CosmoGrill Outdoor XL Charcoal Smoker BBQ – Built for Flavour, Designed for Versatility
The CosmoGrill Outdoor XL Smoker BBQ is the ultimate charcoal barbecue for grill masters who demand both function and flair. Whether you’re searing steaks, smoking ribs, or slow-cooking a whole chicken, this feature-rich BBQ gives you maximum control and exceptional performance in any garden or patio setup.
- Generous Cooking Area: Grill over 10 burger patties and sausages at once—ideal for family meals or entertaining guests.
- Adjustable Heat Control: Height-adjustable charcoal tray and chimney allow precise temperature regulation for all cooking styles.
- Built-in Thermometer: Monitor your cooking with an accurate, integrated lid thermometer.
- Variable Heat Zones: Perfect for cooking multiple foods at different temperatures simultaneously.
- Convenient Access: Front coal access door makes refueling easy without disrupting your cook.
- Smart Design: Two foldable side shelves for prepping; built-in bottle opener and utensil hooks add functionality.
- Easy to Move: Features two durable wheels for portability, even when fully loaded.
- Easy Cleanup: Includes a removable ash pan and grill grates for hassle-free maintenance.
Technical Specifications
| Brand | CosmoGrill |
| Model Name | 93437 |
| Color | Black |
| Power Source | Charcoal |
| Fuel Type | Charcoal |
| Outer Material | Alloy Steel |
| Inner Material | Stainless Steel |
| Item Weight | 24 kg |
| Dimensions | 66D x 124W x 113.5H cm |
| Manufacturer | CosmoGrill |
Take your backyard BBQs to the next level with the CosmoGrill XL Charcoal Smoker. Built for serious grillers, this versatile unit offers all the tools you need for grilling, smoking, and entertaining—season after season.
Instructions were not very clear but pretty straight forward to work out. And some fiddly parts when building it.
Its sturdy, and looks great in the garden
Thankyou let’s hope it performs 😘😘😘😘
To start, there was a minor issue during assembly where one of the pieces arrived slightly bent. However, I was able to reshape it without much trouble, so it didn’t affect the overall experience. Once everything was put together, the grill looked great, was sturdy, and felt very well-constructed. The design is solid, and you can tell that the materials used are durable and built to last.
I’ve noticed that some other reviews are very critical of the product, and I do think many of them are a bit unfair. Some complaints were centered around faulty items or people who seemed to struggle with assembly - while those issues are unfortunate, they don’t reflect the quality of the product as a whole. It’s important to give the product a fair shot, follow the instructions carefully, and not jump to conclusions just because of a small issue.
A particular point of contention in some of the negative reviews was about the patina that develops on the grill after use. Honestly, this didn’t surprise me at all - it's a metal structure, and when you’re heating it up for grilling, it’s inevitable that it will lose its shiny, new look over time. This is a normal part of the grilling experience and doesn’t affect the functionality at all.
I’m planning to use the grill this weekend, and I will update my review after I’ve had a chance to really put it to the test. But so far, I’m excited about the purchase and feel confident in its quality. If you’re on the fence, I wouldn’t let the negative reviews dissuade you. It’s a great product once assembled correctly, and the patina issue isn’t a dealbreaker for me. Looking forward to many successful cookouts!
The extra internal shelf is good if you need to cook something longer but slower, further away from the heat. There is a crank to raise or lower the coal tray so you can help control how intense/close the heat is to both the main and extra cooking shelf. Also an easily removable tray to get rid of burnt coals. The coal tray is also nice and big, so good for those longer BBQ sessions.
It has nice side trays and hooks, that can be stowed for storage.
It has a temperature measure guage on the he front that goes up to about 300c, and an adjustable smoke stack and dual side vents that be be opened or closed if you need more airflow.
I spent all the summer days last year on the BBQ, enjoyed it immensely and found it very usable.
There are better ones out there, but they are a lot more expensive.
Bang for buck wise, I recon this was (at the time of purchase) the best bet.
The brand also sell a good quality cover, that is rain proof. I'd still store it in the garage over winter but with the cover you can leave it out at other times and not worry about the BBQ rusting.
All in all good for the BBQ enjoyer.
Pros:
Spacious Cooking Area: The XL design provides ample cooking space, making it perfect for larger gatherings. I can easily cook for family and friends without worrying about running out of grill space, allowing for simultaneous grilling of multiple items.
