Lumpwood Charcoal or Briquettes?

by Luis
(Southampton)

Hi Paul, loved your website!

I'm having a few problems opening my take away food shop, it is supposed to be a barbecue house but because the shop is located in a smoke control area I don't know any more what to do.

Environmental Health office is saying I cannot burn lumpwood charcoal in that area but as an alternative I can use Black Diamond Gem Briquettes.

Any chance for you to give me more detailed information about both fuels (lumpwood and briquettes), if you know any other alternative fuel close from the lumpwood charcoal, if you know cheap suppliers of briquettes or lumpwood, etc...

Answer:-

Working in a smoke control area means that as a commercial enterprise you are restricted to the types of combustion fuel you can use.

The product that you have been quoted as acceptable is one of a number of briquettes available on the open market and you can see the full list by clicking on this link. Please note that this link takes you through to the relevant list for England, I’ve included this because of where you are setting up your business but for anyone else interested in this subject, there are other lists available for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

From here, you’ll need to check out the individual manufacturers either by telephone or look on their websites to find a local distributor of the product. Most websites these days have a “dealer locator” web page so it should be too difficult and for his it’s over to you.

As to how these briquettes will perform versus charcoal only testing them yourself is going to answer that one but remember it’s not the smoke from the charcoal that gives barbecue food it’s flavour, it’s the smoke from the fat in the food dripping onto the coals and vaporising. Click here for more information on this point.

Following on from this last point………Why do you want to use charcoal? Why not go for a gas chargrill? Modern gas barbecue grills provide excellent flavour with supreme controllability.

I hope that this helps you get started and don't forget to ask your customers to add your establishment to my barbecue restaurants guide.

See Also:-
Charcoal Or Gas
Barbecue Charcoal
Gas BBQ Grills

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