National BBQ Week (25th - 31st May) isn't just another week on the calendar. For serious outdoor cooking enthusiasts across the UK, it's the perfect excuse to upgrade your setup and showcase what real barbecue mastery looks like.
While most outdoor cooks settle for mediocre results with basic equipment, achieving that professional smoky, succulent flavour and perfect sear requires the right tools and setup. You've probably experienced the frustration: uneven cooking zones, meat that's charred outside but raw inside, or struggling to maintain consistent temperatures during longer cooks.
What You Can Learn from This Article
- Choosing the Right Grill: How quality grills ensure even heat, versatility, and better cooking results
- Set Up Your Space: How durable prep surfaces, outdoor dining furniture, and a pergola create a functional and comfortable BBQ area
- Protect & Maintain: Use cleaning kits and covers to keep your equipment in top condition
- Plan Strategically: Prioritise the grill first, then add more units, dining, and shelter for the ultimate BBQ experience
The Foundation: Why Your Grill Choice Makes or Breaks Your Cookout
Everything starts with your grill. You can master every technique, source premium cuts, and perfect your rubs, but if your grill can't hold consistent heat, distribute it evenly, or if you are not confident with your BBQ cooking technique, you're fighting a losing battle before the first burger hits the grill.
Draco Grills: The Professional Choice
This is where Draco Grills separate themselves from budget barbecue equipment. The difference comes down to three critical factors that directly impact your results: superior heat retention and distribution technology that eliminates those frustrating hot and cold spots, construction built specifically for UK weather conditions using premium materials that won't corrode after one damp winter, and genuine versatility for multiple cooking styles - from low-and-slow smoking to high-heat searing, baking, roasting, and even Asian-inspired grilling techniques like yakitori or Korean barbecue.
Whether you're investing in a Draco Grills barbecue, you're choosing something designed for serious outdoor cooking enthusiasts who demand consistency and crave the freedom to experiment with flavours. Impress your guests with smoked ribs, succulent rotisserie chicken with aromatic herbs, or high-heat seared steaks. Whether or not you choose to cook with gas or charcoal, you will still benefit from the Grillstream grill system, which runs away from the burners to prevent flare-ups and a large amount of cleaning.
It also includes a warming rack, griddle plate, and integral side burner with steak shelf along with a FREE hose & regulator. The storage cabinet provides practical space and lockable castors hold the BBQ in place, providing easy manoeuvrability.
Another high-quality BBQ is the luxurious Draco Grills Z640 Deluxe 6 Burner Stainless Steel Gas Barbecue with Cabinet, which takes al fresco dining to a whole new level at the touch of button. A perfect component to create your own modular outdoor kitchen with other pre-built components (e.g. outdoor fridges, cupboards, sink & tap units) and great for using at large parties, this powerful gas barbecue is great for using at parties thanks to its large cooking area and is guaranteed to give your outdoor dining experiences the wow-factor.
Made of 430 commercial grade stainless steel, this gas barbecue is designed to ensure maximum performance with its six stainless steel tubular burners that will deliver a heat output of 90000 BTU (12500 BTU per main burner and 15000 BTU for rear burner). It also has LED lights, which makes it easier for you to cook in the dark.
The Best Barbecue Tools and Accessories
To get the best out of your BBQ, it is a good idea to invest in a few useful tools and accessories to make your grilling experience easier. Here are our picks of the best BBQ tools for 2022.
When you are cooking on your BBQ, you need to be able to flip food safely to avoid burns and your regular kitchen utensils might not be long enough to maintain a safe distance from the heat. We would recommend long-handled tongs with metal tips, such as the Grillstream Gourmet Barbecue Tongs and BeefEater Professional Stainless Steel Barbecue Tongs, in case of flare-ups.
Once the fun is over, it is important to carry out some routine maintenance on your BBQ to ensure it stays in excellent condition and avoid grease build-up or damage from ash or the weather. Keep your BBQ under a cover when not in use to protect it from the elements and don’t leave the grill dirty until the next time you want to use it – use a cleaning brush to get rid of the toughest grime and burnt-on food.
If you would more information about our BBQs and accessories, please feel free to contact our dedicated Customer Service team on 0118 3800 381 or help@gardentrends.co.uk.