Versatile Cooking Options: This grill offers both smoking and traditional grilling capabilities. I love that I can experiment with different flavors by smoking meats and vegetables, giving my outdoor cooking a delicious twist. The adjustable vents help control the heat and smoke levels effectively.
Portability: Despite its larger size, the CosmoGrill is surprisingly portable. The wheels make it easy to move around my garden, which is great for adjusting the setup based on weather or gathering locations.
Solid Construction: The build quality feels robust, with sturdy materials that can withstand outdoor conditions. After several uses, I can see that it holds up well, indicating durability that should last for years with proper care.
Attractive Design: The sleek and modern aesthetic adds a stylish touch to my outdoor space. The black finish looks great in my garden, and it doesn't clash with other outdoor furniture.
Easy to Clean: Cleaning the grill after use is relatively straightforward. The removable ashtray and the non-stick grilling surface make maintenance a breeze, allowing me to enjoy grilling without the hassle of extensive cleanup.
Cons:
Assembly Required: While the grill is well-designed, it does require some assembly out of the box. The process is manageable, but it could be time-consuming, especially if you’re not familiar with assembling outdoor equipment.
Temperature Control: While the adjustable vents are a nice feature, I found that it takes some practice to get the temperature just right for different types of cooking. Beginners may need to experiment a bit to find the best method for achieving their desired results.
Limited Accessories: The grill does not come with many additional accessories, such as cooking utensils or a cover. It would have been nice to have a few extra tools included, especially for the price point.
Weight: While the grill is portable, it is still on the heavier side. Moving it around requires a bit of effort, particularly when it's fully assembled and loaded with charcoal, which may be a concern for some users.
Heat Retention: The grill can lose heat quickly if the lid is frequently opened during cooking. I had to be mindful of how often I lifted the lid to check on my food to maintain an even cooking temperature.
Overall Verdict:
The CosmoGrill Outdoor XL Smoker Barbecue Charcoal Portable BBQ Grill is a fantastic addition to any outdoor cooking enthusiast's arsenal. Its spacious cooking area, versatility in grilling and smoking, and durable design make it a solid investment for those who love to entertain. While there are minor drawbacks such as assembly requirements and the need for some practice in temperature control, the overall performance and cooking capabilities outweigh these concerns. If you’re looking for a reliable and stylish charcoal grill that can cater to larger gatherings, I highly recommend the CosmoGrill Outdoor XL Smoker Barbecue Grill.
Not use it yet,purchased because it was on offer.
Lots of cooking options.
It’s extremely sturdy as well and does a brilliant job of keeping the heat in and doing a good BBQ. I love it!
If you are after a good BBQ, then this should be on your list. It does a great job, has some great features even a bottle opener and the vents to draw in air or seal it off. Up to you but you can alter the heat and raise it up and down as well. Great stuff.
The BBQ comes flat packed as advertised. It took about 90 mins to assemble on my own. All the parts are clearly labelled and the screw/bolts etc are in a sealed packet and also clearly labelled. Instructions are fairly clear, though do pay attention to the instructions on fitting the main box to the internal rising charcoal tray as it’s easy to miss that the screw fixing for the handle needs to be bolted in at this stage.
Unfortunately I only noticed the lid had been damaged during transit after I had spent an hour in the blazing heat putting the main sections together. However I contacted COSMOGRILL using the details supplied with the bbq, and they agreed to ship a replacement lid asap. As I had already placed an order for the cover and cast iron rack direct, they shipped it all together and it arrived next day. So hats off to EVRE and COSMOGRILLs customer service as it was resolved very quickly.
Overall the bbq is sturdy and appears that it should last some time. As with any bbq, avoid corrosion by cleaning regularly and at the very least clear out any ash after each use as it acts as a moisture trap.
I recommend upgrading the grill rack to the cast iron versions via cosmogrills website. The cover is also a perfect fit (again an optional extra).
Overall really happy on first impression, both with the product and also with EVRE/COSMOGRILLs customer service. Highly recommend. Time will tell as to longevity.
Looks stunning! Absolutely on point.
Easy to put together. Be good if all parts were numbered, other than it's awesome 👌
Follow the instructions and it will go together fine but loose fit as instructed as you might need to do a bit of wriggling as one of the welded brackets wasn’t at 45 degrees. Also on the last page when you fit the silver rack that folds down (when the lid closes) the bolts go in from the inside (unless I’ve got it wrong)
Only down side was the fact there wasn’t a side handle to ease moving it around especially if your storing it away.
