Charcoal BBQ and grill is one of the most enjoyed outdoor times. With the pandemic locked us in, it is our chance to spend more quality time with our family. Before buying a charcoal BBQ, you should check a few important features which include the dimensions, weight, portability, compatibility, and warranty. Almost every brand issues a one-year manufacturer warranty, while very few provide two years manufacturer warranty. Charcoal BBQs are the best when it comes to portability and safety. The charcoals used in the BBQs require the basic starter fuel and some don’t need any fuel. This makes it safer than the gas BBQs which require gasoline to cook.
Charcoal BBQ grills are now preferred to gas BBQ grills. One of the important reasons is portability. Charcoal portable BBQ grills weigh from 4 kg to 17kg depending on the usage. This makes it handy to load into a car and drive wherever you go. However, when it comes to the cleaning, charcoal BBQs are the trouble maker as the ashes get deposited and charred at the bottom. It requires in-depth cleaning, unlike the gas BBQs. Here is detailed information on the best charcoal BBQ to buy. Our experts have done thorough research to list you the best charcoal BBQ UK.
Best Charcoal BBQ under £100
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Features to look in for in a Charcoal BBQ
Our expert's choice for the Best Charcoal BBQ in 2021
CosmoGrill New Outdoor XL Smoker Barbecue Charcoal Portable BBQ Grill Garden
£174.99 in stock
CosmoGrill New is the perfect companion for outdoor cooking and it is portable. It comes with temperature control to fit almost every meat and also additional racks to keep the food away from direct heat. It also has two foldable storage racks on the sides of the grill to hold the meat.
Dimensions: 124 x 66 x 113.5 cm (LxWxH) approx
Cooking area: 58 x 42.5 cm (approx)
Weight: 27.8 Kilograms
Warranty: One year
✅ The grill comes with built-in temperature control to cook with perfection.
✅ Easy to carry serves the purpose of ‘outdoor’ grills.
✅ Additional racks to cook delicate fish and other meat.
✅ Coal capacity of 2.7kg charcoal briquettes.
✅ It comes with a year manufacturer warranty and easy to clean with a brush.
❌ Average assembly time of 2 hours.
❌ Available only in black.
❌ The lid does not go all the way back.
Azuma Rhino BBQ Charcoal Barbecue BBQ Grill Grey Steel Portable With Wheels, Hanging Hooks & Bottle Opener For Garden Patio Outdoor Summer Party Food Cooking Grilling For Family Friends At Summertime
Azuma Rhino BBQ charcoal Grill is made from permanent black steel. It comes with a built-in side rack for holding trays and a bottle opener. You can also remove the wheels and legs and use it as a concrete slab outdoor.
Dimensions: 60 x 40 x 75 centimetres
Cooking area: 57 x 42cm (approx)
Weight: 10 Kilograms
Warranty: Two years
✅ Easy to transport comes with detachable wheels and a metal handle.
✅ Built-in temperature gauge, ashtray, and side table with bottle opener.
✅ Adjustable charcoal chamber to regulate heat and flames.
✅ Charcoal tray of size 51.5×37.5 centimetres.
✅ Easy to clean and comes with two years manufacturer warranty.
✅ Made of durable steel and the best fit for outdoor cooking.
❌ Average assembly time of 2 hours.
tepro Grillwagen Toronto Click Charcoal Barbecue, Anthracite/Stainless Steel
1 used from £61.23
The Tepro Toronto BBQ is one of the best options for outdoor charcoal BBQ and grill. It has 2 air vents and an adjustable temperature gauge for the perfect cooking of the meat. It also has a grid-in-grid which enables you to use a wok. You can load coal easily by simply opening the front door without any hindrance.
Dimensions: 67 x 115 x 107 centimetres
Cooking area: 56 x 41.5 cm
Weight: 26.55 Kilograms
Warranty: One year
✅ Easy to assemble when compared with other BBQ grills.
✅ Built-in temperature gauge, ashtray, grid-in-grid, and side table.
✅ Front door to top up coal without stop cooking.
✅ Two air vents with a height-adjustable charcoal tray.
✅ Easy to clean and maintain after cooking.
❌ The legs cannot be detached.
❌ Cannot attach rotisserie spit.
Char-Broil 140756 Kettleman™ Charcoal Barbecue Grill, Black Finish.
£179.99 in stock
The Char-Broil Kettleman BBQ grill is a compact model for outdoor and summer times. You can cook your food without spitting or greasing it with the porcelain coated grate. The lid has a temperature gauge. You can simply open the lid to reduce heat and close it to increase heat. It also comes with a detachable ashtray to clean the ashes after cooking.
