The rise of the luxury barbecue: the UK’s new outdoor cooking obsession
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EN: The pattern 'more and more + noun' is used to show that the quantity or number of something is increasing over time.
More and more students are using tablets in class.
EN: In the UK, 'barbecue' (often abbreviated as BBQ) refers to both the cooking equipment and the social gathering itself. While British weather is historically known for being rainy, warmer summers in recent years have made outdoor grilling and 'alfresco dining' an increasingly popular lifestyle trend.
EN: The Present Continuous tense (am/is/are + verb-ing) is used here to describe a situation that is currently changing or developing over time.
The weather is getting warmer.
EN: In the UK, barbecuing (often called a 'BBQ') is a beloved summer tradition. Due to the historically unpredictable and often rainy British weather, a sunny day is a major occasion. When the weather gets warm, supermarkets and shops quickly sell out of barbecue food and equipment as people rush to eat 'alfresco' (outdoors) in their gardens.
EN: Use 'some of + plural noun' to talk about a part of a larger group. The verb that follows agrees with the plural noun, so we use 'cost' instead of 'costs'.
Some of these books are very old.
EN: In the UK, 'pounds' (£) is the official currency. Spending over 1,000 pounds on a barbecue is considered a significant luxury investment, reflecting the growing trend of high-end outdoor dining (alfresco dining) among British households.
EN: We use 'get' + comparative adjective (e.g., hotter, longer) to describe a change that is happening over time.
The weather is getting colder.
EN: Historically, summers in the UK have been relatively mild and rainy. However, in recent years, climate change has led to increasingly hot and dry summer periods, which has boosted the popularity of outdoor activities like barbecuing and 'alfresco dining'.
EN: The verb 'want' is followed by 'to' and the base form of another verb (infinitive) to express a desire to do an action.
They want to buy a new barbecue.
EN: In the UK, summer weather is traditionally unpredictable and often cool. Therefore, when warm and sunny summer days do occur, British people love to make the most of it by spending as much time as possible outdoors, making 'alfresco dining' (eating outside) and barbecues extremely popular social activities.
EN: Using 'is' to link a subject with its description or identity (Subject + Be verb + Complement).
One popular sport is soccer.
EN: The 'Big Green Egg' is a well-known brand of kamado-style charcoal grills. It is highly popular in Western countries, especially among barbecue enthusiasts who enjoy slow-cooking and smoking meats.
EN: We use 'had' (the past tense of 'have') to talk about a specific number of visits or experiences that happened in a completed time period in the past.
Our video had ten thousand views yesterday.
EN: The 'Big Green Egg' is a very famous and distinctive dome-shaped charcoal barbecue brand in the UK and US. Mentioning its high website traffic reflects the massive trend of premium backyard cooking (or 'glamping' style dining) in British culture, especially after people spent more time at home during the pandemic.
EN: The verb 'cost' is used to state the price of something. When the subject is singular (like 'the basic model'), we add 's' to the verb in the simple present tense, making it 'costs'.
The ticket costs 10 dollars.
EN: In the UK, the currency is the pound sterling (£). A price of nearly 1,500 pounds for a basic barbecue model is considered extremely high and luxury, reflecting the growing trend of high-end outdoor dining in British culture.
EN: We use the preposition 'for' followed by an amount of money to state the price of something.
He bought the bicycle for 150 dollars.
EN: Kamado Joe is a well-known brand of ceramic charcoal grills. The word 'Kamado' comes from a traditional Japanese wood or charcoal-fueled cook stove. In the UK, high-end outdoor cooking has become a status symbol, with people investing heavily in premium garden equipment.
EN: The phrasal verb 'come with' is used to describe what is included as part of a product or package when you buy it.
The phone comes with a charger.
EN: In the UK, buying a barbecue (often called a 'barby' or 'BBQ') is a major summer ritual. High-end brands like Kamado Joe or Big Green Egg are status symbols. Since British weather is notoriously unpredictable, having a 'cover' is essential to protect the expensive equipment from sudden rain.
EN: The word 'even' is used as an adverb to emphasize something that is surprising or unexpected.
