Elevating barbecuing to the level of fine dining, Northcote’s cooking school is run by head tutor Rick Ogden who has Michelin-star restaurant training, and is overseen by executive chef Lisa Goodwin-Allen. Students on the luxury hotel’s BBQ: The Art of Fire course help prepare for a barbecue dinner party. Dishes might include Moroccan spiced lamb shoulder and jerk beer can chicken. After lunch, the day’s cooking finishes at 5pm, with students getting to keep their aprons.
Various dates from July, from £270, Northcote Cookery
Find the grilling gear to suit you
Asado grills
Also known as fire cages, these are South American-inspired, standalone grills, with crosses, shelves and baskets that can be attached for hanging meat, cooking fish and roasting whole chickens. Ana Ortiz’s Fire Made company produces handmade portico grills in different sizes for big-name chefs such as Jamie Oliver, Marcus Waring and Gordon Ramsey, but sells to the public, too.
From £775, firemade.co.uk
Outdoor ovens
These versatile ovens can be used for roasting, smoking and searing meat, as well as for making pizzas, and can be wood-fired, gas, or dual fuel for flexibility. Gozney makes premium outdoor ovens, such as the Dome.
From £1,799, gozney.com
Big Green Eggs
Used for grilling, smoking and as a precise outdoor oven, these weatherproof eggs are based on Japanese kamado grills. They are built with NASA-grade ceramics and come with a thermometer gauge and an optional ceramic plate.
Minimax from £795, biggreenegg.co.uk
Kamado Joes
This is another ceramic smoker based on a Japanese kamado. They are red with a thermometer gauge but have two grill levels and a slide out ash drawer.
Joe Jr from £499, kamadojoe.com
Kadai firebowls
Also known as fire pits, these Indian barbecue bowls enable guests to huddle around them while you cook on a grill shelf, or from a pot or basket hanging from a tripod. Cast in Style’s are made from recycled oil drums, with accessories available.
From £99, castinstyle.co.uk
Weber barbecues
Great for portability, Weber’s grills on wheels have a handle on smoking too. They are charcoal grills but the brand also makes larger wood pellets, gas and electric grills.
Charcoal Smokey Joe from £92.99, weber.com