Haven’t used it yet-just waiting for the weather to hold so can’t comment on how good it performs but reckon it would do fine.
I also ordered the cover and cast iron grills. Well worth the extra upgrade and make it so much nicer! Not used yet for an actual BBQ but sure it will be fine.
Only thing I would suggest is you could do with a little handle on the opposite side of the wheels so that you can move it around more easily. There isn’t anything to really grab when pushing on wheels so can be fiddly. It’s a minor thing but just something when moving it I found annoying.
The movable fuel tray is a wonderful help to avoid over cooking.
A little tricky to assemble, but take your time and all is good.
Used a few times now and have smoked chicken breast too. Worked a teat. Get hickory chips for this, flavour is ace.
The overall quality of the product is excellent. Sturdy, good quality materials and good value for money. Can't wait for better weather so we can christen it
I ordered a cover too which I thought was missing as it was a separate order but it was in the main bbq box. Having a clear label on the box would have saved me messaging DPD asking where the cover was.
I have not used it yet but can tell it’s a good bbq for the price much better than what you can get in B&Q, Homebase etc
100% recommend
FIrst impressions are generally ok, a lot of the issues mentioned by other reviewers are present in my barbecue as well.
Primarily damage to the casing and legs, not enough to warrant sending it back, but it's clear the damage was done before it was packed away, as there was no damage to the box or polystyrene
Several of the holes for screwing bits together didn't line up, sadly I don't have the skills or tools to fix those, so just screwed them in as best I can.
The problem spots were the hook brackets that hold the shelves on the side.
As others have mentioned the lid is deformed slightly, so doesn't close properly, but I found manhandling it into shape seemed to fix that problem.
The charcoal tray however I don't see lasting long, it's also got one flaw that I'd consider quite an oversight by the manufacturers, in that dips downwards to the left and can't be corrected from what I've seen, which I assume will mean it'll be hotter on one side of the grill than the other.
The metalwork itself I think will deteriorate quite quickly and the ventilation holes I think are far too large, so I might end up getting a wire wrack or something to lay over that.
I will update this review after a year of use, fingers crossed it lasts a while, as I don't do a lot of barbecueing.
So we bought the same!
Easy to out the coal in and to move around while burning
Food gets cooked very well.
Smoker is a nice plus.
The side tables are a life saver.
Overall I’d highly recommend for the perfect BBQ in your garden to host your friends and family!
Only thing I struggled quite a bit was to set it up, some screws were not exactly right. - it could be just mine came with it. Causing one side table to not be so strong.
But overall I’m not disappointed!
But if you are looking for a quality BBQ I'd highly recommend this one.
Assembly Experience:
While assembly may require some time and patience, the process is facilitated by clear and detailed instructions accompanied by helpful diagrams. Each component is meticulously labeled and packaged to prevent damage during transit. With careful attention to detail, users can navigate the assembly process smoothly, akin to assembling furniture from a reputable manufacturer. However, the addition of an assembly video on platforms like YouTube could further simplify the process for users seeking visual guidance.
Design and Construction:
Upon completion, the grill boasts an impressive and sturdy aesthetic, showcasing its robust build and quality craftsmanship. The anodized surface of the shelves and cooking racks not only enhances visual appeal but also facilitates effortless cleaning. The inclusion of dishwasher-safe cooking racks is a notable feature, allowing for convenient maintenance and upkeep. However, users may encounter challenges with cleaning the fixed upper rack, prompting the need for a supplementary tray or plate to mitigate potential cleaning issues.
User-Friendly Features:
The grill is equipped with practical features designed to enhance user experience and functionality. The charcoal tray, albeit requiring careful assembly, offers versatility with its adjustable height, catering to various cooking preferences. Additionally, the inclusion of wheels facilitates mobility, allowing users to position the grill effortlessly within their outdoor space. However, users may benefit from clearer labeling and packaging of assembly components to streamline the process and minimize confusion.
Recommendations for Improvement:
While the grill earns high praise for its quality and performance, there are opportunities for enhancement to further optimize user experience. Improving the accessibility of assembly instructions, such as providing clearer diagrams and labeled components, could expedite the assembly process for users. Additionally, incorporating instructional videos or supplementary resources would cater to diverse learning preferences and facilitate seamless assembly.
