‘The heat generated was extremely efficient and especially having the ability to lower the lid was very handy. The build quality is very good and well worth the money.’
After a somewhat disappointing start to June, the weather forecast is finally looking a little more promising. Forecasters are predicting warmer temperatures for parts of the UK this weekend, with some areas expected to reach the low-to-mid 20s, making it the perfect excuse to dust off the garden furniture and fire up the barbecue – especially as people gear up to host for the World Cup.
For those planning to make the most of the sunshine but the current grill has seen better days, The Range has reduced the Texas Smoker BBQ by BBQ Chef. And shoppers say it’s ‘very sturdy’ and ‘great value for money’. Just in time for the football kicking off this weekend.
Designed for both traditional barbecuing and low-and-slow smoking, the Texas Smoker BBQ has been reduced from £169.99 to £99.99, saving £70 on the RRP. Now under £100, it includes a range of nifty features, from a temperature gauge built into the lid to an adjustable charcoal tray with a crank-up system for more precise heat control.
Charcoal refill has been made simple with front access doors that make topping up fuel far easier than on many budget models. There’s also a chimney, which can be used to create that authentic smoky barbecue flavour that’s become increasingly popular with home cooks. There’s also a warming rack for keeping food hot while the rest of the feast finishes cooking, while the removable grills are dishwasher safe, making the post-BBQ clean-up far less stressful.
Elsewhere, the Argos Home Trolley Charcoal BBQ comes in at £120 , and is said to be able to ‘cook for up to 15 people with ease’. Like The Range’s option – to which it bears striking similarity – it also has a front access door for coal refills, an adjustable charcoal tray and crank-up system.
Texas Smoker BBQ
£169.99
£99.99
The Range
Buy here
Featuring a temperature gauge and an adjustable charcoal tray with a crank-up system, you can wow family and friends with their perfect steak every time
For those looking to splash out on something a little more premium, though the Ninja Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill & Smoker is currently on offer. Originally £299.99, it’s down to £229.99 , saving £80. Users can grill, smoke, air fry and more with authentic Woodfire flavours, but with none of the mess or hassle of traditional methods.
Back at The Range, there are a number of products that are perfect for sprucing up ourdoor spaces in time for summer. The Avalon 5 Piece Rattan Sofa Set, for example, has been reduced by £50, now costing £349.99 from £399.99. It’s made up of a two sofas, two ottomans, and a side table, which can be moved around into different configurations to accommodate guests, or pushed together to create a bed.
The Solar Hot Air Balloon Hanging Light bulbs are ideal for creating a cosy atmosphere, while those who love entertaining will appreciate the 37L Cooler Bar Table Cooler Side Table (now £69.95 from £79.95). With its extendable table top and large capacity that can keep drinks cool for up to six hours, great those having people round to watch the World Cup.
Speaking of football, for little ones, the Football Slip N Slide is £24.99 and will keep them entertained (and cool) for hours. It features inflatable goals and a ball, however, it’s yet to generate any reviews from customers.
The barbecue has attracted plenty of positive feedback from shoppers, though – particularly about how easy it is to assemble. One shopper, Fatema, said: “Got it on sale. I think it is a great BBQ for that price. Everything you need to get started.”
Another customer, Len, upgraded to the Texas Smoker from an older model, commenting: “I’ve had a few BBQs over the years and I thought I would upgrade to this particular model. Reason being is that my partner’s son has the same model and is very pleased with it. The instructions were good and easy to follow however the 50 minutes assembly time is a little bit ambitious. My build time was approximately 2 hours.
“I haven’t got into smoking yet, but from the first firing to consuming cooked food was 45 minutes and that was with the rack set at its lowest, so as not to burn any food on the outside and cook properly inside. The heat generated was extremely efficient and especially having the ability to lower the lid was very handy. The build quality is very good and well worth the money.”
Colin, described it as ‘great value for money, adding: “Ordered 7pm delivered 10am next morning. Assembled BBQ on my own, took about 1 1/2 hrs. Good instructions, quality build, went together no problems. There are a number of near identical BBQ’s on the internet and all are £30 more expensive. Great value for money. Just looking forward to trying it at the weekend.”
For those new to outdoor cooking, Jake said it was a ‘good starter BBQ’, but knocked a star off due to what he felt was a design flaw. He said: “Very sturdy and doesn’t feel flimsy like some cheaper bbqs. Cannot praise the person who put the instructions together enough. It was as easy as following Lego instructions. All the bolts and fasteners were labels and easy to find. It does say it’s a 2 man job to build but I built it on my own with help from a three-year-old (well as much help as they can be).
“Only down side to this is there is a 5mm gap between the base and the lid so will need to use some fire rope to help seal the whole unit up for better temperature controls during smoking. But otherwise after 6 hours of smoking some ribs came out really well. If it wasn’t for the slight gap of the whole body I would have given it a 5 out of 5 but don’t let that stop you buying it.”
For shoppers looking to upgrade their outdoor cooking setup without spending hundreds of pounds this summer – and in time for the World Cup, no less – the Texas Smoker BBQ appears to offer a lot of features for the money, particularly with a £70 saving.
