If this is the year for a new BBQ then take a read of our guide before making any big purchasing decisions, and we guarantee you’ll walk away satisfied for years to come.
We’re proud to stock grills from the leading names in BBQs since the 1950s – Weber. They’ve come a long way since humble beginnings, but the original kettle series remains one of the most popular and well-loved barbecues even to this day. Though unsurprisingly, over half a century since its invention, you’ll find the Weber barbecue range has expanded dramatically and now provides gas grills, smokers, electric grills and portable grills to barbecue lovers everywhere.
Weber’s huge selection of barbecues are designed to fulfil a whole host of different requirements but that can sometimes make knowing exactly which of their barbecues to choose from quite difficult.
In this ultimate BBQ buying guide, we’ll take you through some of the Weber models from across our stocked range so that you can get a taste of what these barbecues can do and who they’re best suited to so you can find the perfect Weber grill to suit your needs.
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TYPES OF BBQ
When deciding which Weber barbecue to buy, first consider whether you would like to invest in a charcoal grill, an electric or a gas barbecue. Each has its pros and cons and there tends to be debate over which is better, with many people firmly believing that one is better than the other!
Charcoal BBQ
A charcoal barbecue is versatile, allowing you to cook super-high or way-down low. However, you’ll need dedication and patience to get the best and most flavourful results! You’ll need good-quality charcoal, firelighters or lighter fluid and a source of ignition (lighter, matches) to get it started and you can start cooking once the coals have turned white/grey with ash.
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Gas BBQ
Gas barbecues are convenient, efficient and ready-in-a-flash. If you want to be able to cook outside with relative ease, they do the job, allowing you to get cooking with the flick of a switch, also giving you more control over the heat of the grill as if you would if you were cooking on the hob. Using the regulator attached to the end of the gas hose which comes out of the BBQ, you simply hook it up to a bottle of gas which is sold with the BBQ here at Gordale. Once the gas runs out (usually after 15 hours burn time) you can then bring the bottle back to be refilled for a small charge.
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Electric BBQ
Electric barbecues are ideal for use on terraces and balconies where a traditional open flame barbecue may not be safe. This type of barbecue is powered by electricity, so it needs to be plugged into a socket for it to work. So if you want to buy a barbecue to take into the park, you may be better off with a gas or charcoal BBQ. Electric barbecues don’t rely on gas or charcoal, but instead plug in to the mains. They won’t give you the same chargrilled flavour as a charcoal barbecue, as they don’t use a flame to cook the food like a gas model, instead, using a grill-style pan.
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Portable BBQ
Don’t let the cookouts stay confined to the garden, take your barbecues on the road with a high-performance portable grill from Weber. Made with the same high-quality design as their bigger brothers, these portable gas and charcoal barbecues are more than capable of delivering the perfect sear and the same signature smoke-kissed taste you love. Available in charcoal and gas.
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WHICH BBQ TO BUY?
So, now you’ve decided how and where you want your food to be cooked, we’ll delve a little deeper into some of the models within each of the gas, electric and charcoal ranges to see which of the barbecues you want to cook your BBQ food on.
Master-Touch series
The all-round favourite and most popular BBQ grill with 3 in 1 capability for barbecuing, grilling, and smoking. Ideal Home has described the Master Touch as one of the best BBQs of 2021, explaining how “Weber has shown how it earned the crown as king of the kettle charcoal barbeques”. We recommend trying out this model if you want to experience what a charcoal BBQ should be like. This is best for those who want the control and quality expected from gas, but with all the smoky flavour you’d want from charcoal. This barbecue also takes up less space than others so is ideal if you want to fit this into a smaller outdoor space or already have another barbecue.
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Smokey Mountain series
Ideal for slow-cooking to give you juicier meat and a great choice for a barbecue on the go. This is a great option for a small weber barbecue – it is large enough to barbecue an entire roast yet compact enough to fit in the boot of your car. This small but mighty barbecue is capable of many things. It includes an internally suspended water pan that functions as a heat regulator and also a moisture generator, which means it’s very easy to keep the temperature in the ‘smoke zone’ for hours at a time. The smokey mountain also features a door for refuelling during long cooks, a large lid thermometer, and dual-level cooking grates.
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Genesis series
The Genesis® II Series is breathtakingly good. If you really want to impress your guests and be the ultimate host, then look no further than this range featuring three powerful burners that are guaranteed to ignite every time, and iGrill 3 smart technology compatibility. This is perfect if you consider yourself a bit of a chef and like to have BBQ garden parties where you feed your guests and delight at them eating your home-cooked food!
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Spirit series
The Spirit series of gas barbecues range in size and price, but come in at a lower cost than their Genesis® counterparts. The range was designed to encourage and kick-start peoples’ love of gas grilling. This is an ideal barbecue for BBQ beginners/intermediates that may be making the transition from charcoal to gas grilling. This good looking, stylish barbecue is functional, easy to use and requires little effort to get it up and running. It is also less bulky than other barbecues from the gas range, so is suited well to slightly smaller families or gardens. This model boasts two burners and it also has the added benefit of a side burner, which is perfect for making gravies, sauces and juices.
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Pulse series
Taking convenience to a new level, with industry-leading, electronic temperature control that automatically adjusts to ensure consistent heat throughout the grill and an integrated iGrill thermometer that connects to an app on your smartphone, notifying you when your food is done. As this needs to be plugged into an electrical outlet, if you live on a balcony or for other safety reasons are unable to use smoke or flames to cook food then this is perfect.
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WHICH BBQ TO BUY?
So there you have it. A look at some of our most popular barbecues from across our entire range of stock. If you’re still not sure what barbecue to buy, then we’ll recap what we covered in the guide.
If you like the authentic smoky barbecue flavour and if smouldering coals bring out that real sentimental feeling, then perhaps the traditional charcoal barbecue is the best option for you.
Do you even want to take it a step further and become a master smoker? Then choose a special smoker or pellet barbecue.
If you don’t care too much about the smoke, but more about ease of use, then a gas barbecue might be a better option.
Finally, if you only have limited space in your garden or on your balcony in the city, an electric barbecue could suit you and your requirements better.