Nothing says British summer like standing around a disposable barbecue wondering if the sausages are cooked in the middle, as ominous grey clouds hover overhead. Or at least it used to. It turns out the traditional summer ritual is having somewhat of a glow-up, with John Lewis calling 2023 the summer of the “boujee BBQ”.
Gone are the flimsy aluminium instants, in their place “aesthetically pleasing outdoor dining setups.” The high street giant is reporting strong sales of a £499 hybrid gas and charcoal barbecue, while for those with a balcony rather than garden, searches for electric barbecues have reportedly risen 267%. Even cult streetwear company Supreme had hypebeasts queuing around the block not for oversized hoodies or sneakers, but for a table-top charcoal grill created in partnership with the North American outdoor brand Coleman.
