13 best charcoal BBQs UK 2023 including Weber and Char-Broil coal barbecues

Publish date: 2024-06-15

CAN'T WAIT to start cooking outside again? A charcoal barbecue can help you make the most of your garden this summer.

The best charcoal BBQs will help you to cook delicious char-grilled meat and vegetables from the comfort of your own back yard.

If you're wondering whether to go for a charcoal or gas BBQ, there are advantages to both.

Charcoal BBQs are generally cheaper to buy than gas but it can be more hassle trying to get a fire going, whereas with gas, you simply just turn it on.

But many would argue that for an authentic BBQ taste, charcoal is the only way. Charcoal can reach higher temperatures and the smoke from the coals creates that delicious smoky flavour.

Read on for our round-up of the best charcoal BBQs for 2023 - including the best brands, dual gas and charcoal hybrids and lightweight portable options.

Looking for gas BBQ recommendations? Check out our roundup of the best gas barbecues.

Best charcoal BBQs at a glance:

Texas Round Portable BBQ

At just £20 in the Homebase sale, this snazzy red Texas portable BBQ is an absolute steal.

Admittedly, it is rather rudimentary; it's portable, meaning there's no stand, and there's no storage space either.

However, it's extremely lightweight, and there's a cooking area of 34cm, which is enough to cook for 3 or 4 people.

There's also an air vent to control airflow, a wire stand to prevent damaging grass, and a lock/buckle system for ease of transportation.

Dimensions: 29 x 36 x 36cm Cooking area: 34cm diameter Fuel: Charcoal

Weber Master-Touch Charcoal Grill

Pros: Generous grill size, good temperature control, easy to use, 10 year warranty

Cons: None!

Whether you're already a barbecue master or are looking to hone your skills, the Master-Touch charcoal barbecue won't disappoint.

We tested out this kettle barbecue over the summer and were seriously impressed.

It's easy to use, has a fantastic design and honestly, we have nothing bad to say about it - it practically does everything perfectly.

It's a grill and a smoker in one, has a range of practical features such as a hinged lid, one-touch cleaning system and temperature gauge, and the quality is top-notch. Weber offers a warranty of up to 10 years on its charcoal grills, which is a testament to this.

The wheels on the bottom make it easy to manoeuvre, we found it simple to control the temperature via the ducts, and the ash catcher made clean up quicker than ever.

Size-wise, it's ideal for families and for parties as you can grill up to 13 burger patties at once.

We cooked for two people a couple of times, and although it's probably slightly too large for that, it still produced excellent results.

Overall, we'd highly recommend it as a quality option.

Dimensions: 100cm H x 65cm W x 76cm D Cooking area: 2342 cm² Fuel: Charcoal

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Flamemaster Portable Barrel Charcoal BBQ

We love the retro look of this compact barrel BBQ from Flamemaster

Made from strong, sturdy stainless steel and with a carry handle and lockable hood, it's super easy to transport and ideal to take with you on camping trips, picnics and more.

There are two cooking grills and it opens out flat to give you plenty of cooking space. Simply add charcoal and you're good to start cooking some delicious BBQ food.

Dimensions:D 42 x W 25 x H 38cm Cooking area:32 x 22cm Fuel: Charcoal

Char-Broil Gas2Coal 2.0 two burner hybrid barbecue

Pros: Dual fuel flexibility, charcoal heats up quickly, great tasting smoky flavour

Cons: Expensive

The Char-Broil Gas2Coal 2.0 is a hybrid barbecue that combines the power of gas and charcoal in one setup.

The beauty of this option is that it combines the best features of both types of barbecues and you can use either fuel depending on what you fancy, or what’s available.

Gas mode is pretty straightforward: you just turn on the gas and press the electric igniter to get the fire going.

In charcoal mode, you use the gas to get the charcoal going so there’s no waiting around or faffing with scrunched-up newspaper. And, once your coal is ready, you switch off the gas and use the charcoal to get all the flavour that’s hard to achieve on a gas barbecue.

When we tested it, we found the barbecue was easy to use - the coals were ready in about 20 minutes - and the results were incredible.

Thanks to the gas lighting process, there were no false starts associated with your typical charcoal barbecue. And the grill was seriously hot, which meant that our food cooked quickly, evenly and without burning.

We were especially impressed with the porcelain-enamelled cast iron grills, which produced restaurant-quality grill lines and were easy to clean up afterwards.

It’s obviously a bit pricier than your standard charcoal grill, but if you’re looking for a premium barbecue that not only looks good but delivers results, we couldn’t recommend it enough.

Dimensions: 118cm H x 114cm W x 66cm D Cooking area: 1771 cm² Fuel: Charcoal and gas

Valiant FIR551 folding portable picnic barbecue

If you’re cooking for a smaller group at the park, beach  - or in your own back garden - this portable BBQ is a great option.

It opens up to a 32cm x 23cm cooking surface, which will fit more than a couple of burgers and sausages.

Plus, it's raised off the ground so won't leave any scorch marks on the ground - whether you're using it on decking, your garden lawn or out and about.

And once you’re done, it folds up into a neat suitcase that weighs just 3.3kg.

