OC vs BGE,
KJ & Monolith.

The Original — But at What Price?

Big Green Egg put kamado BBQs on the UK map. The ceramics are exceptional, the community is huge, and the brand is unmistakable. You're not buying a bad product — you're paying a large premium for the badge.

The Large BGE starts at £1,499 for the egg alone — no stand. Add a table and you're at £2,000+ before charcoal. Their "lifetime warranty" only covers ceramic parts, for the original purchaser, through an authorised dealer.

Our Prime has a 19.5" cooking surface (vs BGE Large's 18"), includes a 3-tier cooking system and balanced hinge as standard — features BGE charges extra for — and costs £500–£1,000 less all-in, with spare parts available 24/7.

Genuinely Innovative — At a Significant Premium

Kamado Joe has pushed the category forward with the Divide & Conquer cooking system and Air Lift hinge — both of which we also include as standard. The core ceramic construction and cooking performance are built on the same foundation.

The Classic III starts at £2,149 and most retailers push bundles from £2,200–£2,500+. You're getting equivalent cooking performance and the same accessories, for over £1,149 less.

Quality Ceramics — But Hard to Find

Monolith is the most underrated of the three — a Smart Grid system and a wood chip feeder that adds smoke without lifting the lid. Built on the same ceramic manufacturing heritage as OriginalCaveman, it's a genuinely good product.

The challenge is availability. Monolith sells through a small UK specialist dealer network, making comparison shopping harder and after-sales support dealer-dependent. Parts can be difficult to source quickly.

The Biggest Egg — The Biggest Premium

The BGE XL is serious kit. A 24" cooking grid, exceptional heat retention, and the BGE community behind it. But the XL egg alone starts at £1,950 without a stand. Add a proper IntEGGrated Nest with shelves and you're at £2,400–£2,600 before charcoal.

The Barbarian gives you a 24" cooking surface with a 28" overall diameter, 3-tier cooking system, and balanced hinge all included at £1,600 all-in with delivery. That's a saving of £800–£1,000 on a comparable setup.

Big Joe's Big Price — Is It Justified?

The Big Joe III is genuinely impressive — Divide & Conquer cooking system and Air Lift hinge, both of which we also include as standard. Both deliver equivalent core cooking performance at high heat, for long low-and-slow cooks, and everything in between.

The Big Joe III starts at £2,499 and up to £2,849 depending on retailer. You're paying £900–£1,250 more for equivalent cooking capability.

Quality Ceramics — But Smaller and Harder to Find

Monolith is the most underrated in this tier — a Smart Grid system and a built-in wood chip feeder that adds smoke without lifting the lid. Built on the same ceramic manufacturing heritage as OriginalCaveman, it's a genuine contender for serious pitmasters.

The Avantgarde.66 has a 21.5" cooking surface — 2.5" smaller than the Barbarian's 24" — and availability varies by UK specialist dealer, with parts support that's dealer-dependent. The Barbarian beats it on cooking surface, with transparent fixed pricing and 24/7 spare parts access — no dealer required.