Grills, hammocks, pizza ovens … sun spurs alfresco shopping spree in UK

theguardian.com:

There have been fire pits, pizza ovens and even inflatable hot tubs, but now the wood pellet barbecue is the object outdoor lovers are expected to queue up for in the days and weeks ahead as the weather turns warmer.

Temperatures on Saturday reached up to 20C (68F) for the first time since October. The Met Office said the mercury hit 20C in Kinlochewe, north-west Scotland, with highs of 15.3C in Castlederg, Northern Ireland; 17.3C in Bridgefoot, Cumbria; and 18C in Valley, Anglesey.

The warm weather is set to continue this week thanks to the jet stream tracking well to the north of the UK, letting high pressure dominate from the east.

John Lewis says that wood pellet cooking has emerged as one of the fastest-growing sales areas in the outdoor cooking category because the grills are “as convenient as gas but match the flavour of charcoal”. The department store is stocking grills made by the upmarket US brand Traeger for the first time this year.

The cheapest Traeger sold by John Lewis is £900 but for that price you are at least able to step away from the grill and socialise because it can be operated remotely using an app on your phone. Competition in the market includes brands such as Broil King and Weber but all come with a hefty price tag compared with a kettle barbecue, which can cost under £100.

The past two years have seen Britons turn their outdoor spaces into “alfresco living rooms”, says Andrew Tanner, Habitat’s design manager. The supply of garden furniture was disrupted during the pandemic and this year shoppers are eager to get out in front, with sales of Habitat’s garden sets already double what they were this time last year. Customers are buying multi-purpose pieces that work indoors as well as out, Tanner