BBQ - Is it worth getting a Weber BBQ?

[Too Late]

Hi all.
I am looking at buying a charcoal BBQ but realise quickly you can spend lots of money on what looks like a very basic bbq.

Looking at a simple Weber original kettle premium 57cm.
http://www.riversidegardencentre.co.uk/weber-origi...


Are they any good?
Any other recommendations?

Thanks
Nick

[21TonyK]

Over the years I have had a succession of different BBQs from huge gas grills to oil drum style charcoal etc but by far the best in terms of length of service is a webber kettle I bought over 5 years ago. Still looks like new when cleaned, lives out doors (in the UK).

Only thing I've done is replace the original grill with a cast iron one. Purely because I wanted to really, the old grill is still perfectly functional but I prefer a heavier grill to cook on.

Overall I think they're pretty good value for money and would definitely buy one again although I suspect the current one will go another 5 years at least.

[jmorgan]

I had a stainless steel BBQ (not a webber) for years. Then went for a Webber kettle and wondered why I had not done it years ago. It works, the temperature control for smoking is easy, I cook the xmas beef joint on it. Four hours of mesquite smokes goodness is a marvel. As an open BBQ, well, suppose they will all do it, it is the smoking that I really love on this.

There are a lot of add ons as well, but that is up to you. The chimney starter is a must though.

Edited by jmorgan on Monday 8th August 10:06

[tenfour]

Too Late said:

Hi all.
I am looking at buying a charcoal BBQ but realise quickly you can spend lots of money on what looks like a very basic bbq.

Looking at a simple Weber original kettle premium 57cm.
http://www.riversidegardencentre.co.uk/weber-origi...


Are they any good?
Any other recommendations?

Thanks
Nick

Webers are like Barbour jackets: you only need to buy one once.

I've cooked on mine in three different countries and it still looks as good as new after a clean. No rust; no failed welds etc. It just works.

[T.J.B]

Yes. Love mine, has stood outside for the last four years now with no cover and after a quick wipe down looks good as new

[Too Late]

awesome thanks chaps

[jmorgan]

And having tried the various charcoal and briquets over the years, their branded ones are good, I prefer them. From that same site, they have also expanded on the rubs etc. Get some mesquite chips , they are superb.

[otolith]

I nearly bought one yesterday. They had one set up, and I assumed it would feel better quality than the cheap clones, but I couldn't see or feel any difference between it and the ones for 1/3 the price.

Ended up buying one of these from Homebase for £120 - didn't realise how far off RRP that was!

http://www.landmann.co.uk/kentucky-smoker.html

Works well, seems very solid and well build (and very, very heavy).

[battered]

tenfour said:

Webers are like Barbour jackets: you only need to buy one once.

I've cooked on mine in three different countries and it still looks as good as new after a clean. No rust; no failed welds etc. It just works.

Not strictly true. My folks had one that died. In winter it lived in a shed. The moving parts (ventilation etc) corroded and fell apart and they couldn't replace them. OK, it took a while, but they don't last for ever.

[thebraketester]

We've got a weber, had it about 2 years I think. Looks like new with the exception of the lower grate which is expected.

I drilled a hole in the lid of mine and put in a thermometer. Works great. Great for BBQ and great for slow long cooking. 6hrs+ no problem with decent briquettes.

[Too Late]

otolith said:

I nearly bought one yesterday. They had one set up, and I assumed it would feel better quality than the cheap clones, but I couldn't see or feel any difference between it and the ones for 1/3 the price.

Ended up buying one of these from Homebase for £120 - didn't realise how far off RRP that was!

http://www.landmann.co.uk/kentucky-smoker.html

Works well, seems very solid and well build (and very, very heavy).

They look good. Hmmm decisions...

[anonymous-user]

Yes. It's very flexible. You can use it as an oven, grill, smoker (although it really offers only a basic smoker function in my opinion, perhaps I'm doing it wrong). The temperature control is great, you can move coals about, lid on, lid off. For the money, it is the best I have seen/used.

[sunil4]

If you do decide to go Weber then call Lee or Patrick at Wowbbq and say Sunil Patel sent you and they will give you the best price and their customer service is superb.

I've used them for over ten years and currently have six Weber's, about to be seven

Cheers

[jmorgan]

Just get one, no matter which
Turn this


Into this

[MarshPhantom]

I wouldn't touch them again.

