If convenience is a major factor, a gas barbecue is the best choice. If you like to get home from work and dine al fresco in the evening, a gas bbq is ready at the flick of a switch. But you will sacrifice some of that authentic smoky flavour. However, if you only tend to barbie at weekends, when you have plenty of time to get the fire started, and wait for the coals to be ready, a charcoal barbie is the one to choose.

Firstly, you need to consider the type of BBQ you want. There are two main options to choose from charcoal or gas:

If convenience is a major factor, a gas barbecue is the best choice. If you like to get home from work and dine al fresco in the evening, a gas bbq is ready at the flick of a switch. But you will sacrifice some of that authentic smoky flavour. However, if you only tend to barbie at weekends, when you have plenty of time to get the fire started, and wait for the coals to be ready, a charcoal barbie is the one to choose. If you're keen to reduce your carbon footprint, try to buy charcoal that is sourced ethically. According to Friends of the Earth, 40 per cent of the charcoal we use is linked to deforestation in the tropics. However, you can buy FSC charcoal and charcoal that is sourced locally, rather than charcoal that is imported and has been produced in depleted rainforests. Lump charcoal is better than briquettes, which may have undergone chemical processing. Proper charcoal is carbon-neutral, because it puts back into the atmosphere the CO2 that the tree absorbed while it was alive.

The Stainless Steel Gas BBQ - For those who are looking for a simpler and less time-consuming method of outdoor cooking, there is the stainless steel Gas BBQ. The main advantages of gas over charcoal are that the barbecue is easier to light and offers a more consistent and controllable way of cooking which gives you more time to enjoy with family and friends. Plus by buying a gas BBQ, you aren't necessarily sacrificing flavour. The renowned barbecue flavour is achieved by the meat residues dripping into the flames and then vaporising on the cooking food.

After choosing the type of barbecue to meet your needs, you need to consider the size of barbecue you will need. The first thing to consider is what type of foods you will be cooking on a regular basis. For example if you are looking to regularly have a traditional family BBQ for four people, you are most likely going to want to cook burgers and sausages and maybe also toast marshmallows for dessert. However if you enjoy entertaining and will be regularly holding large alfresco dinner parties, you may be looking to cook slightly more adventurous food such as joints of meat and fish, followed by banana splits for dessert.

The size of a stainless steel BBQ can be determined in two specific ways - the grilling area and the number of burners. Generally barbecue retailers in the UK sell gas BBQs based on the number of burners they have for example 3 burner, 4 burner or 5 burner. Generally the more burners a BBQ has, the bigger it is. However some manufacturers put the burners very close together making the BBQ smaller in size. Your therefore need to also consider the grilling area which is the actual space available for cooking your food.

What type of accessories are available for the BBQ you choose is also important when looking to purchase one. Generally on a charcoal BBQ, the only accessories available from the manufacturer are possibly different shapes of grill. However for a stainless steel gas BBQ, accessories include rotisseries for large joints of meat, racks for chickens, grill baskets for cooking fish or vegetables and special grill holders for corn on the cob.

It is always advisable to keep your BBQ covered in the shed or garage during the winter. In the summer it is not always practical to keep getting the BBQ in and out, especially in the height of summer. An all weather cover is a great idea at the time of purchase. There are times when your BBQ will be exposed to the elements at some point. Stainless Steel BBQ's are often the most durable material for your BBQ. The type of steel is key to this and the better grade stainless steel the more durable. Stainless Steel BBQ's are usually lightweight for when you are moving it to and from its storage area. So this will help

You also need to consider the practicalities of looking after your BBQ and one of these factors is cleaning it. With traditional charcoal BBQs you have to wait for the charcoal to cool down and then dispose of it, before you can actually clean it, by which time, the meat residues will have also cooled and will be stuck firmly to the grill. The advantage of a stainless steel gas BBQ is that it can be cleaned straight after it has been turned off. This makes it much easier to clean as the meat residues are still warm making them easier to remove.

There are many types, brands and sizes of barbecue on the market in the UK today and it's possible to find a suitable option no matter how big or small your budget.