Choosing a barbecue means spending money on something that you are going to be using on a fairly regular basis with high expectations for the end result. So it's important to make the right decisions early on in order to avoid disappointments later.

For a family barbecue, the kettle wins hands down for both economy of purchase and satisfaction in use. What is important is to buy one that is fitted with a stainless steel grill, fitments for indirect heating (these can often be bought separately) and some form of ash catcher. You would be wise, also, to ensure that your barbecue is coated with porcelain or vitreous enamel and that the kettle itself is made from heavy gauge metal.

If you intend to do a lot of entertaining, on the other hand, then the flatbed grill is for you, providing you are willing to accept a certain loss of cooking quality as far as roasting meat goes. Even the hybrids will not give you the same results as a good quality kettle.