Forum Topic

Stinking BBQs

There is a very inconsiderate neighbour on Birkbeck Ave who insists on the most smoke polluted and stinking BBQ.  The smoke was covering several gardens.  There is no consideration for those who's homes are stunk out to high heaven.  They also have the BBQ very close to a wooden fence, surely a fire risk.  Has anybody else had experiences of this?

Nicola Howard ● 5184d12 Comments

You should thankful or bbq weather up there. Down in South Acton it's been pissing down for the last 3 months.

Peter Millman ● 5184d

Peter, that made me laugh!!Yes,  Nicola  have had experience of it and hate it,  but I suspect nothing much you can do. I loathe it as stinks out my home and have to close all the windows.  Cannot say it's been much of a problem this summer for the reason Peter gave.

Jen Morty ● 5184d

Yes I agree. Everytime we have to close our windows even if it is hot. Its awful

Alex Valenzuela ● 5184d

For everyone's information:A properly running BBQ doesn't stink. Or shouldn't. The red (or even white) hot coals give off almost no smoke. The obnoxious smell is usually from the lighting starter fluid. I stopped using that some time ago and switched to self-starting charcoal in bags. That works better than starter fluid and the smoke is much less objectionable.But you shouldn't even be using that. Two years ago an American friend put me on to what is unquestionably the best way of starting a BBQ. Use a starter chimney. It's a bit like a giant beer can with no ends and holes in the sides. (for us oldies, think of a Watney's Party Seven). . About a third of the way up, there's a grid. Pile the charcoal on top of the grid and stuff newspaper in underneath. Set light to the paper then GO AWAY AND HAVE A BEER. When you get back 10 or 15 minutes later the coals are red hot and ready to be spread over the BBQ base. There's a little bit of smoke for about 5 minutes but it's clean and nearly odourless, unlike the stench from the chemical starters.I got mine from Homebase. This is the one they sell now; mine had holes in the top half as well to improve airflowhttp://www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=110&storeId=10151&partNumber=852195In Southern California starter chemicals are banned under clean air legislation and chimneys are the only practical solution. We should do the same here

Roy Gillett ● 5183d

It's the stench of burning flesh that nauseats us veggies. I get it from a neighbour's kitchen now, and realise how lucky I was that my ex-neighbour was a non-cooking veggie like me. I open all windows so the smell of greasy casseroles and roasts doesn't permeate fabrics. But each to their own, and there are worse things to complain about.

R Bell ● 5183d

Ditto. As a vegetarian the last thing I need is my clothes line washing (bed sheets, underwear, etc) smelling of cooked / barbequed meat.Or to be banished indoors on a roasting hot day, bolting shut all doors and windows (front and back, due to direction of prevailing wind).So many people have absolutely no consideration. A note through the door a few days beforehand to say they're having a garden gathering and apologising in advance for noise would be a start, then I can arrange to be out!

S Bradford ● 5183d

Yes, hear, hear - as a fellow veggie I am seriously thankful that BBQ weather is in short supply at the moment, if only for this reason...smell of seared flesh is disgusting. maybe we veggie types should all move to the same street, enjoy fresh summer breezes and cook each other a delicious non-fleshy dinner occasionally??

Cathy Johns ● 5179d

And isn't it funny that carnavores often think we must crave their food when we can smell it?  Like, 'but I bet you miss bacon though', haha!  Er.. no.. I just smell burning farmyard animal. Each to their own, but at least they don't have their homes swathed in the smell of food that's repulsive to them.

R Bell ● 5179d

The culprits for the last stench (and many before) are Polish, maybe they should polish up their act.  (No pun intended.)

Nicola Howard ● 5179d

I don't think bacon is limited to the Polish!!

Jen Morty ● 5178d

What a stench, smells like petrol has been used.  My flat stinks of smoke and noxious fumes.  Definitely not good for the lungs.  Birkbeck Ave yet again.

Nicola Howard ● 5157d

I note they have their windows closed!

Dee Cook ● 5154d