but having read everything over the last couple of years then if it is lo and slow smoking you want then eventualy you will pony up the dough for a Weber smokey mountain, and there is a thread on here that will take you to a current decent offer.

But if you are looking for something more versatile then most here own a weber kettle as you can do both direct and indirect.

If gas is your thing then personally wouldnt pay the extra for a weber, my outback hunter gave many happy years and I used it for both direct and indirect. It is clapped out now and I think I will replace it with a b and q special as there gas range seem like good value.

you will see from my sig block that I also have a landmann, not bad value but the thickness of steel means I fear it will not last too many of our lovely british summers.

And to Keiths point if you have a bucket of cash you can have pretty much anything! Hope this helps,
Cheers
Tiny

If you don't have the money for a Weber Smokey Mountain consider the ProQ Excel or the slightly smaller Frontier. Many tems use them and a heck of a lot of home smokers as well. What you will find is people have different needs therefore opinions. I should probably have gone for the Frontier as thre are only two of us and I don't compete but got the Excel at a good price. Granted the WSM is the top of the range bullet smoker currently available, there are those on here who swear by ceramics like the Kamado as they can do both.
As Tiny says though with a good quality kettle bbq you can bbq and do almost everything in the smoking pantheon if you are prepared to stay awake that long.
Don't forget to save some of your hard earned for essentials like a chimney starter and a good quality thermometer ETi still have thermopens on eBay at darn good prices.

Okay - I'm looking at a WSM - will I lose much by getting the smaller 47cm model?

It all depends on the number of people you are cooking for, maybe someone who has or has had both can comment on the quantity you can cook on it.

I've got both. You can easily do 4 pork butts on the 47cm one. Possibly more if you packed them tight. You can cook a lot of food on the 47cm and this is the one that I use the majority of the time.

The 57 is massive obviously you can cook even more on it but it is significantly more fuel hungry compared to its little brother.

The 57 comes into its own a) if catering for big groups (50 + ) b) you can fit a whole brisket flat on it, with the 47cm you have to fold it slightly.

Robin,

Given that I now a 47cm WSM sat in the garden, that was the right answer.

Can people direct me anywhere with regards to making the most of this beast?

I'm wanting to reenact some proper Man Vs Food BBQ tomorrow.

amazingribs.com is a pretty good site

There are loads on YOUTUBE worth watching