What goes hand in hand with glorious sunshine and an ice-cold drink? A barbecue, of course! With hot weather officially here, now could be the time to upgrade your equipment and get your garden or outdoor space ready for grilling. And we've spotted a compact charcoal grill that looks a lot like the MiniMax Big Green Egg, but with a price tag of just £84.99.

Available at Debenhams, the Alivio Kamado 13" Ceramic Mini BBQ is a budget-friendly barbecue that shares a similar vibe to the cult-favourite Big Green Egg, and it's currently reduced by 51%.

The barbecue is what is described as a 'kamado'. Kamado grills (or smokers - they do both) have been gaining cult status since the 1970s, when Big Green Egg opened its first shop in Atlanta. But the technology behind them goes back much, much further. Kamado cooking dates back thousands of years.

Fast forward to today, and the kamado has become a favourite among barbecue fans who want more than just burgers on the grill. Its egg-shaped body and thick ceramic walls are said to be ideal for locking in heat and moisture, and it is often recommended for low-and-slow smoking or roasting.

If you've been looking for a Big Green Egg alternative, the Alivio Kamado 13" Ceramic Mini BBQ has a similar shape. It's made from ceramic casing, and Debenhams says it can grill, roast, and smoke food while locking in heat and moisture. That is likely to mean juicy meat, less charcoal, and less faff.

The barbecue comes unassembled from the stand, but reviews say it is easy enough to put together.

One shopper said: "This product is excellent, very sturdy, cooks well, packed great, even comes with a screwdriver to put the stand on. Not too much smoke whilst cooking, easy to pack away, really great product. No complaints."

The lid has a built-in thermometer for temperature control and adjustable vents. While it's similar in shape and design to the MiniMax Big Green Egg, the Alivio's grill space measures 26.5cm compared to the Egg's 33cm. Though noticeably smaller, this could make it a good option for couples or small families who don't need as much space to grill.

One shopper said: "Quality item, quite small, but should be perfect for a small BBQ." However, another was not happy with the small size, saying it pushed them to return it. In a review, they wrote: "Item is very tiny, returned."

There are a few alternatives to the Alivio, and while one is cheaper, it doesn't have any customer reviews to back it up.

The Range has one egg-shaped charcoal oven currently on offer, priced at £79.99, reduced from £159.99. Slightly bigger in dimensions than the Alivio, it has a grill space of 30cm and is slightly lighter in weight, at 19.5kg compared to the other's 21kg.

We've also found the Boss Grill The Egg XS, which is 15 inches bigger than the Alivio and The Range's egg-shaped barbecue and priced at £199.99. It comes with a free cover and pizza stone and has lots of reviews from satisfied customers. Described as suitable for cooking for up to four people, it weighs 38kg and is twice as tall at 62cm.

One fan wrote: "My first charcoal fire barbecue for a while, I'm absolutely delighted with this little egg. The controlability of the heat is incredible, a couple of handfuls of charcoal lasts three maybe four hours, allowing for a good slow smoke, and the cooking surface is plenty big enough to cook a whole spatchcock large chicken. Great value!"

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