Best value BBQs: great gas and charcoal barbecues for less than £200

(ProQ)

As the wise old saying goes, “sun’s out, burger buns out”.

Summer is almost here and weather forecasts are promising days after days of glorious sunshine: alfresco dining is well and truly on the menu.

A proper British BBQ requires a robust grill that can handle whatever your hunger throws at it; flame-grilled beef patties, herby sausages, skewered Korean chicken and halloumi-and-veggie kebabs. They can do more than simply grill, many come with extras like hotplates, rotisserie spits and shelves to help you get the most out of your machine.

Before you start drawing up the menu, you’ll need to get the right equipment in place. A good barbecue needn’t break the bank; there are plenty of great options below the £200 mark.

We’ve listed options for gardens big and small, as well as portable BBQs to take on camping trips, picnics and parks with designated grill areas. Always check that you can barbecue in a public open space as not every park will allow you to cook with an open flame.

Find our favourite BBQs under £200 below

LotusGrill Standard stainless steel smokeless BBQ grill

A BBQ grill that looks as good as the cuts it will ultimately cook, the LotusGrill is a great option for those who want to cook quickly, healthily, and with as little mess as possible.

It’s ready to go in just three minutes thanks to the fan-assist feature which funnels air into the charcoal more efficiently. There’s no need to worry about intense heat, the fan speed dial effectively doubles up as heat control, allowing you to grill juicy cheeseburgers and marinated chicken wings at the optimum temperature easily.

Best of all, the base stays cool throughout, so the LotusGrill is safe to use on table tops and lawns without scorching the grass underneath. Dishwasher safe, requires batteries.

Buy now £150.00, Selfridges

GrillChef Mini Kamado in Black

Love the idea of a Kamado grill but don’t have the space to welcome a ceramic egg in your garden? No fear; you can get them in this 21kg pint-size version that will work for practically any outdoor space.

It boasts all the hallmark of its bigger brothers - think a thick-walled ceramic case, temperature display in the lid, cast iron lid valve - just scaled down to fit to adorable dimensions. Get it now and prepare to be the envy of all your neighbours.

Buy now £179.00, Amazon

ProQ Flatdog

As more supermarkets move to ban the sale of disposable BBQs, ProQ has launched the perfect compact grill for summer 2022. Its brand new design, Flatdog, is built to last and the ideal accessory for all sorts of outdoor adventures thank to its flatpack mechanism.

It goes from flat to ready-for-action like a magic trick (it takes mere seconds), and boasts a 30 x 38cm cooking surface that will allow you to cook for up to a dozen people in one go.

Buy now £89.99, Amazon

everdure by heston blumenthal CUBE Portable Charcoal BBQ, Graphite

Elevate impromptu cookouts to luxe chef standards thanks to this portable little grill made in collaboration with food wizard Heston Blumenthal.

The CUBE may be small (at table-top size) but it sure is mighty, allowing you to cook, clean and store with the firebox easily. It uses charcoal to cook your grub, leaving that delicious chargrilled flavour on whatever’s on the menu.

A great little investment for yourself, or a gift for the BBQ lover in your life.

Buy now £179.00, John Lewis

BERGHOFF Portable Table Top BBQ - White

Take this fashionable BBQ with you anywhere; its compact shape and handles means it’s perfectly portable. It runs on charcoal so no need to lug extra batteries or gas anywhere, and the cork lid doubles up as a heatproof mat, so there’s no chance of scorching the surface underneath, whether you set it on grass, decking or a table top.

Buy now £149.95, Amazon

Weber Smokey Joe Premium, Black

Grill experts Weber have some of the best BBQs on the market - with top end price tags to match. However there are more palatable options for those on tighter budgets, like this smart black charcoal design.

Perfect for small garden as well as taking on camping and beach trips, the Smokey Joe features a tuck-n-carry locking carry handle plus rust-free dampers. The steel cooking grate measures 37cm across, offering plenty of space for burger, bangers and chargrilled veggies.

Buy now £94.84, Amazon

Outdoor XL Smoker Barbecue Charcoal Portable BBQ

A garden grill gadget for serious barbe-kings and queens, this BBQ comes packed with features: think fold-down side tables, an extra rack to keep chargrilled veggies and meaty morsels warm, utensil hooks plus a shelf to store marinades, plates and condiments.

It’s a charcoal-powered cooker on wheels so you can move it easily around the garden to the next sun-spot. The height-adjustable coal tray means you can control direct heat while the removable ash tray makes cleaning it out afterwards easy too.

But the cherry on top? The beer bottle opener on the front. Nothing like an ice cold beer when you’re manning the grill.

Buy now £184.99, Amazon

Argos Home 4 Burner Gas BBQ with Side Burner

With the PM announcing that people can have socially distanced parties with groups of six in their gardens, you may be thinking of inviting select friends or family over for a BBQ over the weekend. Have this gas BBQ delivered before you issue the invites though; it has enough space to cook for 15.

Additional features include a side burner for grilling sides and smaller dishes, while the chrome-plated steel wire warming rack is ideal in keeping cooked food warm, ready for your second wind. Works with both propane and butane gas.

Buy now £150.00, Argos

UTTORA Barbecue Grill

If you’re not fussed about looks, and just want a BBQ that operates well, you’ll love this no-frills design from UTTORA. Simple to operate and super portable, this grill offers folding legs, an integrated grill and can cook for up to five people, despite weighing just 1.6kg.

Buy now £39.99, eBay

Symple Stuff 112cm Charcoal BBQ

Folding like a book, this is a great charcoal grill to add to your outdoor essentials kit. Whether you’re heading on a camping trip, to the beach or you just don’t fancy firing up your larger BBQ for a two-person dinner, this portable grill will satisfy all your modest cookout dreams.

Buy now £88.99

IWOOT Barbecue Tool Box

This fun tool-box design is perfect as a gift for the grill master in your life.

Small enough to cook a feast for two on the 8 x 15-inch main grill, the rack has enough room to flame grill a couple of burgers or cheesy mushrooms and there’s an upper rack to keep seared food warm too.

We like the multifunctional handles which can be used to carry the barbecue box to your location, then swivelled down to form legs to prop it off the ground.​

Buy now £44.99, IWOOT

Deluxe Lovo Premium Charcoal Party BBQ with Rotisserie

These days we expect more from our barbecues than simply a base for coal covered with a rack. If you’ve daydreamed about hosting a BBQ party that guests will be raving about for many summers to come, look no further than this design which includes a rotisserie. There are also side tables for extra storage or prep space, and a handy shelf under the main compartment which is perfect for placing extra bags of charcoal.

Buy now £120.00, Argos

Verdict

Generating no smoke and stopping fat from splattering onto the coals, the LotusGrill gets top marks from us. Its heat-up time is unrivalled, allowing you to get your feast cooking faster and its portability is a stroke of genius.