OS barbeque: without the stinky smoke?

Pink.

Hi luxor4t,

We barbeque a lot, but our next door neighbours don't....They're the only one's near enough to be affected by the smoke. They aren't great outdoor people so don't spend much time in their garden but if I see they have windows open or washing on the line I send our youngest across to tell them that 'Mum's noticed you've got washing on the line and she's going to light the barbeque soon' and they are quite happy to bring in the washing for the half to three quarters of an hour or so that it might take us to cook the food.

Likewise, they are great DIY enthusiasts and know we enjoy the weekends in the garden so if they're doing noisy work, drilling etc outside they deliberately avoid times we are eating in the garden or if we have friends round and tell us in advance about any work that might be particularly disruptive. For us it works both ways and is a case of 'live and let live'.

You've said that your neighbours are 'pure gold'. If that's the case, I think the simplest answer is to approach them politely and tell them how much it's upsetting you. Explain that you feel you can't ''enjoy your garden, eat outside, put out washing or even open a window'' during the time they are barbequeing and ask them if they would mind giving you half an hours notice before they begin to cook on the bbq. It will be an incovenience for you to have to close your windows, bring in your washing etc, but they are your neighbours and you have to live next door to them for the time being. In my opinion, a little compromise is the best way forward.

To answer your questions above. Charcoal barbeques, used properly, where the charcoal burns then turns white before any food is put on the grill produce much less smoke than if the food is added while there are still flames. Gas barbeques also give off less smoke than charcoal barbeques as it is easier to control their temperature but they are generally more expensive than charcoal barbeques. Lower fat food also produces less excess fat to burn on the coals, therefore less smoke on from the barbeque.

There are other methods of cooking outdoors but in my opinion they don't taste anything like as good as a barbeque on a sunny afternoon. As you are clearly not a barbeque enthusiast, I'm not sure how you would go about diplomatically giving advice on barbequeing tecniques or suggesting a different method of cooking to your neighbours, but I wish you well and hope you will be able to compromise and can find a happy solution acceptable to all concerned.

Pink

Bongedone

nesssie1702 wrote: »

Speak to your local Environmental Health Department and see if they can advise? It might be classed as a nuisance under Section 79 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, which deals with Statutory Nuisance.

I believe BBQ's are permitted unless they are every weekend. You are allowed a certain amount per year but I am not sure what the figure is.

MrsE_2

anguk wrote: »

Personally I've never seen the attraction of a barbeque, they seem to be such a faff to get the temperature right so you cook the food properly. After all most of the preparation is done inside, all you do is stick the burgers etc on the barbeque. I prefer to just cook everything inside & take it outside to eat!

I'm with you on this.

We do have them no & again (DH & DD insist) but I prefer food cooked normally & eaten al fresco.

Gigervamp

In theory, I like it when we have a bbq because hubby does the cooking.

In practise, I prepare all the food and have the washing up to deal with afterwards (and there always seems to be more washing up than after a normal meal!)

When we have a bbq, we don't usually light up until mid-late afternoon which gives me time to dry my washing. Perhaps you could ask your neighbours if they'd mind letting you know the day before they plan on having the bbq so that you can get your washing done earlier.

FairyElephant_2

Do I have the only Hubby who refuses to do BBQ cooking? I thought it was a 'manly' thing to do (my mates' hubby's all enjoy it) but mine thinks it is a waste of time "when there's a perfectly good cooker indoors and you can eat the food outside!" so I have to do the BBQ cooking myself if I want one!

OP - I agree with other posters that if you let the coals get white then there is less smoke when cooking, but in my experience the main problem seems to be smoke when lighting the BBQ and getting it to temperature. I found the 'light the bag' style charcoal seems to get to temp faster, so smoke for less time. Other than that, I found the more expensive charcaoals, which seem to be in larger lumps, cause less smoke.

buxtonrabbitgreen

I am not a great BBQ fan either. We have had them when we are away camping as it is an easy ish way to cook in those circumstances. Already this year 3 times I have had to rush out and take the washing in.