He can even speak five languages.
EN: Modern high-end barbecues in the UK and other Western countries now often feature smart technology, including Wi-Fi connectivity and meat probes, allowing cooks to monitor food temperatures from their smartphones.
EN: We use 'by + percentage' to show the amount or degree of change (increase or decrease) of something.
The price of milk went up by 10 percent.
EN: John Lewis is a high-end British department store chain known for quality goods. A 100 percent sales increase there highlights how popular premium outdoor dining became in the UK.
EN: The past simple tense is used to describe an action that started and finished at a specific time in the past. In this sentence, 'happened' is the past simple form of 'happen', showing that the sales boom is completed.
The accident happened yesterday morning.
EN: The verb 'see' can be followed by an object and a verb ending in '-ing' (present participle) to describe witnessing an action in progress or a general trend happening.
The company saw more customers visiting its website.
EN: Weber is a very well-known American brand of charcoal, gas, and electric outdoor grills. In the UK and many Western countries, backyard barbecues are a major part of summer social life, and owning a high-end grill from a brand like Weber is seen as a status symbol for outdoor entertaining.
EN: The verb 'means' is used to define a concept, and it is followed by a gerund (verb-ing) to show the action that defines it.
Learning English means practicing every day.
EN: 'Alfresco' is borrowed from Italian ('al fresco'), meaning 'in the cool air'. In English, it specifically refers to dining outside, which became extremely popular in the UK during the pandemic when indoor restaurant dining was restricted.
EN: The verb 'say' can be followed by a clause (a mini-sentence with a subject and verb) to report what someone thinks or says. The word 'that' is often left out in casual English.
They say the weather is nice today.
EN: During the Covid pandemic, lockdowns in the UK forced restaurants to close. This led to a massive trend of 'alfresco dining' (eating outdoors) and home cooking, as people invested in high-end garden equipment like expensive barbecues to recreate restaurant experiences at home.
EN: We use 'could not' (or 'couldn't') followed by a basic verb to talk about things we were unable to do in the past.
I could not find my keys yesterday.
EN: During the Covid pandemic, the UK government implemented strict lockdowns, which included closing all pubs, cafes, and restaurants. This forced people to cook at home and led to a massive boom in home cooking and outdoor dining (alfresco dining) in their own gardens.
EN: The verb 'want' is followed by 'to' and the base form of another verb (infinitive) to express a desire to do an action.
We wanted to play tennis yesterday.
EN: During the Covid lockdowns in the UK, restaurants were closed. This led to a huge trend of 'home cooking' and 'alfresco dining' (eating outdoors), where people invested in high-quality garden and cooking equipment to recreate restaurant experiences at home.
EN: Using 'a' before singular nouns starting with a consonant sound. We use 'a' to talk about one person's job or identity.
He is a teacher.
EN: In English-speaking media, experts are often introduced with their specific field of expertise (e.g., 'food expert', 'tech expert') to establish their authority on the topic being discussed.
EN: When reporting what someone said in the past, we often use 'said' followed by a clause in the past tense (e.g., 'wanted'). The word 'that' can be omitted after 'said'.
He said he liked the food.
EN: During the Covid pandemic, lockdowns in the UK forced restaurants to close. This led to a huge trend of 'alfresco dining' (eating outdoors) and cooking gourmet meals at home, which explains why many people invested in very expensive barbecue equipment.
EN: Use 'so' to connect two sentences when the second sentence is the result of the first sentence.
It was raining, so we stayed at home.
EN: During the Covid lockdowns in the UK, restaurants were closed, which led to a massive trend of 'alfresco dining' (eating outdoors) and home cooking. People invested heavily in high-end garden equipment like luxury barbecues to recreate restaurant-quality experiences at home.
Key vocabulary words with IPA pronunciation, definitions, example sentences, and interactive quizzes.
Phrases with type tags, bilingual definitions, usage notes, and example sentences.
The preparation and cooking of food in an outdoor setting, typically using a grill or campfire.
Eating outdoors, especially in a pleasant and casual atmosphere.
A sudden and rapid increase in the sales of a product or service.