In summary, the CosmoGrill Outdoor XL Smoker Barbecue Charcoal Portable BBQ Grill offers a compelling blend of quality construction, user-friendly features, and versatile functionality. While assembly may require careful attention and patience, the end result is a sophisticated and reliable grill that enhances outdoor cooking experiences. With its robust design, practical features, and commitment to quality, this grill is sure to delight grilling enthusiasts seeking a premium outdoor cooking solution.
I'm surprised how big it is so it will be easy to cook for friends.
So yeah I can recommend and look forward to using if we get a summer!
Not used it yet, waiting for better weather, but all indications point to it being a very sensible purchase.
I can assure you that it’s good value for money.
They provide you all the screws and nuts in a practical blister package so you only get the ones you need without having them all around the place.
The handle to adjust the height of the coal tray is very smooth to operate giving you a very accurate movement.
Very recommended.
Please note parts 26 and 27 are packed together, they look very similar but in face are slightly different, I did not notice so had to take the side off and replace the 26 with a matching one, same for other side..
take your time and stop to think it will go well, leave all fixings slightly unscrewed until its all together and then tighten... would I recommend this YES.. it was well packed in a strong box and all in all i'm very pleased.....
In use, the twin side trays with plenty of hanging hooks make it easy to manage the foods you're about to cook as well as the ones you're finishing off, while the warmer rack means you can keep things warm while you do the next batch. The height adjustable charcoal tray is just superb allowing you to increase or reduce the direct heat in just seconds. I've had loads of barbecues, but this is easily the best.
nice size cooking area and a warming tray built into the lid plus it has hooks either side on the tables for hanging utensils or cloths. i havent given any stars for cleaning as i havent used it i need to buy a cover as its to wide for my shed so i should have measured the opening first lol
time consuming, but worth it in the end! Definitely do not let your 10 year old 'help' to then lose an important screw underneath your garden decking! Luckily my handy man partner had a spare! Disaster averted 😁
Assembly: All parts present and correct, no spares in the kit if you know what I mean. Straight forward construction, can be done quite easily by one person. Don't forget to put a split pin in the handle that lifts / lowers the charcoal tray. The top chrome shelf side support screws could be a few millimetres shorter as they can snag on the shelf, if you tighten them right up the cinch may (like one of mine) break free from the sides. But not a disaster, it was easy to fix. Then I just backed them off a bit they don't need to be fully tightened. The lid hinges need a little bit of fiddling to get the lid on straight before tightening.
Cooking: Being able to raise & Lower the charcoal tray is a good touch. the Front door gives good access to rake the coals. Reasonable cooking width. The end shelves and hanging hooks for the cooking utensils are a bonus.
As for cleaning, good access to the inner workings all round . I used bottom ash tray (when clean) as a 'bowl' to soak the 2 grill grids for a short while before cleaning them.
All round I really like this Barbeque. Looks good works well and easy to clean.
As a BBQ it worked really well. The only thing was that after we had finished cooking the food there was still loads of heat left, and, with the lid closed, the gauge was showing over 250 degrees C. It seemed a shame to let that heat go to waste so my wife put some more food in (a pan of beans that she had been soaking overnight) closed the vents and the chimney and left it. 4 hours later the beans were perfectly cooked with a delicious mild smoky flavour.
The 'normal' UK style of BBQ involves cooking over high heat for a short time. This can do that, and does it really well, but the adjustable height of the charcoal tray and degree of control over ventilation means this also works well for long and slow cooking / hot smoking. That's new to me but something this BBQ is really good at so I'm looking forward to experimenting more. We're going to get a lump of brisket and slow cook that next with some apple wood chips added to the coals.
The parts are well threaded and are easily assembled. The thermometer on the hood works well and seemed to accurately show 240c.
I liked the addition of the enameled grill, which allowed for easier cleaning and came in two sections allowing for a run in the dish washer.
Nice addition of the bottle opener.
No parts were damaged and the hood aligned flush with the base after a bit of adjustment
It felt sturdy and the side trays folded down making it s bit slimmer than others.
The grill adjusted smoothly, but I do feel it should have been able to raise higher.
The ash tray at the bottom made cleaning up easy and without spreading mess everywhere.
The panels felt a little thinner than I am used too but doubt this will become a problem.
So my dad, grandma and grandpa tried to set it up by themselves looking at the instructions a few times and free handed later, that obviously did not work. With three people doing their own thing not reading the instructions properly, they were at it for 5 hours, FIVE FREAKING HOURS.
Save yourself from the stress, frustration, fatigue and follow the the instructions step by step as it states.
Used twice over the Easter weekend when having friends and family over.
