Giles King, Sutherland

QWhat gadgets do I need to buy if I’m building an all-weather outdoor kitchen?

AClaire Davies replies: Many barbecues don’t fare well in bad weather, but the Weber Genesis II E-310 GBS (£799, weber.com) is made of tough stuff and experiences only minimal rust after years of being left out in the cold and damp. It has everything you need for an outdoor kitchen, including a 26-inch cast iron cooking grate, three burners and a great-looking overall design.

The Genesis is also compatible with Weber’s iGrill 3 Bluetooth- enabled thermometer system (£89.99, weber. com), which you harpoon into meat, before firing up the app, to check whether you’ve got the right temperature before serving. Wild about pizza? Add in the Roccbox wood- fired oven to enjoy homemade margheritas, wood- fired veggies, flatbreads, fish and puddings.

To find out whether the conditions are going to be good enough for outdoor cooking and dining, consult Netatmo’s Weather Station (£139, netatmo.com). It keeps tabs on the temperature, humidity, air quality and general weather, delivering all of that important pre-garden party data to your phone.

You can also add smart lighting to your outdoor kitchen: we like the Hue White Lucca Outdoor Pedestal (£89.99,

meethue.com). It has lots of features, including geo-fencing and scheduling, and will add some ambience to your outdoor kitchen. If you want something brighter for cooking in the evenings, choose the Olight H1 Nova CW Headlamp (£45.95,

olightstore.uk). This lamp delivers a super-bright 500 lumens, enabling you to clearly see what you’re cooking.