So, word has reached you of the existence of Barbecue Huts. Your interest piqued, you venture onto Google to try and deduce what exactly one is and why you should have one installed stat. Luckily for you, you need scroll no further – herein lies everything you need to know about these amazing structures.
What is a Barbecue hut?
First off all, ‘what on earth is a Barbecue Hut?’ I hear you cry. To understand the concept, you must take a trip back in time – to a time of herding reindeer, of candlelight and of seriously chilly weather….
Welcome to Finland, hundreds of years ago. You are a Sami herdsman, guiding your reindeer through the snowy landscape, and you are growing tired and cold. As you pause to take in the blanket of white snow that wraps itself around you and your herd, you spot a hut, octagonal in shape and made of wood. Relief floods you as you recognise the hut as being a ‘Grillkota’ (aka a Barbecue Hut) – a place for you to rest, warm up and cook some restorative food, whilst your reindeer rest outside. As you push open the door to the hut, you are greeted by a hearth on which to cook, seats covered in warm furs and the gentle, warm light of twinkling candles. As the snow continues to fall outside, you hunker down and breath a hygge sigh of contentment.
Fast forward those hundreds of years, back to now, and grillkotas – aka BBQ Huts – are still going strong! The beautiful simplicity of the concept has translated perfectly to the modern age, where they give tired, over worked and screen-ed out people a hygge haven in which to seek a different sort of refuge – away from the busy, non stop hustle and bustle of life.
The reason they work so well in the here and now, and perhaps specifically in our gardens, is because they are beautiful to look at, exquisitely crafted for longevity and are hugely functional for a variety of different uses. They are perfect in their original concept, as a gathering place for you and friends and family to gather, eat food and relax. Alternatively, forgo the barbecue and use the space as an office or den space for kids and teens. They can be used to host games nights, tea parties or to do yoga in – the possibilities are absolutely endless.