We bought one of their Go Anywhere Gas BBQs, which states quite clearly in the advert that it comes with a hose and regulator. Got ours to find there wasn't one. Contacted Weber who after making us go through much faff (copies of receipts, serial number etc) inform us that the BBQ doesn't come with the hose and regulator.

Me: it states in the advert that it comes with a hose and regulator.

Weber: it doesn't.

Me: but the ad says it does.

Weber: but it doesn't. You can buy the bit you need separately for £50.

Me: I only bought the BBQ because it said it came with the hose and regulator. Can you send me one?

Weber have now gone quiet.

[thebraketester]

MarshPhantom said:

I wouldn't touch them again.

We bought one of their Go Anywhere Gas BBQs, which states quite clearly in the advert that it comes with a hose and regulator. Got ours to find there wasn't one. Contacted Weber who after making us go through much faff (copies of receipts, serial number etc) inform us that the BBQ doesn't come with the hose and regulator.

Me: it states in the advert that it comes with a hose and regulator.

Weber: it doesn't.

Me: but the ad says it does.

Weber: but it doesn't. You can buy the bit you need separately for £50.

Me: I only bought the BBQ because it said it came with the hose and regulator. Can you send me one?

Weber have now gone quiet.

Tweet them. I bought a weber cover for my BBQ (the cheap cover) and it got a hole it it after a year. 1 tweet, 2 emails and 1 week later I had a brand new "deluxe" cover worth about 60 quid. :-)

[MarshPhantom]

thebraketester said:

MarshPhantom said:

I wouldn't touch them again.

We bought one of their Go Anywhere Gas BBQs, which states quite clearly in the advert that it comes with a hose and regulator. Got ours to find there wasn't one. Contacted Weber who after making us go through much faff (copies of receipts, serial number etc) inform us that the BBQ doesn't come with the hose and regulator.

Me: it states in the advert that it comes with a hose and regulator.

Weber: it doesn't.

Me: but the ad says it does.

Weber: but it doesn't. You can buy the bit you need separately for £50.

Me: I only bought the BBQ because it said it came with the hose and regulator. Can you send me one?

Weber have now gone quiet.

Tweet them. I bought a weber cover for my BBQ (the cheap cover) and it got a hole it it after a year. 1 tweet, 2 emails and 1 week later I had a brand new "deluxe" cover worth about 60 quid. :-)

I was surprised at how rubbish they were. I may begin the campaign again.

[tenfour]

battered said:

tenfour said:

Webers are like Barbour jackets: you only need to buy one once.

I've cooked on mine in three different countries and it still looks as good as new after a clean. No rust; no failed welds etc. It just works.

Not strictly true. My folks had one that died. In winter it lived in a shed. The moving parts (ventilation etc) corroded and fell apart and they couldn't replace them. OK, it took a while, but they don't last for ever.

Quite.

In the same way that if you don't look after your Barbour, it will eventually fall apart...

I keep my Weber oiled far that very reason. It's not made of unobtanium, after all.

[sunil4]

MarshPhantom said:

I wouldn't touch them again.

We bought one of their Go Anywhere Gas BBQs, which states quite clearly in the advert that it comes with a hose and regulator. Got ours to find there wasn't one. Contacted Weber who after making us go through much faff (copies of receipts, serial number etc) inform us that the BBQ doesn't come with the hose and regulator.

Me: it states in the advert that it comes with a hose and regulator.

Weber: it doesn't.

Me: but the ad says it does.

Weber: but it doesn't. You can buy the bit you need separately for £50.

Me: I only bought the BBQ because it said it came with the hose and regulator. Can you send me one?

Weber have now gone quiet.

It should come with the hose and regulator. Who was the retailer?

[MarshPhantom]

sunil4 said:

MarshPhantom said:

I wouldn't touch them again.

We bought one of their Go Anywhere Gas BBQs, which states quite clearly in the advert that it comes with a hose and regulator. Got ours to find there wasn't one. Contacted Weber who after making us go through much faff (copies of receipts, serial number etc) inform us that the BBQ doesn't come with the hose and regulator.

Me: it states in the advert that it comes with a hose and regulator.

Weber: it doesn't.

Me: but the ad says it does.

Weber: but it doesn't. You can buy the bit you need separately for £50.

Me: I only bought the BBQ because it said it came with the hose and regulator. Can you send me one?

Weber have now gone quiet.

It should come with the hose and regulator. Who was the retailer?

We got it from Argos, the Argos website (and other vendors) says it comes the bits with but Weber are denying it. I think I need to speak to someone else at Weber.