What BBQ Should I Buy? The Complete UK Buyer’s Guide (2026)

Buying a new BBQ has never been more exciting—or more confusing.

When I bought my first “proper” BBQ, the choice was relatively simple. Today, you can choose between gas BBQs, charcoal kettles, ceramic kamados, pellet grills, offset smokers, planchas and hybrid cookers, with prices ranging from under £100 to several thousand pounds.

It’s no wonder one of the questions I’m asked most often is:

“What BBQ should I buy?”

The honest answer is that there isn’t one perfect BBQ.

The best BBQ is the one that suits the way you cook.

Over the years I’ve cooked on everything from basic charcoal grills to premium ceramic kamados, and like most BBQ enthusiasts I’ve made a few expensive mistakes along the way. Looking back, there are definitely things I would have done differently if I were buying my first serious BBQ today.

The good news is that you can avoid many of those mistakes.

Rather than recommending a specific brand or model, I’d encourage you to think about how you actually plan to use your BBQ. The answers to a handful of simple questions will quickly narrow the options and help you choose a grill that you’ll still love years from now.

Quick Recommendations

If you just want the short answer, here’s where I’d start.

Don’t worry if you’re still unsure. By the end of this guide you should have a much clearer idea which style of BBQ is right for you.

The Five Questions You Should Ask Before Buying a BBQ

Whenever somebody asks me which BBQ they should buy, I always ask them the same five questions.

Your answers are far more important than the logo on the lid.

We’ll work through them one by one.

1. How Many People Do You Normally Cook For?

This is always the first question I ask because it has a huge influence on the size of BBQ you’ll need.

One mistake many people make is buying a BBQ based on the largest gathering they might ever host rather than the way they cook most of the time.

If you’re usually cooking for two or four people, buying a huge six-burner gas BBQ simply because you host one garden party every summer probably isn’t the best investment.

A larger BBQ costs more to buy, takes up more space and generally uses more fuel than a smaller one.

Instead, think about your typical weekend. Who are you normally cooking for?

Couples

If it’s usually just the two of you, you don’t need an enormous grill.

A quality compact gas BBQ, kettle BBQ or ceramic kamado will comfortably cook enough food while being quicker to heat up and more economical to run.

Families

For families of four to six people, I’d suggest looking for a cooking area somewhere around the 50–60cm mark, although this will vary depending on the type of BBQ.

This gives you enough space to cook multiple items without feeling cramped.

Large Gatherings

If you regularly entertain family and friends, you’ll appreciate having more cooking space.

Large gas BBQs come into their own here because they provide plenty of room and make it easy to cook lots of different foods at the same time.

If you prefer charcoal cooking, a larger kettle or ceramic BBQ can also work extremely well, although you may need to cook in batches depending on the menu.

My Advice: Buy the BBQ you’ll use every weekend, not the one you’ll need once a year. It’s usually better to own a slightly smaller, high-quality BBQ than a huge one that doesn’t suit your everyday cooking.

2. What Do You Actually Want to Cook?

This is probably the most important question of all.

Far too many people buy a BBQ before they’ve thought about what they actually want to cook on it.

If your menu is mainly burgers, sausages, chicken breasts and the occasional steak, almost any decent BBQ will do a great job.

But if you’ve watched videos of brisket smoking overnight, cooking Neapolitan pizza at 400°C or slow-roasting pork shoulder for twelve hours, your choice becomes much more important.

Casual BBQ Cooking

If your BBQ is mainly for summer weekends and quick family meals, you’ll probably value convenience above anything else.

Gas BBQs are excellent here.

Turn them on, wait ten minutes and you’re ready to cook.

There’s very little cleaning and almost no preparation.

Traditional Charcoal Cooking

Many people, myself included, simply enjoy cooking over charcoal.

There’s something satisfying about lighting a chimney starter, managing the fire and cooking over glowing coals.

It’s slower than gas, but for many of us that’s part of the enjoyment rather than a disadvantage.

Low & Slow BBQ

If you’ve been inspired by American BBQ and want to cook brisket, pulled pork or beef ribs for ten or twelve hours, you’ll want a BBQ that excels at maintaining stable temperatures for long periods.

This is where ceramic kamados and dedicated smokers really shine.

High Heat Cooking

Love perfectly seared steaks?

Want restaurant-quality pizzas?

Fancy cooking on a cast iron plancha?

Some BBQs are far better suited to these styles than others.

Ceramic BBQs, in particular, are incredibly versatile because they can comfortably hold low temperatures for smoking while also reaching temperatures well above 350°C for pizza or steak.

