British BBQ Society Forums

Hi there,

Just like to say hi and thanks for reading, I am currently remodelling our back yard and garden (in this lovely February weather ) and I am determined to include an area where we can sit and relax and have a bbq and if space permits a smoker as well. I have always enjoyed having a bbq with friends when we are away camping but would like to get more informed on how to get better results from our bbq than just throwing the usual burgers and sausages on that normally happens. I am going to do some research as to what is best for what I need so thought joining this site would help.

David

Hi David I'm sure you'll find something on here to help, but if you've any major problems just ask there is a wealth of knowledge on here from a vast pool of experience (sound good dunnit )

Cheers

Keith

Hi David!

You're definitely in the right place, everyone here is really friendly and helpful. I'm based up the road in Sheffield, and I know there is at least one other Sheffielder and one other Chesterfielder on here.

Have you had any thoughts as to what sort of barbecue you want? On here you will find people cooking on all sorts from a portable grill to a giant smoker and everything in between, to say the least!

Thanks for the welcome Keith and Rob,

I will be reading into what bbq that will be the best for us, it isn't a large area that I have got to place one it is about 6' by 4' so I will have a good look as to what will work.

Cheers
David

If space is an issue and you want to do low n slow smoking, then you might want to consider getting a vertical smoker. Some examples for you to look into and their common bbq acronyms (there are a lot of those to get your head around!)

WSM - Weber Smoky Mountain. A "water smoker" where the fire bin is below a water pan.
ProQ Excel range - similar to WSM but cheaper
UDS - Ugly Drum Smoker - very easily built home made smoker that costs about £50 to make (this is what I cook on and love it)
ECB - El Cheapo Brinkman, aka Brinkmann Smoke n Grill. The bottom of the range water smoker. I had one. I hated it. Needs modifications just to make it usable.

If you want to have a unit you can smoke on *or* grill, you may be best looking at a large kettle similar to the "OTP" - Weber One Touch Premium. No doubt Weber make a damn good quality barbecue, but they are rather expensive compared to unbranded equivalents. Just make sure whatever kettle you go for has air inlet baffles as well as exhaust baffles. You can also do direct grilling and indirect smoking on an offset (horizontal) smoker but they take up more room.

Everyone has their own preferences and favourites and there isn't a right or wrong answer. I love my drum smoker, it was simple to build, very cheap, takes up little floor space and burns efficiently and predictably. If money was no object I would probably have bought a WSM, much like I would have an Apple computer instead of a home built Linux box, but that's not the case

PS if you don't mind the drive you are welcome to come round and have a look at my smoker - still have the ECB too. We can have a beer / cuppa and chat about bbq.

Thanks for that Rob, It looks like I have a fair bit more of reading up on what would be the best for us, the UDS sounds a great idea for me to build as I have a background in welding and fabrication and I should be able to get hold of a drum to build one.
Thanks for the offer to call over I might just have to take you up on it.

Cheers
David

No worries mate. Sent you a pm with my number and some details of where to get a drum nearby. It's so easy building a UDS, if you're used to fabricating you could do it in an afternoon easily.