It’s still early days but I wouldn’t swap it for anything else even if you tried.
Building it was a bit of a mission however it felt like I was fulfilling a right of passage. After finally lighting the coals and cracking the first beer using the bottle opener, the sense of achievement was overwhelming!
Luckily mine arrived without any damage, somebody complained about the smoke escaping out the sides and it does a little but you are meant to smoke it,not choke it!(he was probably burning grass with the chimney closed like a hotbox,lol)
This thing is so cool man, good size and the little chimney just finishes it off perfectly.
I sense that one needs to use it a few times first in order to get used to it but I’m definitely up for that!
Forget the rest…buy the best👍🏼
Ps. Spent 15 minutes looking for part then found it is attached to the handle, also with regard to chimney, it can only go on one way in order to screw in.
Once assembled, the unit looked very smart and sturdy and, in use, it's worked really well. It's quite easy to clean too. My only gripe is that there's no lifting handle on the side opposite the wheels (you move it around by lifting one end and pulling it along like a wheel-barrow) which makes moving it around the garden somewhat difficult.
Overall, I recommend this product.
Turned up days later can't complain by the delivery time and it's neatly packed all be it a little heavy. Apparently taking the 3 kids to pick it up was bad parenting. I was only try to be practical I thought they did a cracking job.
The missus decided we were going to work as a team and put it together..... Eh. Together. This was my second mistake.
Apparently sitting on the couch gradually getting quite drunk on wine and telling her where she was going wrong didn't go down well.
It was very easy to put together with my vocal support. She did it in just under an hour and a half. That was my fault apparently. Not sure I know why?
If anyone needs a good divorce lawyer drop me a message.
In all honesty if went down better than the vacuum I got for our anniversary but that took much less assembly.
So pleased I chose this one, it is perfect for daily BBQ's in the garden.
Easy to assemble, extremely sturdy, and looks great once completed. I also bought the cover, which fits perfectly, and has kept the BBQ dry during inclement weather.
The adjustable charcoal tray makes cooking on it a doddle, as you can raise or lower the coals, offering more or less heat. The warming rack is sufficiently sized to hold plenty of meat, and the air vents offer plenty of airflow.
Easy to clean, and the full width ash tray makes disposing of spent charcoal so easy. You can hang plenty of utensils from the integral hooks, and the built in bottle opener means you dont have to stay far from the BBQ if you like to have a bottle or two whilst cooking.
The two wheels means it is easy to move around the patio, and the built in thermometer means you can keep an eye on the temperature when you are coming. The benefit of having a front access door means you can add charcoal without having to remove the grates.
Ignore any negativity you may see regarding this product, this is perfect for the price, so a huge Thanks to Cosmogrill for making my summer complete
When the box arrived you noted how heavy it was.
Opening the carton I felt the gauge of the metal to be thicker than most BBQs I have come across. No bolts were threaded directly into tapped holes in the metal – threaded studs were welded to the metal instead. This makes for better assembled item.
The instructions were clear and mostly in the best order. In hindsight a few operations could have been performed better in a different sequence. The only thing I had to reassemble was the chimney – bizarrely the holes are not drilled at 120° intervals!
Not everything was plain sailing.
Three of the threaded studs had been affected by the welding so they would not accept the bolts properly, but luckily I have a set of taps and dies so I was able to free the holes up.
One of the wheels had the hole poorly formed in the blow-moulding and the axle would not go through. A quick drill out sorted that.
Two parts were damaged in transit, but I contacted the help email address suppled and, after a bit of toing and froing I was sent replacement parts.
It took me 1 hour forty minutes to assemble it, mainly single handed. (NB I have assembled many, many items in my old job as a QA manager so I have more experience than most.)Twice I had to ask my wife to help hold parts while I did the bolting.
I am pleased with the final article and, knowing what I know now, I would still purchase it again.
If everything had been right first time it would have got 5 stars, in the event it loses a star.
What I will say is that I'm very glad that I changed my mind about the gas grill I had initially purchased in favour of this one. Nothing beats that amazing taste of charcoal. Secondly, I'm in the process of buying my first property after decades of being a content tenan. Here in London, you can't have a open flame (i.e., a grill) if you live in a block of flats/apartments. It doesn't matter if your place comes with a balcony or terrace or if you have access to a huge communal garden, grills are against the law in any block and all new builds these days are blocks.
