British BBQ Society Forums

Hey all,

I was looking to import a offset smoker from the US but I have given up due to costs. So I have looked at various other options and I although I am looking to build a UDS I want something on the deck I can use all year round (as much as possible). The BGE looks to be a great option but the whole line up is eye wateringly expensive. If you all say it's the dogs and there is no other option that can match I might look to get a Small or Medium but is there an alternative option available in the UK which stands up to the BGE?

I can't remember the title of the topic but there was a post on a cheaper cooky-likey from ebay so it may take a few minutes of searching but you should find it.

Kamado Joe's are a very good alternative to BGE and they can often be found on sale at this time of year.

I have also lusted over a BGE. I spent alot of time looking at them recently and they are lovely but I had a hard look at the competitors. The kamado Joe consistently comes out as the closest rival to the BGE, but its a good deal cheaper.

Last week I bit the bullet as this company (Greenhouse Warehouse) were doing a 10% off Kamada Joes and the also are currently selling some ex-demo's http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/EX-DISPLAY-KAMADO-JOE-GRILL-BLACK-WITH-CART-AND-SIDE-SHELVES-USED-/151125047619?pt=UK_Home_Garden_BBQ_s_Accessories_LE&hash=item232fc13943 for £579. For the equivalent BGE you are looking at £1100. Double the cash, but definitely not double the cooker.

I received it on Monday and its bloody beautiful. I love it!

Will we get a chance to drool over it in November Cuan?

I've just shocked myself.

I bought a cheap Kamado - one of the Vison Grills/Auplex ones - back in April 2012. I am still happy with my purchase - although most of my cooking is done on the Traeger, the Kamado is fun to play with. It is not a Kamado Joe or a Big Green Egg, but it only cost me 350 quid new.

So I thought I would check if they are still on sale anywhere, before mentioning it here. They are - on eBay - but going for between 550 and 760 quid - I believe that latter price is more than a new Joe would cost.

Frankly, I am gobsmacked.

I still remain to be convinced, but love the idea of them. Overall cooking space is not much different to WSM but significant costs.

I'd like to ideally rent one for a weekend to see if there was a real benefit / purpose to justify the expenditure.

Aside from that, they look amazing & would love one in my garden.


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Well, I can answer that now that I am a week in with my KJ classic. I have done sausages, lamb chops, bone in rib eye, bread and pizza. Everything I have thrown at its been amazing. The shortest answer that I can give is that it gives massive versatility, it will cook like a suped up kettle, but you can also do indirect cooking and smoke on it, In theory I could replace everything with just this cooker. But based on what I have seen, I am going to keep my WSM for smoking and get rid of my Weber Kettle. There is also pressure from the wife to reduce the bbq landscape

I really wanted a BGE (in 2001 I tried to import from the US but it was prohibitively expensive), fast forward a few years, a few spare coppers and I settled on the KJ, because I couldnt swallow the additional costs for the BGE. I am so pleased I bit the bullet. Its simply amazing

Having done some further reading and research along with your comments on here I am fully set on getting a kamado joe classic.

Just need to work out what extras I need to make pizza

All new KJ classics now come with the Heat Deflector free. All you need on top of the KJ Classic is the pizza stone. As a recommendation, a little pizza paddle (like the Weber one) is also pretty useful. We were lazy and didnt want to make the pizza dough so bought the jus-rol http://www.jusrol.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductId=13 and it was surprisingly good.