As the summer months approach, it’s time to dust off your best barbecue and get grilling. If you’re on the lookout for a new barbecue, Weber recently unveiled its new barbecue line-up for 2024, including charcoal, gas, portable and smart options.
One of the new gas barbecues from Weber is the Weber Spirit Classic E-330 GBS Gas Grill. With three burners, ample storage space and a mid-sized attractive design, I was excited to give the Weber Spirit Classic E-330 GBS Gas Grill a try to see if it could secure a spot in our best gas barbecue guide. Keep reading for my full review.
Weber Spirit Classic E-330 GBS Gas Grill review: price and availability
The Weber Spirit Classic E-330 GBS Gas Grill is £829 and available to buy at Weber and select retailers like Homebase and BBQ World. It comes without gas, so you’ll have to buy the fuel separately when you first purchase the grill and from then on.
Weber Spirit Classic E-330 GBS Gas Grill review: unboxing and set-up
Unsurprisingly, the Weber Spirit Classic E-330 GBS Gas Grill (which I’ll refer to as the Weber Spirit Classic E-330 from now on) came in a large cardboard box and consisted of many different pieces. Within the box were all the components of the barbecue, including the lid, burners, gas tubes, wheels, buttons, screws, and more, although you will need a separate tool box to put it together.
The instructions of the Weber Spirit Classic E-330 were straightforward and the entire barbecue was extremely easy to set up. Between the two of us, it took around an hour and a half to put together and didn’t require too much heavy lifting, so I think most people will find it comfortable and easy to assemble.
Weber Spirit Classic E-330 GBS Gas Grill review: design and features
As it says in the name, the Weber Spirit Classic E-330 is a gas barbecue and grill. With the lid open, the Weber Spirit Classic E-330 measures 159cm height, 131cm width and 81cm diameter, and with the lid closed, it measures 11.6cm height, 131cm width and 65.50cm diameter. With this in mind, I’d say the Weber Spirit Classic E-330 is a mid-large sized barbecue, so if you have a small garden or patio, it might be too big for your space.
The design of the Weber Spirit Classic E-330 is sleek, attractive and practical, with a combination of black, red and silver. On the lid is a temperature gauge and a silver handle to open and close the barbecue. Further down is the control panel, which has four silver and red knobs that turn it on and control the heat and power. On the left side of the barbecue is the side burner and its own control button, while the right side acts as a stand or storage area.
The bottom of the Weber Spirit Classic E-330 has a black grate that can be removed to reach the gas tubing. It’s also a compact area which can house and cover a gas canister when not in use. The base of the barbecue has four wheels to move the barbecue around the garden.
The main cooking area of the Weber Spirit Classic E-330 is 2,735cm² and the side burner is 3.52cm. The porcelain-enamelled cast iron cooking grates feature a circular high-heat Sear Zone for intense cooking and added sear marks. The Weber Spirit Classic E-330 also has cooking racks at the top, so you can take food off the direct heat and keep it warm while other foods finish cooking.
Weber Spirit Classic E-330 GBS Gas Grill review: performance
As a relatively new barbecue-r, I was a bit intimidated by the Weber Spirit Classic E-330 but I found it very easy to use. Connecting the gas to the barbecue was straightforward, and once you turn on the grill and light the gas, the Weber Spirit Classic E-330 preheated and was ready to go in seconds. The temperature gauge on the outside was extremely helpful and responsive to tell you the heat of the inside while the lid is closed.
The circular grate or the Sear Zone was great for achieving high heat and grill marks. I mainly used it for burgers and corn-on-the-cob, as the Sear Zone gave them that nice charcoal-y flavour and look. The main cooking area, alongside the Sear Zone, was expansive, and easily cooked for multiple people at a time, using different heats. While it did get quite hot (unsurprisingly), it was easy to move between different grill areas to achieve the right results.
While testing the Weber Spirit Classic E-330, I cooked chicken and flatbreads, sausages, burgers, halloumi and corn. With the gas power, all the food cooked quickly and had a good char and smoky flavour. The burgers remained juicy and the corn was incredibly smoky, and one of the best corn-on-the-cobs I’d ever had. While waiting for everything to cook, I enjoyed using the racks on the top to stop the active cooking by removing it from direct heat and keeping it warm.
The only negative I could find about the Weber Spirit Classic E-330 was that it uses a lot of gas. Gas canisters aren’t the cheapest thing to buy on a regular basis, so that might be something to consider.
Weber Spirit Classic E-330 GBS Gas Grill review: verdict
The Weber Spirit Classic E-330 is easily the best barbecue I’ve ever used, and it’s going to be on-the-go most weekends during the summer months. While it’s a large piece of equipment and it guzzles gas, it’s a brilliant gas barbecue that looks good and delivers on flavour. With three burners and plenty of storage space, you really can’t go wrong if you buy the Weber Spirit Classic E-330 for barbecue season.
Weber Spirit Classic E-330 GBS Gas Grill review: alternatives to consider
If you want a different barbecue brand that offers maximum capacity, the Campingaz 3 Series Premium S is a great alternative to consider. Like the Weber Spirit Classic E-330, it has three burners and has quite a similar style, although the Campingaz model is more subdued and less colourful. It’s also significantly cheaper than the Weber Spirit Classic E-330 at £499.
If you want a different Weber model, the Weber Genesis II EX-335 GBS Smart Barbecue features highly in our best gas barbecue guide. It has a smart monitoring system using the Weber Connect app and can cook for up to 10 guests at a time.
For those who want a non-gas barbecue, take a look at our guide to the best charcoal barbecues and the best electric barbecues.