So, I am so serious about my grill that I am now only considering houses because I HAVE to have my baby with me. Anything less is a non-starter. 😉
Once we had the BBQ and opened the box all looked great. The packaging appeared good, even after reading some poor reviews. Alarm bells started going off as I started to carefully unpack the parts. There were damaged parts everywhere. The internal packaging did not support the large heavy sheets of metal. There were dents, scratches, and poorly produced parts. I am going to cut to the chase here and let you carry on reading if you like. I don't recommend this BBQ or the supplier. The quality is not reflected by the very high price. The item had numerous faults, the supplier was slow to respond and then did not keep to their work when supplying replacement parts. Very disappointing.
I did eventually get my damaged parts replaced. I then spotted even more minor damages when building the BBQ (not bad enough to return but disappointing considering the price).
There were very few washers included in the parts. When metal expands and contracts washers help the bolts stay tight. I added washers to virtually every nut and bolt.
The build instructions were not great but not terrible. The only really confusing bit revolved around the handle that raises the adjustable charcoal pan.
Smoke does escape all around the lid when it is closed. I personally don't find this an issue but I did read that a number of others were not happy about this. I like and find useful the attached thermometer in the lid.
The BBQ does feel sturdy once built. It is easy to move around using the drop down table opposite the wheel side of the BBQ.
Cooking on this BBQ is great. It is easy to get it going as the BBQ is enclosed on all sides with vent holes for the chimney effect to work. The adjustable coal tray works very well (I added washers to keep this working smoothly). I find that compared to my previous BBQ, which was an open style I use a lot less charcoal to cook the same amount of food. The ash tray that slots out of the bottom makes cleaning pretty easy.
If the seller could sort out the packaging and QA of this product I think it would be really good. However at present I don't think it is worth the significant amount it costs. (£240 when I bought my CosmoGrill Outdoor XL Smoker Barbecue. If actually dropping in price to £200 the following week!)
I wont buy another BBQ via any home delivery again after the stress of this purchase. I don't recommend this product.
As for using it. I first used it on the bank holiday weekend just gone, to cook for 7 adults and 8 kids and the grill heated up so quick I could churn the food out quicker than people could eat it! The adjustable coal height was very useful especially towards the end of cooking. After the food was all eaten we left the BBQ to burn out and it was so easy to clean down afterwards with the Ash tray popping out and the grills themselves being subjected to a quick brush over. (The coating on the grills leads to not much getting stuck on them).
Anyway the BBQ went so well I was instructed I had to do it all again for the next day!
Very happy with my purchase.
The only, slight and I do mean slight issue I have experienced is a lack of handle on the end of the bbq for storing and moving, was a little annoying as the bottom edges are quite sharp. But that's only relevant if you move it lots.
I got this as I'm hoping to spend a lot of time in my garden and t invite people around for barbeques. Amazon flagged this as one of the best multi-purpose BBQs out there, and it's lived up to that. The coal tray can be moved up or down to adjust the heat, the firebox is easy to access and the grill means you can cook things easily or move them onto a rack to stay warm. Overall, I'm pretty happy with it.
Just be warned, when people say "it can be a tricky to assemble", what they mean is the absolutely crazy 27 step process that made me grateful for every Ikea furniture item and LEGO model I have ever assembled. It took a long time, though all the parts generally fit well together and the screws went in pretty perfectly, except for one, which we probably stripped by screwing too hard. If someone as feeble as me can do it, it's probably OK for most people, though I'd recommend getting a friend to help.
Finally, just a note on the seller, who promised me that they would deliver it during the week after the Bank Holiday weekend, then pleasantly ruined all of my Bank Holiday grilling plans by delivering it the next day, leaving me to crash assemble it for a lovely test drive on the Monday. You are awesomely fast and I wasn't expecting that.
I built it over two sunny afternoons, five hours altogether. Having had a very similar model before I knew what to tweak to make it more moveable. It has two folding side tables but unless you are particularly short of space you really don’t need to fold both of them so I have fixed one of them by putting washers between the head of the bolts and the frame that holds the side table furthest from the wheels. So that table can now be used as a handle and I have reversed the fittings on the frame that hold that side table thus reducing its height which also helps to make it easier to move the barbecue around. No drilling or other work required apart from a few washers. Also taking it steady has produced a very good fit of the bbq body to the trolley.
Lawned area taken up producing a good sized area allowing space for a new 6 seater outside table and this smoker bbq on a new patio. We've created an outside room.
