The best barbecues for a sizzling summer

The Weber Compact Kettle Charcoal Barbecue makes this list for its simple design and robust spec. If you’re new to barbecue cooking, and looking to find your way around a sack of charcoal and pair of tongs — or perhaps you just like no-frill BBQ'ing — this compact kettle barbecue is a literally solid option.  

It's constructed from steel and aluminium, with a triple-plated steel cooking grate, heavy gauge steel fuel grate, and porcelain-enamelled bowl and lid. An integrated lid hook allows you to hang the lid on the side of the barbecue itself, keeping your cooking area nice and tidy. The lid also has a built-in heat shield that prevents you from burning yourself whenever you grab the handle. 

Beneath the bowl there’s a rust-proof ash catcher, so cleaning it out is quick and simple — therefore solving one of the age-old barbecue problems. There's no lid thermometer, unfortunately. or self-emptying ash system. You'll have to fork out for a more expensive Weber for those features.

No doubt you've seen this style of barbecue in recent years — the egg-shaped kamado. And the Kamado Joe Jr is among the very best. This type of barbecue is bang on trend. But more than that, they make delicious food. That great taste comes courtesy of the shape and thick-walled shell, which help keep in the heat. It’s essentially a grill-oven-smoker combo.

Considering how big it is — just 27cm tall — the Kamado Joe doesn’t come cheap. The price is enough to make your eyes water. And not just because of the smoke. But take into account what you actually get in this little bundle of BBQ brilliance. It’s small, yes (hence the “Jr” tag), but you can easily transport it for on-the-go grilling. Though it’s not the lightest portable barbecue.

The design prevents the food from drying out by locking in smoke and moisture, which means juicier, more succulent, more flavoursome meat. It can also be used to bake pizzas, pastries, bread and more. You control the heat via air vents, while a handy drawer dispenses of the ash. You’ll also be impressed by how little charcoal this uses. It's pricey but a money-saver in the long run.

If you’re willing to go big on gas, consider the Weber Spirit E-310. In fact, skip the formalities. Just put your apron on and fetch the burgers from the fridge.

In terms of gas-only grills, you really can't go wrong. This is an all-round performer from a top brand. It has a spacious cooking area with three gas burners (with push-button ignition), plus a side burner, side table, warming rack, and a cupboard for storing all your barbecue accessories.

While some people prefer the taste of charcoal, this beaut of a BBQ has a secret weapon: Porcelain-enamelled flavouriser bars that catch drippings from your food to add that smoke and sizzle flavour. It also has a porcelain-enamelled grate and lid, plus a pull-out grease tray for easier cleaning.

Char-Broil is one of the most popular barbecue brands. There’s a simple reason for this: Char-Broil BBQs lead the way when it comes to hybrid features.

The Char-Broil Gas2Coal 440 Hybrid Grill is a perfect example. Whether you prefer the smoky taste of charcoal-cooked steak, or the simplicity of gas-powered grilling, this beast converts between the two in under 60 seconds. You won’t even need lighter fluid or matches. To light the charcoal, simply use the gas burners. The charcoal tray ensures consistent heat and fewer flare-ups. 

There are four burners to choose from, and the warming plate keeps things, well, warm, giving you can have a steady flow of delicious food.

It has a bunch of features to help you master the art of grilling, but the temperature gauge is among the handiest. It's mounted on the lid, helping track its pre-heat status and monitor the grill temperature once the lid's closed.

If the price is a bit steep — and let's be honest, it far from cheap — you can always try the less-expensive three-burner version.

If you like the taste of charcoal over gas and you're ready to spend a little extra of a high quality model, it doesn't get much better — as far as we're concerned, at least — than the Weber Master-Touch E5770. Indeed, this isn't just a barbecue but a "charcoal gourmet system", according to Weber.

What makes this so great is that it's big, sturdy, and has features to help barbecue great tasting food, every time. Most helpful, perhaps, is a built it temperature gauge, which is best put to use when you're doing some lid-closed, smoker-style cooking, like cooking an entire chicken, for instance. This is helped by a quartet of air vents, which you use to control the internal heat.

A quick-and-easy ask disposal system keeps everything tidy, along with a secure hinge lid, a weatherproof build, and integrated utensil hooks. It's a bit tricky to assemble, and heavy to lug around, but worth the effort.

It also comes equipped with a charcoal ring and diffuser, which you can use for smoker-style cooking. This protects your joints of meat and keeps the heat low.

We don’t need much from a barbecue. Some flames and a grill should cover it. What we do appreciate is a barbecue that ups the ante while keeping things nice and simple. If that all sounds tasty to you, then look no further than the Everdure by Heston Blumenthal Furnace 3.

This gas barbecue is easy to use, with a super-fast warm-up time of just five minutes. Sure, it’s got an expert-level price tag, but this is perfect for barbecue newbies as well as seasoned grill kings.

Everdure is an Australian company (and hey, they know a thing or two about BBQs) and boasts that the Furnace 3 is the “perfect union of function and form”. And in terms of function, it has three independently controlled high performance burners, variable flame control, and plenty more. As for form, well, it's an absolute stunner, combining modern and retro aesthetics.

If you’re looking for a quick-and-easy portable barbecue, there are plenty of options. Weber does a portable Smoky Joe edition of its classic kettle barbecue. There’s also a table top version of the Everdure by Heston Blumenthal range. But the top pick has to be the Valiant Folding Barbecue.

All these portable options are great. There’s no doubt about that. But we’re also fans of keeping things really, really simple — not to mention really, really cheap. And the Valiant Folding Barbecue costs less than £50, which is a steal when you factor in its innovative, travel-friendly design.

The barbecue essentially folds down into a little suitcase, which you can throw into the car or even into a rucksack. All removable parts, including its stainless steel grill, are easy to clean. It’s perfect for camping, picnics, or fishing trips.

At this price there are always downsides. The capacity is obviously limited (it serves approximately four people) and there are no bells and whistles. But the convenience the Valiant offers makes it well worth the relatively small cost.