B&Q Rockwell 200 gas barbecue review
A good gas barbecue makes cooking al fresco a whole lot easier. Read our review of the Rockwell gas BBQ from B&Q.
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B&Q Rockwell 200 gas barbecue
Pros: even cooking, stylish modern design, easy to clean, small footprint
Cons: very unstable, no side tables, difficult to connect gas, small grill size
Burger count: approx 20
Overall rating: 1.5/5
Buy from B&Q (£130)
With its simple, modern styling, the B&Q Rockwell gas barbecue certainly looks the part (the hood comes in black or a striking orange). It's built with relative ease, thanks to clear instructions and clever well-designed tooling and materials (you'll only need a standard screwdriver).
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In spite of these pros, and its pleasing height, portability and lightweight finish, the barbecue is worryingly flimsy with a significant wobble that affected our rating. You need to take special care with the build to ensure this effect is minimised.
We also had issues connecting the regulator to the gas bottle, not inspiring confidence in the safety and build quality. Once connected, the grill came up to temperature quickly (under 15 minutes) and retained its heat well; in fact, better than many of the other models in our test.
The Rockwell redeems itself considerably once you get cooking, providing even results with excellent non-stick and accurate heat adjustment. It efficiently grilled our selection of test produce (burgers, sausages, halloumi and kebabs) to a standard cooking time, though the low hood and small size might restrict more adventurous barbecue experiments. The clarity of the cook goes hand-in-hand with the excellent dishwasher-safe grill grates, which are a real boon. Despite the storage benefits of the smaller overall footprint, the lack of side shelving really let it down, as you search for space to put your tools, food or summer tipple.
All-in-all this modern and stylish grill holds its own when it comes cooking, especially if you’re just going to be grilling the classic barbecue staples. However, serious concerns about its stability and safety are a big minus-point, and for the cost, these issues are unforgivable.
Star ratings
Assembly 1.5/5 (1 hr 25 mins)
Ease of use 2/5
Cooking results 3.5/5
Value for money 1.5/5
Overall rating: 1.5/5
Specifications:
Height: 108cm
Width: 72cm
Depth: 59cm
Material: steel
Hose & regulator: included
Gas type: clip-on propane
Dishwasher safe: yes (grill grate)
Warranty: 5 years
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This review was last updated in June 2019. If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability, please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk.
