18 BBQ season gadgets that’ll actually earn their place on the patio
From hybrid electric-charcoal grills to ceramic French cookware and a wireless thermometer that follows you to the end of the garden, this is everything you need to grill well this summer.
BBQ season is finally here, which means it’s time to stop making do with that ancient kettle at the back of the shed and start cooking like you mean it. Whether you’ve got a south-facing terrace, a balcony the size of a bath mat, or a proper garden gagging for a fire pit, there’s something in this list for you. We’ve gone beyond the basics to find the gear that will genuinely change how you cook outside.
The grills worth the investment
Char-Broil Patio Bistro E2Coal
Hybrid grilling has arrived in the most practical form yet. This compact electric-charcoal grill reaches 370°C and heats to 315°C in under 20 minutes, making it perfect for anyone who wants the convenience of electric on a Tuesday night and proper charcoal flavour at weekends. The switch between modes requires no tools: reposition the grate, add charcoal, let the electric element light it for you. It’s on a 3-metre cord with wheels, so you can shuffle it around as needed. TRU-Infrared technology keeps food up to 50% juicier by distributing heat evenly across the 44.4cm stainless-steel grate, and a warming rack handles the rest. Genuinely the smartest balcony grill we’ve seen all year.
£349, charbroil.co.uk
Campingaz Attitude 2Go CV Black Table Top Gas BBQ
Come-as-you-are grilling. This pre-assembled tabletop gas BBQ arrives ready to cook the moment you connect a CV470 Plus cartridge, which means you can go from boot of the car to burgers sizzling in under five minutes. The Blue Flame Power System delivers even heat distribution up to 250°C, a matte black die-cast aluminium lid holds convection heat beautifully, and the cast iron grid means proper sear marks without the drama. A 10-year warranty on the lid and a front-loading dishwasher-safe grease tray make this the rare camping BBQ that’s actually pleasant to clean. Perfect for festivals, picnics, or anyone whose garden forbids gas cylinders.
From £149, campingaz.co.uk
Napoleon Premium 18 Charcoal Kettle NK18K-LEG-1
|Not every BBQ needs to be a statement. The Napoleon 18-inch kettle is the kind of grill that just works: an 18-inch porcelain-enamelled bowl, hinged stainless-steel cooking grids that flip up so you can top up the coal mid-cook, and the Vortex heat management system that improves convection for everything from a fast sear to a six-hour smoke. Adjustable top and bottom vents give you genuine temperature control, the built-in ACCU-PROBE gauge maps out the ideal smoke and sear range at a glance, and the lid hanger means you’re not resting a scorching lid on the patio. The kind of kettle that makes you wonder why anyone buys anything more complicated.
From £249, napoleon.com
Weber Lumin Compact Electric BBQ
All the flavour, none of the gas cylinders. Weber’s Lumin Compact punches out 2200W, reaches over 315°C, and deploys a built-in flavourising system that genuinely produces smoky notes you’d never expect from a plug-in grill. The single control knob toggles between searing, smoking, steaming and warming, which means you can defrost straight from frozen while it preheats, then sear the results to order. Cast iron grates deliver those unmistakable Weber grill marks, the front-access grease tray pulls clean in seconds, and the whole thing folds down small enough to live under a city balcony table. Costs as little as 43p per session to run. That’s not a typo.
From £229, weber.com
Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL OG901UK
Seven cooking functions, app control, a built-in digital probe, and real wood pellet technology in one weatherproof unit that you control from your phone. The 45cm x 31cm grill plate fits 10 burgers or two 3kg chickens at once, the integrated smoker box burns natural pellets for proper smoky flavour (just half a cup per session), and the Ninja Pro Connect app lets you set temperatures, monitor progress, and receive notifications without leaving your garden chair. You can grill, smoke, air fry, roast, bake, dehydrate, or reheat. For renters, flat-dwellers, or anyone who wants proper results without the commitment of gas or charcoal, this is the appliance that makes it all possible.
£399, ninjakitchen.co.uk
How to nail the heat on a charcoal grill
GET THE ZONES RIGHT Pile your coals to one side to create a direct heat zone and an indirect zone. Most things benefit from searing over direct heat, then finishing on the indirect side with the lid on. You’ll get better results than scorching everything over a full bed of coals.
