BANK HOLI The barbies you can bung in the car boot

And there’s even one you can use indoors if it rains!

THE last glorious weeks of summer are here, so we need to make the most of every sunny day. And what better way than to head off into the wilds with a portable barbecue? From the beach to the countryside — or even indoors, if the weather turns bad, TESSA CUNNINGHAM tests the niftiest mobile barbecues...

BEST FOR GARDEN PARTIES

GENTLEMEN’S PORTABLE HARDWARE SUITCASE BARBECUE £55, johnlewis. com THIS elegant barbecue is modelled on an old-fashioned gentleman’s suitcase, and should bring a touch of class to any impromptu gathering. Emblazoned with the promise: The Adventure Begins, the suitcase is so smart it wouldn’t look out of place on the Orient Express, but snap it open and you’ve got an instant barbecue.

The lid and bottom form a tray for holding your charcoal. Onto this goes the rack, measuring 20cm x 90cm x 8cm — just enough room to rustle up a decent spread for two, or more if you keep the food cooking on rotation. Weighing a lightweight 2kg — the same as two bags of sugar — it’s easy to carry.

On the downside, you’ll have to sit it on a table or crouch down to cook on it, as the chrome legs are very short.

BEST FOR PICNICS

LANDMANN PICCOLINO KETTLE BARBECUE £24.93 homebase. co.uk If YOU want a cheap but classy BBQ you can pop in your car boot, this is perfect.

It’s comes from German company Landmann — a by-word for quality. Made of tough, enamelled steel, the kettle barbeque — with a choice of four colours — can cater for a family of four.

It has a roasting hood for cooking meat evenly, a chrome-plated, non-stick grill and even a warming rack so you can move your kebabs and chicken thighs when they’re done. It’s extremely robust and highly engineered — you’ll need a screwdriver to assemble it.

Once up, you simply pop your charcoal into the firebowl and off you go. The 36cm grill is one of the largest we tried. At 4kg (the weight of a small tent), it’s not the lightest. But the ergonomic handle makes it easy to carry and you even get a free pair of tongs.

On the downside, there’s no bottom vent to allow air in — fire needs a constant, flowing air supply — so there’s a risk the fire will go out if you close the lid for prolonged periods while cooking.

BEST FOR HUSBANDS

BBQ TOOLBOX £69.99, thefowndry.com AnY DIY enthusiast will adore this steel barbecue, which is a dead ringer for an old- fashioned toolbox. Open up the box and, instead of drills and screws, you find a perfectly decent 20cm x 38cm grilling space with a removable stainless steel fuel tray and adjustable vents for keeping your coals exactly as you like them. The two sides convert into a warming tray and space for tools, herbs and sauces.

It’s so practical you wonder why all barbecues aren’t made like this. At 4.35kg, it’s one of the heavier barbecues we tried. But the sturdy metal handles make it easy to carry. Super practical, they fold down to turn into the barbecue’s feet, so you won’t scorch the lawn.

On the downside, it’s not dishwasher proof, but then what are husbands for, if not for doing the washing up?

BEST FOR SOCIALITES

BARBECOOK JOYA OUTDOOR TABLE TOP BARBECUE £87.97, amazon.co.uk A BARBEQUE can often feel like one of those grim teenage discos, with men huddled around the grill and the women at the other end of the garden, sipping wine and laying out nibbles.

But with this table-top barbecue, which is perfect for a couple and just big enough for four, everyone mucks in.

It’s a small ceramic insulated bowl (measuring 31cm wide by 16cm high) which acts like a fire pit.

You put it on a table — it has heatproof silicone feet to ensure there’s no danger of scorching — and then cook and chat. As it’s the centrepiece of the table, everyone stays together. You get four bamboo tongs included. If you want to go even more interactive, the range includes a rotating table with six bowls for dipping sauces (£50.)

And there’s no messy clear up afterwards. The bowl goes straight in the dishwasher. The only downside is the price.

BEST FOR INDOORS

LOTUS GRILL £119, cuckooland.com does If THE weather let us down (but fingers crossed, it shouldn’t), or you simply hate the thought of stinking like a bonfire all evening, this clever portable grill could be perfect.

Inside the stainless steel bowl — which comes in a choice of five colours, including lime green (main picture) and corn yellow — is a battery-powered fan which blows air directly onto the lit charcoal. This acts as a bellows, forcing air through the charcoal so quickly, the smoky stage is bypassed, meaning it can be used indoors, with minimum smoke.

It’s also super transportable, even during cooking because the outer shell stays cool. The method is supposed to be healthier, too, as smoke can contain carcinogens.

As all the parts slot together, it’s extremely easy to erect and dismantle. And there’s no messy cleaning up. You simply scoop out the embers and slap the Lotus in the dishwasher. You get a colour-coded nylon bag to carry it around in as well.

At 3.7kg, it’s way lighter than a beach ball volley set. The grill measures 35cm x 26cm — just big enough to cook sufficient sausages or steaks for four.

BEST FOR CITY SLICKERS

PORTABLE NOTEBOOK BBQ GRILL £24.99, firebox.com THIS sleek barbeque, made from heatresistant steel, is designed to look like an electronic notebook. It weighs about the same too (3kg) and, at 4.5cm wide is every bit as slim. But unfold it and you’ve instantly got a ready-to-go, trough- style barbecue complete with grill. The handle also doubles as sturdy legs.

All you have to do is fill the v ent ed trough with charcoal and light. The grill offers a generous 45cm x 30cm amount of cooking space — enough for four people.

BEST FOR THE BEACH

SPARES2GO OUTDOOR PORTABLE BARBECUE £6.99 amazon.co.uk fAncY a beach barbecue? You can easily pack this lightweight, bucket- style model along with your swimming costume and towel. You’ve not only got an instant barbeque, you’ve also got a bucket for making sand castles, if you fancy.

Shaped just like an old- fashioned child’s bucket, it’s made from hard- wearing enamel with a stainless steel cooking rack. It’s just 31.5cm high and weighs under 2kg, but offers a perfectly reasonable 28.5cm of cooking space. choose from bright red or vibrant green. The foldable handle makes it nicely compact.

And at a shade over £5 it’s barely more expensive than a disposable model, but should last for years.

BEST FOR CAMPERS

OXFORD BARBECUES CAMPING FIREPIT WITH GRILL £49.99, notonthehighstreet.com THIS strange-looking barbecue is perfect if you’re planning a camping trip, and will certainly be a conversation-opener among fellow campers, keen to know what it is.

It doubles as a fire pit, so after you’ve finished eating, and the sun’s going down, you and your friends can gather around for a fireside pow-wow.

It works by loading charcoal — or logs and sticks later — into the steel bowl, which you light and then cook your food on the chrome plated grill. When you’re done, whip off the grill and you’ve got a firepit. Just remember to put the mesh lid in place to stop sparks.

It measures 39cm x 56cm. But at 6kg, you won’t want to he walking too far with it.