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Best gas and charcoal BBQs for UK gardens
By the buychecked team · Updated 9 October 2026 · Prices refresh daily from the retailer feed
Choosing a BBQ mostly comes down to one question: do you want convenience or charcoal flavour? A gas BBQ lights at the press of a button, is ready in minutes and makes it easy to cook a quick midweek tea. Charcoal takes longer to get going and needs more attention, but it gives the smoky taste many people think a barbecue should have. Dual-fuel models and ceramic kamados sit in between, offering more control or a bit of both.
After fuel type, think about how many people you usually cook for and how much space you have. A 2-burner gas grill or a small kamado is plenty for a couple or a balcony, while 4 to 6 burners or a long charcoal grill makes sense if you regularly host family. Our seven picks below cover gas, charcoal, dual-fuel and kamado BBQs across budget, mid-range and premium price bands.
How we chose
We have not physically tested these barbecues. We shortlisted them by comparing the published specifications, features, cooking area, burner count, included extras and price band across the full range of BBQs our retailer partner sells, using the retailer's own product information as our fact source. Covers, burners and other accessories were left out so every pick is a complete barbecue. Where a detail such as weight or a gas BBQ's total power output isn't published, we say so and tell you what to check.
1. Best overall
ottimo 350 4 Burner Gas BBQ
£249.99 at Charles Bentley · best for families who want an easy, well-equipped gas BBQ
The ottimo 350 is a sensible middle ground: four main burners give you room to set up hot and cooler zones, and the separate side burner means you can warm sauces or cook sides without giving up grill space. The 60 x 38cm cooking area is pitched at feeding 4 to 6 people. Enamelled cast-iron grids hold heat well for sear marks, and you get electronic ignition, a lid thermometer and a grease management system for easier cleaning. It comes with a regulator and hose, and the cabinet stores the gas bottle when the BBQ isn't lit (the retailer says the cabinet must be empty during use).
✓ Pros
- Four burners plus a side burner for zone cooking
- Enamelled cast-iron grids
- Electronic ignition and lid thermometer
- Regulator and hose included
✕ Cons
- Storage cabinet must be emptied before lighting
- No griddle plate, unlike the 6-burner model
- Two wheels rather than four locking castors
2. Best budget gas BBQ
Perth 2 Burner Gas BBQ - Black
£129.99 at Charles Bentley · best for small gardens and couples who want gas on a budget
The Perth is the most affordable full gas BBQ in our shortlist. Two burners with a combined 7.2kW is modest, but it is enough for a couple or small family cooking burgers, sausages and vegetables. It has side tables, a warming rack and a lid thermometer, and its wheels have brakes so it stays put on a sloping patio. The included 27mm clip-on regulator is designed for green patio gas (propane) bottles, so make sure you buy the right cylinder. The cooking area size isn't published, so check the overall footprint against your space.
✓ Pros
- Lowest price band for a gas BBQ here
- Compact footprint for smaller patios
- Wheels with brakes
- Clip-on regulator for patio gas included
✕ Cons
- Only 7.2kW across two burners
- Cooking area dimensions not listed
- Cover sold separately
3. Best budget charcoal BBQ
ottimo 415 Charcoal BBQ
£129.99 at Charles Bentley · best for anyone who wants real charcoal flavour without spending much
The ottimo 415 is a good-sized charcoal grill for the money, with a 60 x 45cm cooking area aimed at 4 to 6 people. Its most useful feature is a front gear system that raises or lowers the charcoal tray across six heights, which is a much easier way to control heat than shuffling coals around. Adjustable air vents and a lid thermometer help too. A removable front ash tray, a side table, a bottom shelf for charcoal bags and a warming rack round it out, and a built-in bottle opener is a nice touch.
