insideKENT Magazine Issue 73 - April 2018 | Page 28

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE BARBECUE ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• RUXLEY MANOR IS THE FIRST WEBER WORLD STORE IN KENT, WITH AN EXTENSIVE RANGE OF THE WORLD’S MOST INNOVATIVE BARBECUES, EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES. With World War II at an end, America’s soldiers returned home in search of somewhere to live with a small back garden where they could relax in peace and quiet. Suburbs soon started to pop up and entertaining outdoors became de rigueur. Free-standing metal braziers replaced traditional barbecue pits as home chefs turned to high-heat fast grilling instead of the slow cooking of yesteryear. But, this shift only brought about more problems. If it rained, barbecues spluttered into a soggy mess and a mere breeze would turn a mouthwatering steak into an ash-encrusted disappointment. George Stephen Snr. was a barbecue aficionado and after being disappointed by another soggy steak he had a lightbulb moment. Back at the metalworks where he worked, his idea began to take shape as he chopped a metal buoy in half, added air vents, legs and a lid, and the original kettle barbecue was born. He realised it looked more than a bit weird, but he proudly took it home to try it out. 28 His neighbours only stopped laughing at the spaceship, as they called it, when they tasted the steak that George cooked for them on it. He knew that cooking on a rounded bowl with the lid down was the key and he was quickly proved right. Now everybody wanted one. George decided to set up on his own and by the end of the 1950s, he was able to buy out Weber Brothers Metalworks. He then changed its name to Weber-Stephen Products. George’s lidded barbecues were proving to be such a hit throughout the 1960s and 1970s that American TV picked up on his story. Since then, Weber barbecues have been synonymous with the best in barbecue and have been at the forefront of innovation – becoming a true global success. Ruxley Manor has recently become one of the few Weber World stores in the UK, stocking an extensive range of barbecues, equipment and accessories as well as hosting regular Weber cooking demonstrations and certified BBQ courses throughout the year. If you’re looking to improve your barbecue repertoire and really make a statement, it’s the only place to look for your new barbecue. With the latest gas and charcoal barbecues, from the outstanding Genesis range to the compact, urban-lifestyle inspired Weber Pulse you will find the perfect grill to impress your friends and family. To make sure you get the perfect outcome every time, the smart iGrill3 will alert your phone when your food has reached optimum temperature. The iGrill3 is currently free with any Genesis II purchase at Ruxley Manor while stocks last. With three ‘Certified by Weber’ BBQ Courses in April and May this year, you can elevate your cooking from burgers and bangers up to real, delicious, memorable cuisine that will impress your guests and leave them wanting more. Becoming the king or queen of the barbecue has never been easier with Weber. To find out more about Weber barbecues, accessories and certified courses visit www.ruxley-manor.co.uk, or pop in and ask our trained Weber staff.