Think Beyond Burgers

One of the biggest changes in outdoor cooking over the last decade has been the variety of food people now cook outside.

Today it’s perfectly normal to cook:

• Slow smoked brisket
• Pulled pork
• Rotisserie chicken
• Wood-fired pizza
• Reverse-seared steaks
• Seafood
• Roasted vegetables
• Paella
• Stir fries
• Breakfast
• Fresh bread
• Desserts

If that variety appeals to you, it’s worth buying a BBQ that will grow with your skills rather than one you’ll outgrow after a couple of summers.

My Advice: When I bought my first charcoal BBQ, I thought I’d only ever cook burgers and sausages. It didn’t take long before I was experimenting with ribs, pulled pork and pizzas. If you think outdoor cooking might become a hobby rather than just a way of cooking dinner, it’s worth planning for that now rather than upgrading later.

3. Are You a Casual BBQ Cook or Is This About to Become an Obsession?

This is a question that many people overlook, but it can make a huge difference to the BBQ you choose.

Most of us start out thinking we’ll use the BBQ for the occasional sunny weekend. A few burgers, some sausages and maybe a couple of steaks for family and friends.

For some people, that’s exactly how it stays.

For others… well, welcome to the club!

Before long you’re watching YouTube videos on smoking brisket, experimenting with reverse-seared steaks, buying cast iron cookware and planning your next outdoor cooking project.

I know because that’s exactly what happened to me.

If you think BBQ is simply going to be another way of cooking dinner, then convenience should probably be your priority. A good gas BBQ will give you fantastic results with very little effort and will encourage you to cook outdoors more often.

However, if you already enjoy cooking and like experimenting with new techniques, there’s a good chance that outdoor cooking will become a hobby rather than just a way of preparing food.

In that case, I’d encourage you to think a little further ahead.

Buying a slightly more versatile BBQ now could save you upgrading in a couple of years’ time.

Casual BBQ Cook

If this sounds like you, your priorities are likely to be:

• Quick to light
• Easy to clean
• Reliable
• Great for everyday cooking
• Minimal maintenance

A quality gas BBQ or charcoal kettle will do everything you need without overcomplicating things.

BBQ Enthusiast

If you’re the sort of person who enjoys learning new cooking techniques and experimenting with different recipes, your wish list may look rather different.

You might want to try:

• Low and slow smoking
• Reverse searing steaks
• Cooking pizzas
• Rotisserie cooking
• Baking bread
• Roasting whole joints of meat
• Outdoor breakfasts
• Plancha cooking
• Cooking with Dutch ovens

Suddenly versatility becomes much more important than simply grilling burgers.

This is where ceramic BBQs really start to justify their higher price.

They can comfortably smoke overnight at 110°C, roast at 180°C and cook pizzas at well over 350°C, all on the same cooker.

That’s one of the reasons they’ve become so popular with serious outdoor cooks.

Don’t Buy Twice

One piece of advice I’d give anyone buying their first premium BBQ is to think about where you’ll be in three or four years.

Many people buy an entry-level BBQ only to realise they’ve outgrown it surprisingly quickly.

If your budget allows, buying the BBQ you aspire to own can often work out cheaper than buying two BBQs over a short period.

That doesn’t mean everyone should buy a ceramic kamado, but it does mean it’s worth considering how your interest in outdoor cooking might develop.

My Advice: If you’re already reading BBQ websites, watching cooking videos and researching different grills, there’s a fair chance this is about to become more than just a summer hobby. Buy a BBQ that can grow with you.

4. Which Fuel Should You Choose?

One of the biggest decisions you’ll make is choosing the type of fuel your BBQ uses.

Every fuel has its advantages, and there isn’t a right or wrong answer.

It all comes down to what matters most to you.

Let’s look at the main options.

Gas BBQs

Gas BBQs are incredibly popular, and for good reason.

Turn the burners on, preheat for ten to fifteen minutes and you’re ready to cook.

There’s no waiting for charcoal to light, very little ash to dispose of afterwards and temperature control is as simple as turning a dial.

For busy families, it’s hard to beat.

Advantages

• Fast to heat up
• Very easy to control
• Excellent for weekday cooking
• Simple to clean
• Multiple cooking zones
• Great for entertaining

Considerations

While modern gas BBQs produce excellent food, some people miss the ritual of cooking over charcoal.

For many BBQ enthusiasts, lighting the fire and managing the charcoal is part of the experience.

If that’s important to you, gas may feel a little clinical.

Charcoal BBQs

For many people, charcoal is what BBQ is all about.

