At Savzz, we round up working discount codes across hundreds of UK retailers, including garden, outdoor cooking, home appliances, and kitchen brands. BBQ season is one of the best times of year to find genuine deals on grills, smokers, and outdoor cooking equipment, provided you know what you are looking for and when to buy.
This guide covers everything you need to know about buying a BBQ in the UK, from choosing the right type for your cooking style to finding the best price and using discount codes before you checkout.
Which BBQ Is Right for You? Use Our Free BBQ Finder
Before looking at prices and deals, it helps to know which type of BBQ actually suits your needs. Buying the wrong type is one of the most common outdoor cooking mistakes and it is hard to fix once you have spent the money.
Answer three quick questions below and we will give you a personalised recommendation with buying tips and links to the best deals on Savzz.
Answer three quick questions and we will recommend the right type of BBQ for you.
1. What is your budget?
2. How often do you BBQ?
3. What matters most to you?
Who Is This Guide For?
This page is useful for anyone looking to buy or upgrade their outdoor cooking setup, but it is especially helpful if you are:
- Buying your first BBQ and not sure whether to go charcoal, gas, or something else. The finder tool above walks you through the decision in three questions.
- Upgrading from a basic grill and want to understand what the step up to a gas BBQ, kamado, or pellet smoker actually gets you for the money.
- Looking for a seasonal deal and want to know when prices drop and where to find working discount codes before you buy.
- Buying for a specific occasion such as a summer party, a camping trip, or a garden renovation where outdoor cooking is part of the plan.
- Someone who has had a cheap BBQ before and wants to understand what spending more actually buys you in terms of real cooking performance.
Who Is This Guide Not Suitable For?
- Commercial or catering buyers. This guide covers domestic BBQs for home garden use. Commercial catering equipment involves different specifications, gas safety regulations, and supplier relationships entirely.
- Anyone looking for indoor grills or griddles. Indoor electric grills and griddle pans are a completely different category. This guide covers outdoor BBQs and smokers only.
- Buyers outside the UK. Prices, retailers, and deals referenced here are UK-specific. Gas canister sizes and fittings also vary by country.
The Five Types of BBQ Explained
Most buying guides list ten or more BBQ types. In practice, almost every domestic BBQ in the UK falls into one of five categories. Here is what each one actually means in real use.
Charcoal BBQs
The classic choice. Charcoal BBQs produce genuine smoky flavour that gas cannot replicate and are typically the most affordable way to get into outdoor cooking. The trade-off is that they take longer to get up to temperature, around 20 to 30 minutes, and require more hands-on management during cooking.
Best for: people who enjoy the ritual of outdoor cooking and prioritise flavour over convenience. Also the best value starting point for occasional use.
Price range: £30 for a basic kettle up to £500 for a premium Weber or ProQ.
Gas BBQs
The most popular choice for regular garden use in the UK. Gas BBQs light instantly, reach cooking temperature in around ten minutes, and give you precise control over heat. Cleanup is straightforward and the cooking experience is consistent every time.
Best for: families who BBQ most weekends and want reliability and convenience over the pure flavour of charcoal.
Price range: £100 for a basic two-burner up to £1,500 for a premium multi-burner model with side burners and rotisserie.
Kamado and Ceramic BBQs
The most versatile outdoor cooking appliance available. A kamado uses thick ceramic construction to hold heat exceptionally well, which means it can grill, smoke, bake pizza, and roast all in one unit. It is also surprisingly fuel-efficient because the ceramic retains heat so effectively.
Best for: serious outdoor cooks who want one premium appliance that does everything. Kamado Joe and Big Green Egg are the two dominant brands in the UK.
Price range: £400 to £2,000 depending on size and brand.
Pellet Smokers and Grills
Pellet grills use wood pellets as fuel and a digital controller to maintain a precise temperature automatically. Load the hopper, set your temperature, and the grill does the rest. The result is genuine wood-smoked flavour with the convenience of set-and-forget cooking.
Best for: people who want authentic smoked flavour without spending hours monitoring a traditional smoker. Excellent for low-and-slow cooking like brisket, ribs, and pulled pork.
Price range: £400 for an entry-level Pit Boss up to £2,000 for a premium Traeger.
