How To Choose The Right Size BBQ For Your Needs

How To Choose The Right Size BBQ For Your Needs


Follow our hints and tips to guide you to the right sized barbecue

When choosing your barbecue the first question you need to ask is: how many are you going to cook for? What are you going to cook? How often are you going to use the grill? Where are you going to do your barbecuing; do you stay in the back garden or do you like to explore the countryside and enjoy alfresco dining? Are you going to be entertaining in the future; our grills are built to last so try and think ahead to what your future needs may be, as there is no point in spending a lot of money on a quality grill only to find a couple of years down the line you want to start inviting friends round and the BBQ isn't large enough. These are all questions to take into account when choosing your BBQ as it is a waste of money buying a large grill with lots of extra features if you are only going to use it occasionally for the family.

A great little portable Weber Smokey Joe charcoal grill with a grate size of 37cm is ideal for a family of 4, and is small enough to take on the camping holiday or a day out. With a 10 year guarantee it is excellent value as it will probably last 20 years if cared for properly, so only represents an investment of a few pounds per year, the price of a single disposable BBQ.

Weber Smokey Joe charcoal barbecue

Weber Smokey Joe charcoal barbecue

If you don’t want the wait or the mess that goes with charcoal then the Weber Go-Anywhere Gas portable is great for those days out; with a grill size of 41 x 25cm it can comfortably feed a family of 4. Again this model has a 10 year guarantee and a life expectancy of 20 years it works out at an economical £6 - £7 per year.

Weber Go-Anywhere gas barbecue

Weber Go-Anywhere gas barbecue

If you want to be a bit more adventurous one of the best mid-sized gas barbecues is the Landmann Triton 2 Burner Gas BBQ which has a grill area of 48 x 44cm and 2 side tables so you can show off your barbecuing skills to friends. Each burner is independently controlled so you need only have one on if only cooking for a few people. The side tables are invaluable for keeping your tools and glazes handy. It has a built-in thermometer in the lid to ensure you don’t end up with cremated kebabs and raw chicken. These Triton barbecues one of our Barbecue Shop's best sellers. They are only available through independent garden centres so not only are you getting a great value barbecue but also supporting local businesses.

Landmann Triton 2 gas barbecue

Landmann Triton 2 gas barbecue

If you prefer the authentic smokey taste of charcoal one of the best mid-sized barbecues is the Weber Performer Deluxe. This has a gas ignition system which makes lighting the coals a lot quicker and easier. It features the Gourmet Barbecue System (GBS) which will elevate your cooking to the next level. A sear grate which fits the GBS is included in the cost of the barbecue; this gives your food the lovely typical barbecue caramelised grill pattern. Other accessories are available for use with this system to give you more options when you have your barbecue; they include the wok which can be used for stir fries, risottos and fish and chips. The GBS Dutch oven can cook a stew or cassoulet, cook beautiful crisp pizzas on the pizza stone or crispy waffles in the waffle maker. With a cooking area of 2552 square cm a party of 8 can easily be accommodated. This is definitely an investment for the committed barbecue chef; but it does come with the extras to elevate your barbecue to fine dining plus a 10 year guarantee and the high quality which you expect from Weber products.

Weber Performer Deluxe barbecue

Weber Performer Deluxe charcoal barbecue

The Weber Summit S-670 is one of our larger barbecues with a grate size of 80 x 49cm plus a rotisserie and side burner to extend the cooking area and your grilling repertoire. It also features the versatile GBS grate, so cooking a number of different dishes for a large number of people is easily achieved. The Flavorizer Bars which fit over the gas jets give off that smokey BBQ flavour when the fat drips from your meat. It has 6 individually controlled burners which makes cooking for a small number of people effortless. This grill really is an investment for the serious party giver but with all its extra features it really can easily improve your recipe range.

Weber Summit S-670 gas barbecue

Weber Summit S-670 gas barbecue

These are just a few of the barbecues available here at Hayes Garden World in our Barbecue Shop so if you are still unsure which barbecue is the right one for you come into the store where our trained staff will help you make sure you take home the appropriate barbecue for your needs. 


Profile Image Angela Slater

Angela Slater

Daughter of a farmer and market gardener so have always had a connection with the outdoors, whether it was keeping animals or producing fruit, vegetables and cut flowers. Along with my work at Hayes Garden World I also have a smallholding, mainly breeding rare breed pigs. I gained an HND and BSc in Conservation and Environmental Land Management, as a result I am an ardent environmentalist and have a keen interest in environmentally friendly gardening. In my time at Hayes I worked for several years in the Outdoor Plant and Houseplant areas.