Get Cobblestones to fuel it with. Unlike the heat beads (that DO take an age to get hot), they are incredibly hot within 5 minutes of lighting. Cobbs are fantastic for things you would normally roast - we've done beef joints, whole chicken, whole duck and lamb shanks in ours and they were all great. Not much good for 'normal' bbq-ing though - you really need the lid on to cook properly. We have a charcoal barbie for 'normal' use.