So it's reasonably easy to erect. Just take your time. The door to the bbq had slight damage but the seller was more than happy to replace this, which I forgot to thank them for, so thank you. BBQ Looks good. Looks solid, which it is. Today May 31 is the first time we've used it. Having checked on You tube, how to use a smoker, off I went. Burger, ribeye steak, salmon fillet in foil. Temperature gauge is a really handy item. Heat builds up very well and is retained. Food was very nicely cooked. Good taste. Really pleased. This a really good product. Look forward to using on a regular basis.
Once assembled it is easy to use with the charcoal tray moving up and down easily and the grids are sturdy enough to take the heat of the charcoal and cook food well. I like the warming rack which is very useful and the chimney keeps smoke coming out of the top and not the sides which means less smoke inhalation and watery eyes. The food once cooked tastes delicious with the proper charcoal barbeque flavour which gas ones lack.
All together a great buy and although not cheap, gives good value for money. Recommend buying the cover for it as well to keep it looking it's best.
Used in anger for the first time a few days ago and love it - one bag of self lighting charcoal would have been enough and closing the lid on it to cook stuff on the top rail is an absolute pleasure. Tool hooks work well unless you have a dog who proceeds to lick all the utensils - first world problems eh?
Only downsides are lack of a moving handle so have had to rig up some copper wire to shift it and you need a screwdriver to remove and clean the top rail - minor inconveniences.
All told cracking bit of kit.
Got the CosmoGrill three days ago, and put it together straight away. Yes its a bit of job to put it together, nothing complex just a bit time consuming; and having someone to assist is useful but not, I suspect, 100% necessary.
Used it today for the 1st time. Very impressed with just how well it is designed to get the charcoal up to temp quickly, and the charcoal tray having varied height makes regulating cooking a doddle. And now I know why the gas-BBQ got used less and less over the years - charcoal just gives the food a better flavour. Already planning to cook a whole chicken on it for Sunday lunch.
Would definitely recommend.
I took about an hour or so to put together, and once done its a nice thing, well made and sturdy, as good or better than any I have used and a lot less money than some.
Its holds the heat really well, and its very controllable, it really cooks very nicely, and gets the most out of the coals, it is really quite noticeable over my last BBQ just how well it uses the coals, and does not burn through them like some.
Assembly - boring and slow - 3 star
Cooking - 5 star.
Have used it once so far and compared to previous weber kettle BBQ I was using the difference is huge. Coal was hotter for longer, raising the coal grate makes regulating the temp easy. I just opened all the vents and it was fine. Food cooked well and tested great. Warming rack works well. With lid down for a bit the temp inside was up at about 180C. For smoking it may need some stove rope around the top of the firebox as a fair bit of smoke and probably heat was escaping here as the lid doesn't seal very well.
Cleaning down was OK, the cooking grills needed a bit of soaking but then came up as new, brushing the ash through the holes in the grate and then removing with the tray is easy enough.
Overall after considering many models I think it was a good choice and worth the money.
How they can pack so much into such a small box is quite unbelievable ? but my kit was 100% intact with no damage. It was clear from the start that this was a quality bbq for the price.
The instruction were very clear but contrary to the first page it doesn’t need 2 people as 1 person with a Philips screwdriver and a set of pliers is fine.
Previous reviews mention mixing up the right and left legs and having to dismantle and start again but in my kit they were clearly labelled so it was a doddle to put together. Overall and with a coffee break it took just under 2 hrs.
One tip is not to lose any of the screws or bolts as there are no spares and therefore it is best to read to instructions first - lay out all the parts on the floor in order and use a table or bench to work from rather kneeling on the floor.
One tricky section was attaching the grill winding handle as the instructions weren’t very clear - you have to unscrew 2 E1 screws you previously fixed in place, slide in the silver coloured winder thread through the hole and then re screw it back in. Once I had figured this out it all came together nicely and is very sturdy indeed.
All I have to do know is stop burning the sausages but that is down to me not the bbq.
Ps a bb chimney isn’t essential but it is much quicker to light and get a good heat going
You would think for the price the manufacturer would give it a decent coat of paint. The whole of the back of the thing is breaking out in rust spots, as are the areas around the welds on the hinges. The chromed dome nuts on the chimney are also turning to rust. What a pity there is no tailor-made cover available to keep the rain off.
End of edit.