✓ Pros
- Charcoal tray adjusts to six heights
- Generous 60 x 45cm grill
- Removable front ash tray
- Side table and lower storage shelf
✕ Cons
- Chrome-plated grill rather than cast iron
- Only one side table
- Charcoal takes longer to heat than gas
4. Best for big gatherings
ottimo 635 Charcoal BBQ
£249.99 at Charles Bentley · best for regular hosts cooking for 6 to 8 people over charcoal
If you want charcoal for a crowd, the ottimo 635 has the largest cooking area in our shortlist at 91.5 x 45cm. The big advantage is two fireboxes that you raise or lower independently across six levels, so you can sear steaks over hot coals on one side while cooking chicken more gently on the other. It has a lid thermometer, a warming rack, a front condiment rack, two side tables, a bottom shelf and a front-access ash tray. Wheels help you move what is a long grill around the patio.
✓ Pros
- Largest cooking area in this guide
- Two fireboxes adjust independently for two heat zones
- Two side tables plus condiment rack
- Front-access removable ash tray
✕ Cons
- Needs a fair amount of patio space
- Uses plenty of charcoal to fill both fireboxes
- Chrome-plated grill rather than cast iron
5. Best dual fuel
ottimo 465 Dual Fuel 2-Burner BBQ
£349.99 at Charles Bentley · best for households split between gas convenience and charcoal flavour
The ottimo 465 settles the gas versus charcoal argument by giving you both. One side has two gas burners and the other is a charcoal grill, each with its own 40 x 37.5cm cooking zone, so you can light gas for a quick midweek meal or run both at once at the weekend. There is a side burner too. Sensibly, the gas and charcoal sides have separate grease and ash trays so cleaning is kept apart. The cabinet takes a gas bottle or charcoal bags when not in use. You get less grill area per fuel than a dedicated BBQ of the same size, which is the main compromise.
✓ Pros
- Gas and charcoal in one unit, usable together
- Separate drip tray and ash tray
- Side burner for sauces and sides
- Enamelled flame tamers on the gas side
✕ Cons
- Smaller cooking area per fuel than a single-fuel BBQ
- More parts to clean and maintain
- Mid-to-upper price band
6. Best premium gas BBQ
ottimo Pro 455 6-Burner Gas BBQ
£479.00 at Charles Bentley · best for keen cooks who want searing power and built-in temperature probes
The ottimo Pro 455 is the most fully featured gas BBQ in the range. Six main burners across a 72 x 41cm area let you run several heat zones at once, and the infrared side burner is designed for very hot, focused searing. It comes with enamelled cast-iron grids and a flat grill plate for eggs, pancakes or fish. A digital thermometer reads the grill temperature while two probes track the inside of your meat, which takes much of the guesswork out of thick steaks and roasts. A double-layered lid, four locking wheels and a double-door cabinet complete it.
✓ Pros
- Infrared side burner for hard searing
- Digital thermometer with two meat probes
- Cast-iron grids plus flat grill plate
- Four locking wheels and double-door cabinet
✕ Cons
- Premium price band
- Large footprint for small patios
- Total power output isn't published
7. Best for small spaces
ottimo Searsmith 13" Kamado BBQ
£149.99 at Charles Bentley · best for balconies, small gardens and cooking for 1 to 3 people
The ottimo Searsmith 13" is a compact ceramic kamado, a style of charcoal BBQ that works more like an oven than a kettle grill. Thick ceramic walls and a fibre gasket hold heat, so once the top and bottom vents are set the temperature stays steady for low-and-slow smoking or hot searing. The retailer says it burns 50 to 75 per cent less charcoal than traditional BBQs. Note that 13 inches is the size of the body: the actual grill surface is 26.4cm across, which is right for 1 to 3 people. It needs curing before first use, and has a steel stand and bamboo handle for moving it.
✓ Pros
- Very stable temperatures thanks to thick ceramic
- Uses much less charcoal than an open grill
- Small enough for a balcony or tiny patio
- Can smoke, roast and sear
✕ Cons
- Small 26.4cm grill, best for 1 to 3 people
- Needs curing before first use
- Ceramic can crack if dropped
Gas, charcoal, dual fuel or kamado?
