yes UK cattle are generally grass fed and slaughtered at a younger age - so meat is much leaner.
we buy USDA or Australian grain fed briskets for competition cooks.
you can still smoke UK briskets - but need to add some stock/jus/beer etc at the wrapping stage to enhance the moisture content...
Heat beads for me in the WSMs too these days. My last stocks of the old white bag Weber briquettes have finally been used up.
The new ones fine for grilling - as Tony says they get real hot (and quickly) - but not as easily manageable for low n slow as the heat beads...
Mick
general consensus in the UK is that the 47 uses less charcoal and is easier to manage - but to be honest I never had any issues with my 57 (or my 37 for that matter)
if you like to cook for large numbers - 57 is the way to go....no-one ever wanted LESS space!
Chris
Yellow and Blue is in the UK - belongs to Glenn & Sarah who are the Riviera BBQ Team - they also repainted him for their recent wedding
actually just noticed the Minion is a WSM too - Glenn & Sarahs is a Pro-Q.