Dimensions: 66 x 66 x 99.1 centimetres
Cooking area: 56 cm diametre
Weight: 17 Kilograms
Warranty: Two years
✅ Easy to carry and compact for travelling.
✅ Temperature gauge attached to the lid to control the heat opening or closing.
✅ Easily detachable and cleanable ashtray.
✅ Easy to assemble.
❌ Screws to the legs snap eventually.
Jamie Oliver - All rounder charcoal BBQ / grill - black
Jamie Oliver all-rounder charcoal BBQ is a compact circular grill. It has wheels to move it around. It has an extra-large thermometer to track the temperature while cooking. You can control the heat intensity with two vents- one at the top and the other at the bottom. The circular design makes it easy to fit outdoor, occupying lesser space.
Dimensions: 64 x 57 x 117 centimetres
Cooking area: 47.5 x 117.5 x 56.5 x 63.5 cm
Weight: 16 Kilograms
Warranty: One year
✅ Easy to transport with alloy wheels.
✅ Extra large thermometer to track temperature while cooking.
✅ Two vents to regulate heat and cook food evenly.
✅ Detachable ashtray to clear the ash after cooking.
❌ Tough to assemble as the manual has pictorials than instructions.
❌ The thermostat is fragile and breaks easily while assembling.
❌ The lid does not have a hinge and has to be removed completely every time.
Best Charcoal BBQ under £100
GRANDMA SHARK BBQ Grill, Stainless Steel Barbecue Grill with Stand, Foldable and portable outdoor charcoal bbq, suitable for 5-10 People (Deluxe Edition)
£41.99 in stock
3 used from £38.18
Grandma Shark BBQ Grill is made from stainless steel and is foldable. It also comes with accessories such as racks, barbecue clips, and nets for charcoal and BBQs. You can use this grill outdoor and it is easy to carry. You can also fold it when not in use and set it up in your backyard when needed.
Dimensions: 77.4 x 35 x 18.5 cm
Suitable for: 5-10 People
Weight: 6.04 Kilograms
✅ You can use this grill outdoors and it is easy to carry.
✅ You can also fold it when not in use and set it up in your backyard when needed.
❌ Small and is suitable only for a group of 5-10 people.
UTTORA Barbecue Grill, Portable Folding Charcoal Barbecue Desk Tabletop Outdoor Stainless Steel Smoker BBQ for Picnic Garden Terrace Camping Travel 15.35''x11.41''x2.95''
£18.99 out of stock
Uttora Barbecue grill is compact with foldable legs and weighs only 1.6 kg. It is best suited for 3-5 people. It is easy to set up as it does not require any assembly. You can detach the drawer-style grid net and clean it easily. It has 12 ventilation holes at the bottom to let the charcoal evaporate and cool down on cooking.
Dimensions: 36.29 x 30.7 x 6.8 cm
Suitable for: 3-5 People
Weight: 1.34 Kilograms
✅ Detachable drawer
✅ Easy to portable
✅ Easy to clean
❌ No wheels for portability
❌ Short and needs extra table for function
Weber Smokey Joe Premium Charcoal BBQ, Grill, Spring Green 37cm
£86.31 in stock
Weber Smokey Joe Premium charcoal BBQ is a compact, easy to carry model with a heat-resistant handle. It has a vent to let out and control the heat to cook your food to perfection. The lid is fully detachable which helps with controlling the heat.
Dimensions: 42 x 36.1 x 43.2 centimeters
Suitable for: Up to 4 People
Weight: 12.35 Pounds
✅ Easy portability
✅ Easy to carry in the car
❌ No wheels for carrying
BEAU JARDIN Portable Charcoal Grill for Outdoor Grilling with Lid 4 Legs Rolls 18in Grill BBQ Kettle Outdoor Picnic Patio Backyard Camping Tailgating Steel Cooking Grate for Steak Chicken
1 used from £60.91
BEAU Jardin Portable charcoal grill is another compact model that fits better for outdoor cooking. This model comes with a fully open lid and an adjustable air vent damper. It is easy to assemble and the two wheels help with easy portability. It is one of the best choices for a pack of 2-4 party-lovers to enjoy grills and barbecues.
Dimensions: 52 x 50.4 x 25 centimeters
Suitable for: Up to 4 People
Weight: 7.04 Kilograms
✅ Easy to move around the area
✅ Comes with lid to regulate heat
❌ Only suitable for 2-4 people
VonHaus Barrel Charcoal BBQ – Barbecue Grill for Outdoor Kitchen Prep and Cooking - with Portable Wheels and Adjustable Height – for Entertaining
The VonHaus Barrel charcoal BBQ gives an antique look to your garden with its unique design. It comes with wheels and adjustable legs to ease portability and compatibility. It is a bit heavy when compared to other grills and BBQ as it is made from powder-coated steel. It has a grill tray to hold the meat and comes with an in-built thermometer to control heat.