RESIST LIFTING THE LID Every time you open the lid on a charcoal grill, you lose temperature and add cooking time. Use a thermometer, use the ACCU-PROBE, trust the process. Lift only to flip or to check.
LIGHT SMARTER A chimney starter loaded with good-quality restaurant lump charcoal gets you to cooking temperature in 15 minutes, without lighter fluid taste and without the 40-minute wait. It’s the single best upgrade for charcoal cooking and it costs under £20.
The cookware that goes grill-to-table
Peugeot Grill to Table Meat Grill
Made in France, designed to move straight from the coals to the centre of the table. This ceramic grill plate handles temperatures up to 400°C, works across charcoal, gas and electric BBQs, and keeps food warm for up to 30 minutes thanks to the thermal inertia of the ceramic. The raised ridges mark the meat while grooves channel fat away from the heat to prevent flare-ups. Wide, curved handles make it genuinely safe to carry when hot. Dishwasher safe, enamel-coated for easy release, and covered by a 10-year product warranty. One of those pieces you use every session without thinking about it.
£44.90, uk.peugeot-saveurs.com
Zyliss 8-Piece Knife Block
Outside food prep deserves the same sharp kit as inside. This compact set covers all the essentials: paring knife, serrated paring, bread knife, Santoku, chef’s knife, large chef’s knife, plus scissors, all housed in an angled block with non-slip feet. Japanese stainless-steel blades hold an edge through everything from breaking down a whole chicken to slicing tomatoes paper-thin for a salad. The handles and block itself are made from sustainable wheat straw material, reducing plastic use by up to 30%, which makes this one of the better-considered sets at this price point. Backed by a five-year guarantee.
Available at zyliss.co.uk
The extra fancy pizza oven
Firebloom Pizza Oven EP03
Plug-in pizza ovens have come a long way, and the Firebloom EP03 makes a convincing case for ditching the gas. A 2.0kW dual heating system (upper and lower elements working independently) drives the 325 x 325mm pizza stone up to 400°C, which is hot enough for a properly blistered, stone-baked base on a 12-inch pizza. What sets it apart from simpler tabletop ovens is the separate temperature control for the chamber and the stone: you can run the stone hotter for a crispier base while keeping the top heat moderate, or crank both for a Neapolitan-style char in minutes. The illuminated chamber and ceramic viewing window mean you’re watching the cook rather than guessing, and the removable stone makes cleaning a non-event. Oak-effect aluminium legs give it a look that doesn’t embarrass itself outdoors, and an optional rain cover keeps it protected between sessions. For a compact, plug-anywhere electric option, it punches well above its footprint.
The smart tech that keeps you away from the grill
Napoleon ACCU-PROBE PRO X Wireless Bluetooth Thermometer
Six temperature sensors on a single waterproof probe: five tracking internal food temperature and one monitoring ambient heat around the food. The ultra-thin probe handles up to 649°C ambient temperature and syncs with the Napoleon Home App over Bluetooth up to 900 feet away, which means you can be inside pouring drinks while the brisket hits its target. It works across grilling, roasting, sous vide and deep frying, and the magnetic docking station keeps it charged and accessible between cooks. If you’ve ever pulled a piece of chicken off the grill hoping rather than knowing it’s cooked through, this is the fix.
Available at napoleon.com
Pre and post: the prep and chill gear
Hoover Total No-Frost Chest Freezer HONCHQ6T200ESK, 196L
The unsung hero of any serious outdoor cooking setup: a freezer that actually earns its keep. This 196-litre chest freezer features Total No Frost technology, meaning no ice build-up and no manual defrost, ever. The Flexi-Switch function lets you dial the temperature between -28°C and 4°C, turning it into an overflow fridge when you need extra cold storage for a big event. H-DEO odour and bacteria control uses activated carbon and silver ions to keep the interior fresh. The Fast Freeze button drops to -26°C rapidly for preserving batch-cooked BBQ cuts. Class E energy rated, compatible with outbuildings down to -15°C ambient temperature, and managed via the hOn app for shopping lists and inventory tracking. A serious bit of kit for anyone who cooks big.