I finally got around to putting this together this afternoon. Given that this thing weighs close on 200lbs I was apprehensive about my ability to assemble it on my own but I need not have worried. The instructions are easy to follow and if you follow them carefully you won't have any trouble putting it all together. The only difficult manoeuvre was turning it the right way up from an upside-down position after fitting the legs to the barrel - it's heavy but I managed it; two people turning it over would have no trouble with this. Before offering up the fire box to the main barrel I removed the lid and the end fire door to take some weight off, which made that operation a lot more manageable.
It is machined to perfection. Every screw lined up perfectly, no need to take a mallet to it to line the holes up.
I only encountered one slight problem in that the screws for the chimney were too long for the external chrome dome nuts (nice touch, that) so I solved that by adding a couple of suitable washers to each screw inside the barrel. I knew my spare washer tin would come in useful one day.
I've yet to fire it up but I really don't anticipate any problems when I do. It's a superb replacement for my previous cheapie £80 offset smoker and was well worth paying that bit extra for it.
It was delivered promptly and took around 50 minutes to assemble (on my own). Couple of tips though: 1. study the assembly instructions and familiarise yourself with all the parts - this will help speed up the assembly time. 2. don't tighten the thermometer too much - I got a bit heavy handed with mine and snapped the mounting. Only two or three quid on ebay/amazon to replace so not an issue.
Build quality is pretty good and is quite sturdy. Have successfully cooked loads of lovely food on this BBQ, including whole roast chickens. There is just enough height to do a decent 'beer can chicken' (see Photo). Leave one of the bolts securing the warming rack slightly loose so you can remove it easily if cooking whole birds or large joints!. I've also tried smoking food and this works well too.
Overall I'm very happy with my purchase :-)
I had two problems in construction: (i) The instructions supplied are complete, but not thorough. Read them really carefully while identifying all the parst for each step. You'll need a lot of space to lay the parts out in advance. I tripped-up by getting the side-panels mixed up, an error that doesn't become apparent until trying to fit the upper resting grill in the second to last step. There are also some other steps where the pictures are not clear enough and some explanation would be useful. I would advise not really tightening things up during construction, because later steps may prove tricky (e.g. don't overtighten the wheel nuts, as this can make connection of the base difficult afterwards). Of course that means you have to go over the whole unit at the end and tighten things up. (ii) The screws and nuts are made of quite soft metal. If you don't hit the threads correctly you can easily strip them, as I did when rebuilding the unit in a hurry after realising I'd got the side panels swapped. Fortunately I had some tougher short bolts in my spares "box"...otherwise I would have been truly "screwed".
In use the unit has been great. The coals are well ventilated and lasted well, unlike in my previous cheap kettle barbecue. Just go carefully on construction and all will be well...it is not to be rushed!
One helpful feature of this unit is that the grill rack is in two parts. I removed the right hand rack so that I could maintain the fire. For smoking, the coals need to be to one side, and the food being cooked is away from the fire so that you are effectively using the unit as an oven. Adding apple wood chips occasionally, I successfully smoked a whole chicken, and the results were excellent.
Using the unit as a traditional barbecue I think will be good... The adjustable fire tray is a winner!
Five stars from me...
I got this because I am sick of buying cheap BBQs and non of them allow the charcoal to burn sufficiently. Sometimes standing for hours waiting on food to cook.
This one is a great design. The vents are located in the right places. The airflow can reach the coals and the airflow is adjustable, which is great.
The grill can heat up in no time. It also doesn't take much charcoal to operate.
The grill is a great size, 2 good shelves, little hooks for hanging utensils.
It is sturdy and well designed.
I am very pleased overall and I'm glad I spent a bit extra and went for this. This is actually very good money compared to similar BBQs from other high Street stores.
Love it. Food cooks really well, and it has a thermometer included. So when you close the lid it is like an oven. Got mine to about 200 °C.
Food cooked really well and everyone commented on the food. All good and very pleased
Following my earlier review I found a problem with support for the warming plate support legs in as much they could not be fixed. After many telephone calls and full support from the supplier it turns out that it is important as to which way you fix the side plates. This was not detailed in the instructions. I fixed them the wrong way round as did another user. However I must say the support I got was superb. Also the bottom shelf arrived damaged in transit but a replacement shelf was supplied within a week. Thank you for your support
Following my earlier review now having used the grill several times what I find most incredible is the cooking grill. It is coated in some black compound and ALL you have to do is wipe the residue food of with a damp sponge. NO wire brushes required as is normal. It is incredible how easy it is to clean the BBQ. Even after leaving it for a day before cleaning the residue food just wipes off leaving the grill looking like new