Gas BBQs are the most convenient. They light instantly, heat up in around ten minutes and give you precise control with each burner knob, so you are more likely to use them on an ordinary weeknight. Cleaning is simpler too, with grease channelled into a tray. The trade-off is a cleaner, less smoky flavour and the need to keep a gas bottle topped up.
Charcoal BBQs are cheaper to buy for the size and give a stronger smoky taste, but they take 20 to 30 minutes to be ready and need more skill to control. Height-adjustable charcoal trays, like those on our ottimo charcoal picks, make heat control much easier. Dual-fuel BBQs give you both on one frame. Kamados are ceramic charcoal cookers that hold temperature like an oven and use less fuel, ideal if you are interested in smoking and slow cooking.
How big a BBQ do you need?
Look at the cooking area rather than the overall size or the name. As a rough guide, a grill of around 50 x 35cm suits 2 to 4 people, around 60 x 40cm suits 4 to 6, and anything 70cm or wider is for 6 or more. Retailers often state how many people a model is designed for, but if you like to cook mains and sides at the same time, size up.
For kamados, check whether the advertised size is the body or the grill. On our small pick, the 13-inch figure is the overall diameter while the grill itself is 26.4cm. Measure your patio or balcony with the side tables extended, and leave clear space around the BBQ and behind it so the lid can open safely.
Features worth paying for
On gas BBQs, the number of burners matters more than the total kW figure, because more burners give you more independent heat zones for searing and gentler cooking. Enamelled cast-iron grids hold heat better and leave better sear marks than thin chrome-plated grills. A side burner is handy for sauces and sides, and an infrared side burner adds very high searing heat. Electronic ignition, a lid thermometer and a slide-out grease tray all make day-to-day use easier.
On charcoal BBQs, the key feature is a way to control heat: an adjustable charcoal tray, air vents, or both. A front-access ash tray makes clearing up far less messy. On any BBQ, check the wheels (locking wheels are steadier on a slope), the amount of side table space and whether a cover is included or sold separately, as a cover will make any BBQ last longer through a British winter.
Gas bottles and safety
Most UK gas BBQs run on propane, which is usually sold in green patio gas cylinders with a 27mm clip-on regulator. Check which regulator your BBQ comes with and buy the matching bottle. Always keep the gas cylinder outside and upright, check the hose for cracks each season, and test new connections with soapy water: bubbles mean a leak. Some BBQs with cabinets, including two of our picks, state that the cabinet must be empty while the grill is lit.
Use any BBQ outdoors only, on a flat surface, away from fences, sheds and overhanging branches. Never bring a lit or cooling BBQ into a tent, garage or conservatory, as charcoal and gas both produce carbon monoxide. Let charcoal ash cool completely, ideally overnight, before emptying it, and keep children and pets well back while cooking.
FAQs
Is a gas or charcoal BBQ better?
Neither is better for everyone. Gas is quicker, easier to control and cleaner, so it suits frequent, casual use. Charcoal gives a smokier flavour and is cheaper to buy, but takes longer to light and needs more attention. A dual-fuel BBQ lets you have both.
How many burners do I need on a gas BBQ?
Two burners suit a couple or small family. Three or four burners suit most families and let you set up hot and cooler zones. Six burners are for people who regularly cook for six or more or want lots of space for different foods at once.
What gas bottle does a BBQ use in the UK?
Most UK BBQs use propane, usually in green patio gas cylinders with a 27mm clip-on regulator. Check the regulator supplied with your BBQ and buy the matching bottle. Butane is less suitable for outdoor cooking in cold weather.
What is a kamado BBQ?
A kamado is an egg-shaped ceramic charcoal BBQ. The thick walls and sealed lid hold heat very steadily, so it can smoke food low and slow for hours or reach high temperatures for searing, using less charcoal than an open grill. Most need curing before first use.
Can I leave my BBQ outside over winter?
You can, but it will last much longer with a waterproof cover and a quick clean before storing. Disconnect and store the gas bottle upright outdoors, empty ash from charcoal BBQs, and bring ceramic kamados under cover in hard frosts if you can.
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