Dimensions: 97 x 87 x 96 centimetres
Suitable for: Up to 4 People
Weight: 14 Kilograms
✅ Metal body to regulate heat even
✅ Easy to assemble
❌ Heavy to move and carry
❌ Difficult to clean
Uten Barbecue Grill Stainless Steel BBQ Charcoal Grill Smoker Barbecue Folding Portable for Outdoor Cooking Camping Hiking Picnics Backpacking Large
£29.99 in stock
9 used from £29.03
Uten Barbecue grill is a compact foldable model for outdoor and garden picnics. It is easy to assemble without any tools. Uten BBQ grill is an open-top model with air vents on the sides to control and spread the heat for even cooking. You can simply fold the legs and store it wherever you want and unfold it before use.
Dimensions: 76 x 18.5 x 37 centimetres
Suitable for: Up to 4 People
Weight: 4.29 Kilograms
✅ Spacious to place maximum grills
✅ Compact and weightless to carry
❌ Non-detachable legs
Weber Smokey Joe Original Portable Charcoal BBQ
£74.99 in stock
Weber Smokey Joe original portable BBQ is a compact model to enjoy grills on the go. You can carry it easily as it is light weighted and use it anywhere. It has air vents at the bottom and an ash collector to remove ashes. The height of the BBQ grill cannot be adjusted as it comes with fixed legs.
Dimensions: 37 x 37 x 43 centimetres
Suitable for: Up to 4 People
Weight: 4 Kilograms
✅ Compact and easy to carry with the handle
✅ Portable for camping trips
❌ Short in height
❌ No wheels to move around
Charcoal BBQ or Gas - Which is better?
When it comes to efficiency and portability, charcoal BBQs are better than gas BBQs. However, the charcoal barbecue grills have their flaws. Cleaning after cooking is hectic here, as the ash may settle and grease. Also, the cooking time when compared to gas is longer in charcoal BBQs. However, on the whole, charcoal barbecues are better than gas BBQs as it allows you to regulate heat and cook even delicate fish.
Which is the Best Charcoal BBQ to buy in the UK?
CosmoGrill Outdoor XL Portable Smoker is our Editor’s choice for the best Charcoal BBQ to buy in the UK as it is portable and also comes on a minimal budget. The features include an in-built thermometer, air vents to allow the heat to distribute while cooking, detachable legs, and additional trays. You can either use it as a stand-alone BBQ grill or detach the legs and use it over the countertop.
Where can I buy Charcoal from & which is best?
If you are looking for the best charcoal, then try Big K Instant Light Lumpwood Charcoal. This charcoal comes in 4 x 1kg bags. It is made from wood and does not require any fuel to ignite it. You can clean it up easily and carry it easy along with you for your picnics. The average time to reach cooking temperature is 15-20 minutes, which is lesser compared to other charcoals. You can buy it on Amazon.co.uk
Best Barbecue Thermometer
If you are looking for the best Barbecue thermometer, try DOQAUS Instant Read Cooking Thermometer. It is foldable and reads the temperature instantly. It has an LED screen to display the numbers which makes it easy to read around the hot pot. It can read temperatures ranging from -50° C – 300° C. You can use it on almost every occasion including Steak, BBQ, Jam, or Icy beer, from blazing hot to cold.
Safety Tips from UK Government
- Never leave your BBQ unattended while hot.
- Ensure the site is flat and away from the shed, dry leaves, or any combustible material.
- Keep the site away from children, pets, and any garden games.
- Keep a bucket of water ready as a safety measure.
- In case you are using charcoal BBQs, ensure that you use only enough charcoal to cover the depth of about 2 inches (50mm).
- Only use recognised starter fuels and only a minimal or required quantity.
- Do not put ashes straight into the bins.
Summing up
While buying an outdoor BBQ and grill, ensure that you check the basic features like dimensions and weight. BBQ and grill being one of the popular weekend plans, it is always better to get a portable grill. Also, considering family safety, charcoal BBQs fit the requirement better than the gas ones. Moreover, the charred flavour of the food adds the additional reason why to choose charcoal barbecue over the gas. With this information on the best BBQ and grills in the UK, hope you can choose the better one fitting both your requirements and your budget. Choose your barbecue grill now and enjoy your weekends with your family and friends!
