The Lotus Grill

The ‘lockdown summer’ of 2020 saw more people than ever before savouring the sight, scent and flavour of food cooked and enjoyed outdoors – for many, mealtimes were the only punctuation point amid endless days of doing not much at all!

The pandemic prompted a boom in barbecue sales and fuelled thousands of drool-inducing photo posts on social media… along with a friendly rivalry between the owners of the various grills and accessories on the market.

Among these were a few new models claiming to combine the ease and safety of a gas BBQ with the unmistakeable flavour that’s achieved only from a charcoal grill. Available at varying price points all are likely to be satisfactory, but for absolute delight and longevity the LotusGrill is in a class of its own. An ingenious BBQ which heats up in just a couple of minutes, it’s small and convenient to transport, weighs only 4kg and is available in a range of summertime colours. A fan, powered by 4 AA batteries, enables the cook to control heat levels, while a double-skinned bowl stays cool on the outside, so the grill can be handled even when hot.

Best of all, the charcoal is contained within a metal ‘cage’ and burns very quickly – any grease from the food cannot drip onto the charcoal and burn, which means there is no smoke – so the LotusGrill is safe as houses and ideal for use on a boat or balcony, or at the beach.

Each comes with a carrying bag and a range of accessories and spare parts keep the LotusGrill in service years after its initial purchase. Larger models are available but the original retails for around £150 and, in competent hands, will happily cook up a treat for five or six people.