The smell of lumpwood charcoal, the sound of sizzling food over hot coals and the satisfaction of cooking over a live fire all add to the experience.

Charcoal takes longer to prepare than gas, but many people would argue the extra effort is more than worth it.

Advantages

• Fantastic flavour
• Excellent high heat cooking
• More traditional BBQ experience
• Generally lower purchase cost
• Great versatility with the right setup

Considerations

Lighting charcoal takes longer, and you’ll need to become comfortable managing airflow and fuel.

Fortunately, that’s much easier than many people imagine.

A chimney starter and a little practice make charcoal cooking remarkably straightforward.

Ceramic Kamados

Ceramic BBQs have transformed outdoor cooking over the last decade.

They’re incredibly fuel efficient, exceptionally versatile and capable of producing outstanding results across almost every style of cooking.

You can smoke a pork shoulder overnight, roast a chicken for Sunday lunch or cook restaurant-quality pizzas at very high temperatures.

They’re also remarkably economical to run because the thick ceramic walls retain heat so efficiently.

The downside?

Price.

A good ceramic BBQ is a significant investment.

However, if you’ll use it regularly, many owners consider it money well spent.

Advantages

• Extremely versatile
• Outstanding temperature control
• Very fuel efficient
• Excellent for smoking
• Superb for roasting
• Incredible heat retention
• Fantastic pizza cooking

Considerations

They’re heavy, expensive and generally slower to heat up than a gas BBQ.

They’re also less portable, so it’s worth thinking carefully about where your BBQ will live before buying one.

Pellet Grills

Pellet grills continue to grow in popularity, particularly with people who enjoy smoking and roasting.

Wood pellets provide both fuel and smoke flavour, while electronic controllers automatically regulate the cooking temperature.

They’re incredibly easy to use and produce consistently excellent results.

However, they rely on electricity and don’t quite achieve the same very high temperatures as some ceramic BBQs.

Electric BBQs

Electric BBQs are often the only option for people living in flats or apartments where charcoal and gas aren’t permitted.

While they don’t quite recreate the experience of live-fire cooking, modern electric BBQs have improved significantly and can still produce enjoyable food.

If outdoor space is limited, they’re certainly worth considering.

Which Fuel Do I Prefer?

People often ask me this question.

The truth is that every type of BBQ has its place.

If I wanted to cook burgers after work on a Wednesday evening, I’d happily use a gas BBQ.

If I wanted to spend an entire Saturday cooking outdoors with friends and family, I’d almost always choose charcoal.

For me, BBQ is about more than simply cooking food.

I enjoy lighting the charcoal, managing the fire and spending time outside. That’s all part of the experience.

That doesn’t mean charcoal is objectively better—it simply suits the way I enjoy cooking.

That’s why I always encourage people to buy the BBQ that fits their lifestyle rather than following somebody else’s recommendation.

My Advice: Don’t let anyone convince you there’s only one “proper” way to BBQ. Gas, charcoal, ceramic and pellet grills can all produce fantastic food. The best choice is the one that you’ll actually enjoy using regularly.

5. What’s Your Budget?

It’s very easy to get carried away when shopping for a new BBQ.

You start looking at a few sensible options and, before you know it, you’re comparing premium ceramic kamados with built-in outdoor kitchens and wondering if you really do need a rotisserie, pizza oven and plancha!

The reality is that there are excellent BBQs available at almost every price point. Spending more generally buys you better build quality, improved temperature control, higher quality materials and additional cooking space, but it doesn’t automatically mean you’ll cook better food.

Buy the best BBQ you can comfortably afford, but don’t stretch your budget simply because somebody on the internet tells you that you need a particular brand.

Under £300

If this is your budget, I would focus on buying the best quality kettle BBQ or entry-level gas BBQ you can find.

Avoid being tempted by very large, low-cost gas BBQs packed with features. They’re often built using thinner materials and lower-quality burners, which can affect both cooking performance and longevity.

A smaller, well-built BBQ will almost always outperform a larger, cheaper alternative.

This budget is perfect if you’re just starting your outdoor cooking journey.

£300–£700

This is where your options really start to open up.

You’ll find excellent quality charcoal kettles, mid-range gas BBQs and entry-level ceramic BBQs.

For many people, this price range represents the sweet spot between affordability and performance.

A good BBQ at this price should last many years if it’s properly looked after.

£700–£1,500

At this level you’re moving into premium territory.

You’ll benefit from heavier construction, improved temperature control, better cooking grates and a noticeably higher quality finish.

If you’re considering a ceramic kamado, this is where you’ll find some of the most capable and versatile cookers on the market.

