The best gas and charcoal barbecues for summer

Weber is a well-known name in the world of barbecues, and this compact option is a real crowd-pleaser. The porcelain enamelled char ring and stainless steel diffuser plate help to distribute the heat efficiently for steady cooking without burning. It gives you a lot of the control and quality you'd expect from gas, but will all the smokey flavour you'd want from charcoal.

Review: "What a beast! Just cooked two barbecues, one for 18 people, the other for 9. This thing is easily big enough to rip through about 16 sausages or 8 1/4lb burgers at once. Gives a ferocious heat that is easy to control. It cooks things fast, really fast! Banging the lid on gives such a great smokey flavour. Quality is top-notch. I would definitely recommend complimenting this purchase with a charcoal starter, heatproof gloves and a cover. Overall, fantastic purchase and really pleased."

The 2-in-1 functionality of this grill means you can cook your meats, fish and vegetables over the barbecue flames or in the wood smoker for a distinctive smoked flavour. In addition to a large cooking surface for batch cooking, this bbq also boasts two spacious side shelves for handy storage, a bottle opener, 6 hanging hooks for utensils, and a height adjustable charcoal tray with 4 settings for greater temperature control.

Review: "Very well designed and robust BBQ. I liked the variable height charcoal grate. Very easy to vary the cooking heat. Assembly is a bit of a challenge, but if you follow the graphical instructions carefully and carefully check the many different fittings, it is OK."

With a cooking surface of 35 x 71cm, this oil drum charcoal BBQ is a great size for garden gatherings of around 10 people. It has an adjustable height for the grill, so you can control the distance between the charcoal and cooking grill and cook your food to perfection. It's also equipped with a chrome-plated warming rack, to keep food warm while you cook the next round, and its removable ash tray makes cleaning easy. Its 2 wheels mean you can move it around the garden with ease, whether you're chasing the sun or seeking out some shade.

Review: "We love an oil drum style BBQ and at £50 this was a no-brainer. The wheel attachments are a bit rickety, and it was a little shorter than hoped, but it's propped up on a couple of bricks and now it's perfect. Having the two shelves is great as you can leave food warming while other bits finish off, and there's plenty of space for having friends round, as well as being a good size for two on a sunny evening."

Like the Big Green Egg, the Kamado is a premium option but well worth it if you're a BBQ connoisseur. You can grill, smoke or bake with ease. The Kamado Joe Classic II features a thick-walled, heat-resistant shell that locks in smoke and moisture at any temperature. Smoke at 225F with precise temperature control or ramp up the fire to 750F and sear with direct charcoal-flavoured heat. There is a range of accessories and grilling surfaces available too, providing you premium results for any type of grilling or smoking that it is called upon.

Review: "Expensive, but worth every penny. This grill/oven/smoker takes barbecue to a whole new level. Even relatively mundane dishes like pork chops and steak are elevated by the Kamado's fierce but controllable charcoal grill. We bought this because we wanted to do a better job of hosting summer parties in our garden. Now we can cook for 20+ at a time with much less stress, and people love the wonderful smoky flavours we produce. I think we may end up slow roasting the Xmas turkey too."

The EGG is described by its creators as 'so much more than a barbecue'. With the ConvEGGtor at your disposal (included with every EGG purchase), you can make pizza, hot-smoked salmon and sourdough bread. You can pull off astonishing brisket, pulled pork and ribs or just prepare for the greatest roast chicken of your life.

Review: "We bought a Big Green Egg since friends raved about them. They are definitely a superior way of BBQing, and since they are made of ceramic will last forever. We are total converts to Big Green Eggs - they are so brilliant for Steaks/ Pizzas/ Slow cooks like pulled pork/ we even smoke salmon and bake chillis and breakfast dishes."

The stylish Omega 250 Gas BBQ produces deliciously smoked chargrilled food for your friends and family. The award-winning BBQ has a one-piece hammertone hood, an additional side burner, push-button ignition, a handy side table and tool rack, a grease-collection cup and a metal storage shelf at the base. So whether you're an amateur cook or a professional chef, the Omega 250 ticks all the boxes.

Review: "Being a wool charcoal man, I decided to buy a gas BBQ for spur-of-the-moment outside cooking, when lighting the coals and waiting for 40 minutes to start was a bit too much effort. I've used this gas BBQ twice now and got to say it fills the gap between a full-blown, take-your-time occasion and something quick and convenient perfectly. Everything worked perfectly, the first time and the bits that needed cleaning fitted comfortably into the dishwasher. A useful addition for anyone who likes cooking outside, even under an umbrella when needs must!"

The GoodHome Tippah 4.0 gas barbecue is perfect for simple cooking at an affordable price. You can also customise your barbecue by adding a variety of grids/planchas, allowing you to try out different cooking styles such as a wok or a pizza stone.

Review: "Managed to pick this up as the last one in stock in store. Having only just got round to assembling this weekend, it cooked great! Lid closed I was getting 250-300 degrees within a few seconds. It did take slightly longer with the lid open but nothing noticeable compared to my old bbq. The fact the grill and fat trays are small and removable makes them ideal for putting in the dishwasher. Struggling to buy a cover from a store as constantly out of stock but otherwise highly recommend for quality vs value!"

For those who cannot choose between the simplicity of gas and the taste of charcoal: welcome to the Gas2Coal hybrid grill. In less than 60 seconds, it can be converted from a gas barbecue to a charcoal barbecue.

Review: "We love it! A small barbecue that can work both ways but doesn't cost an eye! If you want a super professional one then opt for the bigger and more expensive ones but for a small family, I think it's ideal. You can decide if you want a quick dinner and use the gas so BOOM your meal is done, or you can take your sweet time and experiment with the charcoal tray to give your steak that awesome smoky flavour. We're very satisfied with it, using it almost every single night."

A grill perfect for food, fun, family and friends. The UniFlame Select 6-Burner LP Gas Grill with Side Burner is a great choice whether preparing and feeding a couple or a crowd you will find the space, power and control you need for success. This grill features a primary cooking area and warming area, both made of stainless steel. With the IR (infrared) side burner, you can prepare sauces and side dishes as well.

Review: "A quality stainless steel bbq that takes a bit of assembling but it's so worth it. It looks like a bbq costing twice the price. I hunted around for this for weeks. All the bits that would rust are stainless so should last much longer than a steel one. Rotisserie works beautifully as does the searing station. Top marks all round."