£349, hoover-home.com
Gozney Dome S1 Pizza & BBQ Oven
It started as a pizza oven, but spend five minutes with the Dome S1 and you realise it’s actually a radiant heat cooking system that happens to excel at Neapolitan pizza. Gas-powered, it hits 500°C within 30 minutes and produces a leopard-spotted, crisp-bottomed pizza in 60 to 90 seconds. Beyond pizza, the radiant heat is extraordinary for bread, whole fish, lamb shoulder, and anything else that benefits from an aggressive crust and a moist interior. The dual fuel option (wood and gas) adds flexibility, the curved shell retains heat with minimal input, and the built-in temperature gauge means you’re always cooking with data, not guesswork. It’s heavy money, but once you’ve cooked with it you won’t understand how you managed without it.
From £599, gozney.com
Kamado Joe Classic III Ceramic Grill
The best argument against ever owning a gas grill. The Classic III’s thick ceramic walls hold heat so efficiently that a single load of lump charcoal can sustain 107°C for 12-plus hours, or be dialled up to 370°C for a proper pizza or sear. The new SloRoller hyperbolic chamber insert creates cyclonic convection for exceptionally even indirect cooking, and the three-tier Divide and Conquer system lets you cook at different temperatures simultaneously on split levels. The air-lift hinge means the heavy lid floats open with one finger. Every year this grill does everything: ribs, brisket, pulled pork, whole chickens, pizza, bread. If you’re serious about outdoor cooking, this is the long-term answer.
From £1,299, kamadojoe.com
Big Green Egg MiniMax with Carrier
Everything the full-size Big Green Egg does, in a format that fits in the boot of a car. The MiniMax’s ceramic body handles temperatures from 70°C up to 370°C, creates the same convective cooking environment as its larger sibling, and comes with a sturdy carrier that makes it genuinely portable for camping, festivals, or rooftop use. The 33cm diameter cooking surface fits up to eight burgers or a whole spatchcock chicken. Smokes, grills, roasts, bakes. A 120-year warranty on the ceramic. Not a typo. If you’ve been curious about kamado-style cooking but can’t commit to the full-size outlay or the garden footprint, this is the one.
From £549, biggreenegg.co.uk
Meater Block Wireless Meat Thermometer, 4-Probe
Fully wireless, no external receiver, four probes monitoring four different cuts simultaneously, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi range that reaches beyond any garden, and an app that calculates resting time as well as cook time based on real internal temperature data. The Block stations charges all four probes and doubles as a Bluetooth repeater to extend your range. Drop a probe in the thickest part of your brisket, close the lid, go and have a drink. The app tells you when it’s done, accounts for carryover cooking, and suggests a resting window. It’s the thermometer for people who’ve ever had guests waiting an extra 45 minutes because the meat wasn’t quite there.
From £199, meater.com
Weber Slate GP43 Premium Plancha Gas Grill
Flat-top grilling is having a proper moment, and the Slate GP43 is the slickest version of it. A 43 x 41cm porcelain-enamelled non-stick surface sits over a dual-zone gas burner, giving you high and low heat in the same cooking space. Smash burgers, stir-fries, griddled courgette, halloumi, scrambled eggs, flatbreads: the griddle is more versatile than grates for most things you’d actually cook at a casual summer gathering. The adjustable legs mean it works on any outdoor table, the surface cleans with a scraper and cloth, and the whole unit is compact enough to bring indoors. The grill that keeps on giving.
From £249, weber.com
ProQ Ranger Elite 43cm Charcoal Smoker BBQ
More versatile than it looks. The ProQ Ranger is a compact water smoker that doubles as a BBQ, sits on three legs at patio height, and fits 3-4 chickens or a full rack of ribs without crowding. The wok-shaped water pan beneath the cooking grate moderates temperature and keeps meat exceptionally moist during long smokes, while adjustable vents and a built-in lid thermometer give you enough control to nail brisket, pulled pork, or a weekend-afternoon smoked salmon. Pull the charcoal grate to use it as a straightforward kettle grill. Compact enough for a small terrace, capable enough for competition results. Best gateway smoker on the market.
From £119, proqsmokers.co.uk
There’s never been a better time to take outdoor cooking seriously. The technology is smarter, the gear is more considered, and the gap between what you can achieve in your garden and what a restaurant kitchen produces has never been narrower. Start with the right grill for your space, add a wireless thermometer, and the rest will follow.
