Part 5 The Reviews - £600 - £750 - Which gas BBQ to choose in 2013?
At this price point, were getting into true enthusiast territory, with quality barbecues that you wont find in the high street stores. Innovative features, premium touches and added functionalities start to appear from this point in, and youre guaranteed to get a lasting, high-quality product.
Whilst theres still plenty of competition and great models to choose from in the £600 - £750 price point, this week, weve managed to narrow it down to just four of our absolute favourites.
Weber Spirit Premium S-320 BBQ
The pinnacle of its entry-level Spirit range, the S-320 epitomises everything that makes a Weber BBQ so fantastic.
Like the rest of the Spirit range, the S320 includes the Electronic Crossover ignition and a Flavorizer bar for an authentic barbecue taste, but it also includes 6 tool holders, 2 stainless steel worktops and a stylish gas bottle screen.
The enclosed cart offers storage for all your bbq essentials, and the swivel/lockable castors make it more portable than many of its competitors. It looks great, build quality is up there with Webers top products, and the S-320 even comes supplied with a 25 year limited warranty for added peace of mind.
Of course, the quality comes at a price, and you can get much larger barbecues for your money, but no other 3 burner models come close to matching the S-320 for quality, performance and features.
Ideal for: Barbecue enthusiasts who want a premium barbecue, but dont need huge capacity
Napoleon LE 485 SB BBQ
The Napoleon LE 485 SB is a high-quality 4 burner barbecue thats perfect for the family enthusiast.
Solid and robust, it features a double walled stainless steel lid, sturdy side shelves with an integrated utensil holder, and has a generous cooking area that make it suitable for large gatherings.
The most innovative feature of the LE 485 SB is the inclusion of Napoleons iGLOW backlit technology, which allows you to barbecue at any time of the day or night, by illuminating the control knobs. Whilst this might sound like a bit of a gimmick, youll probably be surprised at how often you need this feature!
Whilst the LE 485 SB is perfectly capable of producing great tasting food straight out of the box, you can even add a charcoal tray to provide a more authentic, smoky barbecue flavour if desired.
Ideal for: The late night barbecue enthusiast that likes to see what theyre cooking!
Swiss Grill Arosa Stainless Steel / Black BBQ
Entirely built from stainless steel, the Arosa A-200 is a top quality four burner thats built to last, and will continue to provide you with great tasting barbecue food for years to come.
Whilst the flexible A-200s 24.7kW output and generous cooking area make it large enough to cater for big parties, its also suitable for smaller affairs, thanks to its independent gas burners.
Whatever the gathering, its commercial grade rotisserie with infra-red burner means that you wont be restricted to the usual barbecue staples.
Ideal for: Barbecue enthusiasts who demand high quality and big capacity
Grand Hall GTI-4 Island BBQ
The top model in Grand Halls GTI range, the GTI-4 Island BBQ is a great four burner with a quality feel.
Essentially, the only difference between this and the standard GTI-4 is the island shape, which increases storage and makes it more usable. You still get the excellent ˜Chefs Plancha “ a cast iron hotplate for traditional cooking, which is one of our favourite features thanks to its raised edges, which means you dont have to worry about dropping food.
It also includes Grand Halls patented Integrill technology that reduces gas usage by at least 15%, in addition to a back burner and warming rack, and separate side burner.
We think it looks fantastic, and provides good separation between the gas and food storage, whilst providing additional space for the barbecue chef to work in. It also turns the barbecue into a design feature in its own right, but if youre short of outdoor space, you may be better opting for the standard GTI-4.
Ideal for: Barbecue enthusiasts who want a more permanent outdoor fixture, and the additional space afforded by an island shape.
Winner: Weber Spirit Premium S-320
Despite its small capacity, the beautiful Weber Spirit Premium perfectly demonstrates why Weber products have a reputation for being so good. With unrivalled build-quality, materials and design, the S-320 is a real thing of beauty, and definitely a worthy investment.
Simply put, its one of the finest 3-burner barbecues you can buy, and if you value quality, but dont need the additional capacity afforded by the 4 or 5 burner, this is the perfect model for you.