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.