For people who cook outdoors regularly, the additional investment can be worthwhile.

£1,500+

If you’re spending this sort of money, you’re no longer simply buying a BBQ.

You’re investing in an outdoor cooking experience.

Premium gas BBQs, ceramic cookers and modular outdoor kitchens all become realistic options.

Before spending this much, I’d strongly recommend seeing the BBQ in person if possible. Lift the lid, feel the build quality and compare different brands side by side.

A premium BBQ should feel like something you’ll still be using ten or fifteen years from now.

My Advice: Never buy the biggest BBQ your budget allows. Buy the highest quality BBQ that genuinely suits the way you cook.

Is a Premium BBQ Worth the Money?

People ask me this surprisingly often.

The honest answer is…

Sometimes.

If you BBQ four or five times every summer, probably not.

If you cook outdoors every week throughout the year, absolutely.

Premium BBQs generally offer:

• Better temperature control
• Higher quality materials
• Longer warranties
• Better fuel efficiency
• Improved cooking performance
• Longer lifespan

However, they’re only worth paying for if you’ll actually use those benefits.

I’ve eaten fantastic food cooked on relatively inexpensive BBQs and disappointing food cooked on very expensive ones.

The BBQ doesn’t make the cook.

Experience, practice and confidence make a much bigger difference than the logo on the lid.

Common Mistakes People Make

Having spoken to hundreds of BBQ enthusiasts over the years, the same mistakes crop up again and again.

Buying Too Big

Most people cook for the same handful of family members every weekend.

Don’t buy a commercial-sized BBQ because you host one party every August.

Buying Too Small

Equally, don’t underestimate how much your interest in BBQ might grow.

Many people quickly move beyond burgers and sausages and start experimenting with larger joints of meat, indirect cooking and entertaining friends.

Think about where you’ll be in a couple of years, not just where you are today.

Focusing Only on the BBQ

Your BBQ is only part of the picture.

Leave some room in your budget for a few quality accessories.

I’d prioritise:

• A reliable digital thermometer
• A chimney starter (for charcoal)
• Good quality lumpwood charcoal
• Long-handled tongs
• Heat-resistant gloves
• A decent BBQ cover

Those accessories will improve your cooking far more than an extra side burner you’ll rarely use.

Chasing Features You’ll Never Use

Rotisserie burners.

Searing stations.

Bluetooth controls.

Built-in lighting.

Some are genuinely useful.

Others are simply marketing.

Buy features because you’ll use them, not because they look impressive in the showroom.

Forgetting Where It Will Live

This sounds obvious, but measure your space before buying.

Think about:

• Storage
• Access
• Shelter from the weather
• Wind direction
• Distance from the house
• Space to prepare food

A BBQ that’s awkward to access is less likely to be used.

My Recommendations

Rather than recommending specific brands, I’d encourage you to choose the style of BBQ that best matches how you like to cook.

If You Want Maximum Convenience

Buy a quality gas BBQ.

They’re quick to heat up, easy to control and perfect for regular family cooking.

If You Love Traditional BBQ

Buy a charcoal kettle.

They’re affordable, versatile and produce fantastic food.

If You Want One BBQ That Can Do Almost Everything

Buy a ceramic kamado.

They can grill, smoke, roast and bake with remarkable consistency.

If you enjoy experimenting, they’re incredibly rewarding to cook on.

If You Love Low & Slow BBQ

Choose either a ceramic BBQ or a dedicated smoker.

Both are capable of producing outstanding brisket, pulled pork and ribs.

If You’re Completely New to BBQ

Keep things simple.

Buy a good quality BBQ, learn how to control temperature and spend your money on ingredients rather than gadgets.

You’ll improve far more by cooking regularly than by buying expensive accessories.

My Final Thoughts

If you’ve read this far, you’ll probably have realised something.

Choosing a BBQ isn’t really about choosing a brand.

It’s about choosing the style of outdoor cooking that excites you.

Every BBQ has strengths.

Every BBQ has compromises.

The important thing is finding one that fits your lifestyle, your budget and the food you genuinely enjoy cooking.

If I could leave you with just one piece of advice, it would be this:

Buy the BBQ you’ll enjoy using every weekend, not the BBQ somebody else tells you to buy.

The best BBQ isn’t necessarily the biggest, the most expensive or the one with the longest list of features.

It’s the one that encourages you to cook outdoors more often, spend time with family and friends and create meals you’ll remember long after the charcoal has cooled.

For me, that’s what BBQ has always been about.

I hope this guide helps you find the BBQ that’s right for you.

Happy cooking!