BBQs & Grills
Compare gas and charcoal BBQs and grills from UK retailers.
Showing 1–20 of 20 products
Gas or charcoal, it's a genuinely different cooking experience, not just a different price tag, worth thinking about which one you'd actually use rather than which one looks better in the garden.
Gas vs Charcoal
Charcoal gives you that proper smoky flavour and usually costs less to start with, but it takes longer to get going and there's more cleaning up after. Gas lights instantly and holds a steady heat, which matters more than people think if you're cooking for a few people at once.
Burner count's a decent rough guide to capacity on a gas BBQ, but check the actual cooking area too, a 3-burner with a small grill area won't fit much more than a 2-burner with a bigger one.
If space is tight, a compact charcoal kettle or a 2-burner gas grill will do the job without taking over the patio. Bigger families or regular hosts should probably be looking at 4-burner-plus with a side burner.
Covers matter more than people expect. Leave a BBQ out uncovered all year and it'll rust a lot faster than one kept under a proper fitted cover.
Frequently asked questions
Gas or charcoal, which is actually better?
Gas is faster and easier to control, charcoal gives you more of that smoky flavour. Loads of people who take it seriously end up with one of each.
How many burners do I actually need?
2 for a couple or small family, 3-4 if you're entertaining regularly, more than that's really for people cooking for big groups often.
Do BBQs need covering over winter?
Not essential, but strongly worth it, a fitted cover noticeably extends the life of the burners and the bodywork.