Portable and Tabletop BBQs
Compact BBQs designed for smaller spaces, camping, festivals, or occasional use. Modern portable BBQs perform a lot better than their price suggests and are the sensible choice if you BBQ fewer than five or six times per year.
Best for: occasional use, small gardens, balconies, camping, and beach trips.
Price range: £25 for a basic model up to £200 for a quality portable gas option.
When Is the Best Time to Buy a BBQ in the UK?
Timing your purchase correctly can save you 20% to 40% on the same model. Here is how the BBQ buying calendar actually works in the UK:
March to April — best time to buy for the season. Retailers roll out their new spring collections and early season promotions appear. Stock is at its fullest and you have the widest choice of models. Many retailers offer bundle deals including free covers or accessories to drive early sales.
May to July — peak season, full price. Demand is highest and discounts are rare except during bank holiday weekends. Easter, May bank holiday, and the first warm weekend of summer all trigger short-lived promotional spikes worth watching for.
August — first end of season discounts appear. Some retailers start clearing summer stock in August to make room for autumn inventory. Floor models and display units start to see meaningful reductions.
September to October — best time to buy on price. End of season clearance brings the deepest discounts, often 30% to 50% off. The downside is reduced stock and fewer models available. If you are flexible on specification this is when the best deals appear.
November to February — off-season bargains. Most retailers have cleared BBQ stock entirely but online retailers and marketplaces still carry a range. This is the best time to find a premium model at a heavily reduced price if you are happy to buy for next season.
Gas vs Charcoal: Which Is Actually Better Value?
This is the question most first-time buyers get stuck on. The honest answer depends on how often you cook.
For someone who BBQs fewer than eight times per year, a charcoal BBQ is almost always better value. A good charcoal kettle at £80 to £150 will outlast most budgets and the running costs per cook are low. The time and effort of lighting and managing charcoal is not a big issue when you are only doing it occasionally.
For someone who BBQs most weekends from May to September, a gas BBQ earns its higher upfront cost back quickly through convenience alone. Being able to cook midweek without the 30-minute charcoal setup removes the main barrier to using your BBQ more often.
The running cost comparison is straightforward. A bag of charcoal costing £8 to £12 covers roughly three to four cooks. A gas canister costing £20 to £30 covers eight to twelve cooks depending on the model and temperature used. Per cook, the costs are broadly similar.
What Do You Actually Get for Spending More on a BBQ?
Budget BBQs are not necessarily bad. They are often made from thinner steel, have simpler grates, and offer less temperature control, but for occasional use they work perfectly well. Here is what spending more genuinely buys you:
Better heat retention and distribution. Premium grates and thicker construction hold and spread heat more evenly, which means better sear marks and more consistent cooking results across the whole grill surface.
More durable materials. Cast iron grates, stainless steel burners, and porcelain-coated surfaces all last much longer than cheaper alternatives. A premium BBQ bought once often outlasts several budget replacements.
Better temperature control. Multiple independent burners, precision valves, and better lid seals give you the ability to create indirect cooking zones and hold consistent temperatures for longer cooks.
Longer warranty and parts availability. Weber, Kamado Joe, and Traeger all stock spare parts for their models for ten years or more. Finding replacement grates or burners for a budget BBQ is often impossible after two or three years.
Top UK Retailers for BBQ Deals
These are the retailers most consistently worth checking for BBQ deals and discount codes:
BBQ World — one of the largest specialist BBQ retailers in the UK. Strong selection across Weber, Kamado Joe, and Traeger with regular seasonal promotions.
Appliances Direct — good for gas BBQ deals with fast delivery. Worth checking during bank holiday weekend sales.
B&Q — reliable for mid-range charcoal and gas BBQs, particularly during their spring garden events. Their own-brand Blooma range offers solid value at lower price points.
The Range — worth checking for budget and mid-range options, particularly for portable BBQs and accessories.
Amazon — useful for accessories and for finding discontinued models at clearance prices. Prime Day in July often includes outdoor cooking deals.
Before buying from any of these, check Savzz for a working discount code first. Many of these retailers run ongoing promotions through code-based discounts that are not advertised on their main site.
