Part 2 The Reviews - Under £400 - Which Gas BBQ to choose in 2013? Our Verdict...
This week, were going to be reviewing the best gas barbeques for under £400.
At this price range, you can expect to get a model that lasts between 3 “ 6 years, and whilst they may not have all the bells and whistles of the more expensive models, all the gas barbeques weve listed below provide real value and are a great choice for customers with a tight budget.
Whilst the barbecues weve chosen in this price range are comparable in price with the majority of those sold at large DIY retailers “ they are a world away when it comes to quality, reliability and functionality. Weve lost count of the number of customers whove bought a budget gas barbeque from the big retailers, then have to replace it a year or two later because of poor quality.
Shortlist:
Swiss Grill Icon I-300 BBQ
The Swiss Grill Icon I-300 is the entry-level 3-burner gas BBQ in the Swiss Grill Icon range. The stainless steel hood and burners are an extremely positive note for a barbecue in this price range, but the compromises are the lack of doors on the front of the barbecue - meaning storage isnt easy-access. In addition, the I-300 doesnt feature a side burner.
This barbecue comes with cast iron matt enamel cooking rods, which provide fantastic cooking performance, but are somewhat difficult to clean, and need to be maintained to ensure that they are kept in great shape.
The Icon I-300 gas BBQ offers the same cooking area and same amount of main burners and same components as the bigger brother the I-430, just without the side burner and the easy access doors. In our opinion, the cart is where the price point of the barbecue is realised, and isnt as sturdy as some of the other models in this price range. However, its swings and roundabouts, and the firebox is really high quality.
Ideal for: The occasional griller who is happy with sausages, burgers, would like the convenience of a gas BBQ and is happy to compromise on the quality of the cart.
Swiss Grill Icon I-430 BBQ
The Swiss Grill Icon I-430 gas BBQ is a great family barbecue, with 3 main burners and 1 side burner. It is the exact replica of the I-300, but with the addition of cabinet doors on the front and a side burner, which makes barbecuing for families or larger events that bit easier. Whether those two features are worth paying for is something that only you can answer, but we believe the addition of a side burner opens up many more barbecuing opportunities.
Ideal for: The occasional griller who is happy with sausages, burgers, would like the convenience of storage and the side burner whilst happy to compromise on the quality of the cart.
Grand Hall IT-3 BBQ
The Grand Hall IT-3 offers an affordable, complete outdoor kitchen, with 3 stainless steel main burners and a side burner, and is a great family barbecue. The IT-3 also includes Grand Halls patented Integrill cooking system, which is more efficient than traditional cooking technology, providing powerful performance whilst using significantly less gas than competing products.
The IT-3 provides a lot of functionality for the money, with convenient gas cylinder storage, and cast iron, porcelain coated cooking grids that are great to cook on. Build quality and the materials used in the construction on the IT3 are also really good for the money.
Ideal for: The occasional griller/family BBQ enthusiast who is happy with sausages and burgers, but demands good performance and value for money.
Napoleon Triumph 325 BBQ
Combining convenience and quality in an attractive package, the Napoleon Triumph 325 is a flexible, gas BBQ that features folding side shelves for ease of storage. With three main burners and a side burner, its a good choice for a small family gas barbeque in this price range.
Whilst you get fantastic portability and convenience with the Napoleon Triumph 325, this does mean you have to compromise a little on the available main cooking area, so you might struggle to cater for larger parties. Having said that, it does feature a side burner with decent output.
Ideal for: The occasional griller who wants a reliable, portable and easy to store gas barbeque and doesnt need to cater for large numbers of BBQ guests.
Winner: Grand Hall IT-3 with Side Burner
Although there are some strong contenders in this category, the IT-3 is our pick of the bunch. With excellent build quality, and features usually found on more expensive models, its flexibility, output and reliability make it a fantastic choice.
Check back with us next week, when well be looking at the best gas barbecues in the £400 - £500 price bracket.