BBQ Accessories Worth Buying and What to Skip
Worth buying:
A good cover is essential. Leaving a BBQ uncovered really shortens its lifespan. Budget around £20 to £40 for a cover that fits your model properly. Many retailers offer free covers as part of a spring bundle deal.
A quality instant-read thermometer is the single most useful BBQ accessory and one of the most underused. Knowing the internal temperature of your meat removes the guesswork and is the difference between consistently good results and occasionally overcooked chicken.
A chimney starter is essential for charcoal BBQ owners. It lights charcoal faster, more evenly, and without lighter fluid. A decent chimney starter costs £15 to £25 and pays for itself in the first use.
Not worth buying:
Fancy BBQ tool sets with twelve pieces. You need a good pair of tongs and a spatula. Everything else is marketing. A quality pair of tongs costs £8 to £15 and is all most people ever use.
Charcoal lighter fluid. It leaves a chemical taste on food if not fully burned off, is slower than a chimney starter, and adds unnecessary cost per cook.
BBQ-branded aprons and accessories with novelty designs. They make poor gifts and worse cooking companions.
How to Find the Best BBQ Discount Codes
Finding a genuine working discount code before you buy can save anywhere from £10 to £150 depending on the retailer and the model. Here is how to approach it:
Search Savzz before you visit the retailer’s site. We update codes regularly and list them with expiry dates so you can see at a glance what is current. Use our garden and outdoor discount codes page as your starting point for BBQ retailers.
Check the retailer’s own newsletter. Many BBQ retailers offer a first-purchase discount of 5% to 10% for email sign-ups. If you are buying for the first time from a retailer, sign up before you add anything to your basket.
Watch for bank holiday promotions. Easter, May bank holiday, and August bank holiday are the three moments when BBQ retailers are most likely to run short-term promotional codes. Savzz captures these as they go live.
Consider timing with price tracking tools. Sites like CamelCamelCamel for Amazon or Pricerunner for broader retail let you see the price history of a specific model and set alerts for when it drops.
The Smarter Way to Buy: Choose Right, Then Save on Price
The most expensive BBQ mistake is buying the wrong type at full price. The finder tool at the top of this page removes the first problem. Savzz removes the second.
Before you checkout on any BBQ or outdoor cooking equipment purchase, check our garden and outdoor deals, our home appliance offers, and our cooking and baking vouchers for working codes across the major UK retailers. There is a good chance we have something that will save you money.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best BBQ to buy in the UK under £200?
For charcoal under £200, the Weber Original Kettle 57cm is the benchmark. It is built to last, cooks beautifully, and spare parts are easy to find. For gas under £200, the Outback Excel 310 is consistently well reviewed for its build quality and cooking area at that price point.
Is a gas or charcoal BBQ better for beginners?
Gas is easier for beginners because temperature control is immediate and reliable. Charcoal produces better flavour but requires more practice to manage heat effectively. If you are new to BBQ and want consistent results quickly, start with gas. If you enjoy the process and want to develop your skills, charcoal is more rewarding.
When do BBQ prices drop in the UK?
The biggest price drops happen in September and October when retailers clear end-of-season stock. August also sees the first reductions on some models. If you can wait until autumn, savings of 30% to 50% on current season models are realistic.
Is a kamado BBQ worth the money?
For someone who cooks outdoors regularly and wants one appliance that handles grilling, smoking, baking, and roasting, yes. Kamado BBQs are genuinely versatile and the ceramic construction means they last for decades with basic maintenance. They are poor value for occasional use because the upfront cost is high and the learning curve is steeper than gas.
Can I use a BBQ on a balcony in the UK?
This depends on your lease or building regulations. Gas BBQs are generally prohibited on balconies in most UK apartment blocks due to fire risk. Small charcoal BBQs may be permitted in some buildings. Check your lease before buying and consider an electric grill as an alternative for balcony cooking.
Who built the BBQ finder tool on this page?
The Savzz BBQ Finder was built by the team at Savzz.co.uk, a UK discount code and money-saving site. We built it because most BBQ buying guides list every option without helping you narrow down which type is actually right for your situation. The three-question format was designed to give a clear, useful recommendation in under a minute. It is completely free with no sign-up required.