One happy reviewer said, "I love this little bbq! It's ideal for our family of three. The cooking area is about the same size as a standard disposable one. It's sturdy, looks good, and folds away beautifully".

Dimensions: 157D x 39W x 112H mm D Cooking area: 32 cm² Fuel: Charcoal 

Argos Home 43cm kettle charcoal BBQ

This kettle charcoal barbecue is great for small gatherings, and at under £40 it's a great price too.

The grill features handles that are easy to lift if you need to add more coal, and there’s also an ash catcher at the bottom so the bowl never fills up with debris.

It's easy to assemble and the two front wheels make it easy to move around to find the perfect sun trap in your outside space.

This nifty little BBQ has received plenty of great reviews too, with reviewers saying it's 'great value', 'easy to assemble' and 'great quality for the price'.

Dimensions: H74, W44.5, D51.5cm Cooking area: 43 cm² Fuel: Charcoal 

Weber Smokey Joe premium portable charcoal barbecue

Available in blue, grey, black and red, Weber’s Smokey Joe premium portable charcoal barbecue is super stylish and the perfect portable BBQ to take on trips.

It features a special lock that secures the lid in place, as well as a heat-resistant handle that makes carrying it around super easy.

There's also a measuring cup to help you measure out the perfect amount of charcoal every time.

You can control the temperature by adjusting the damper - without lifting the lid - and the porcelain-enamelled lid and bowl will keep the heat in for consistent cooking.

It has lots of rave reviews, with one person saying "The Smokey Joe Premium exceeded all my expectations, absolutely amazing".

Dimensions: 43.2cm H x 36.1cm W x 42cm D Cooking area: 37 cm² Fuel: Charcoal 

Argos Home extra large charcoal oil drum BBQ

This budget-friendly barbecue is perfect for parties or if you’re cooking for large numbers.

Made from steel, it's sturdy and hardwearing with a generous cooking area to feed up to 18 people at once.

There’s an elevated chrome-plated warming rack, where you can keep food warm - and to one side, there’s also a fold-down table that you can use for resting sauces, spices or food that you’re queuing up to cook.

Plus, it has handy wheels so you can move it around your garden as needed.

Dimensions:H90, W130.5, D67cm Cooking area: 37 x 87 cm Fuel: Charcoal 

Texas starter smoker and BBQ

This versatile barbecue combines a BBQ grill with a smoker so you can experiment with a range of different recipes.

It has a charcoal ignition for a delicious smoky flavour and there’s an integrated temperature gauge, with a vent in the side shelf, that allows you to adjust the temperature as you’re smoking your food.

There’s also a chimney to one side to create a smoke-free cooking environment.

If you're specifically after a smoker, you might like our roundup of the best BBQ smokers.

Dimensions: 94 x 32 x 32cm Cooking area: 52 x 30 cm Fuel: Charcoal 

Symple Stuff BK Cookware 118cm charcoal BBQ

For a larger barbecue with plenty of storage, this Symple Stuff charcoal BBQ is a great option.

It's made from heat-resistant stainless steel and iron so is a sturdy bit of cooking kit that should last you if you take care of it.

The grill is split into two so you can remove one side to add more coal, or open the door at the front, and there’s also a resting shelf over the top where you can keep food warm.

Perhaps the best feature is the height-adjustable coal shelf, which you can move up and down to increase or decrease the cooking temperature.

Dimensions: 115cm H X 56cm W X 108cm D Cooking area: 55 x 41.6 cm Fuel: Charcoal 

CosmoGrill XL charcoal smoker barbecue

The CosmoGrill XL charcoal smoker barbecue is very similar to the Symple Stuff one, but has even more storage space.

There are shelves on both sides of the grill, as well as underneath the barbecue.

The addition of a chimney also means you can close the lid and use it as a smoker.

There are some nice touches - such as the bottle opener and four utensil hooks - and the grill grates and ash pan are easy to remove to make cleaning up after your BBQ quick and simple.

Dimensions:122.7 x 55 x 113.5 cm Fuel: Charcoal 

Wilko Square Charcoal BBQ

If you're on a budget, Wilko's Square Charcoal BBQ comes with great reviews.

Featuring an enamel-coated cooking grid and a chrome-plated warming rack, it comes on wheels for easy manoeuvring around your patio or garden and has two grill layers for plenty of cooking space.

And as one happy five-star reviewer enthuses: 'Brilliant BBQ! Sturdy & robust, simple to put together but you do need two people as it’s fiddly. Cooks evenly and wipes clean afterwards. The lid works great too. Highly recommend it.'

Dimensions:81cm x 47cm x 53cm Fuel: Charcoal 

Char-Griller Super Pro Charcoal BBQ - Black

For those who take the art of BBQing seriously, Char-Griller's Super Pro Charcoal BBQ is a strong contender.

Made from steel with a cast iron grill, it's heavy duty but looks super stylish and is lightweight enough to manoeuvre around your garden on its twin wheels.

The adjustable grill allows you to control the temperature and cooking time - as well as the chimney for the delicious smoky taste.

There's also a warming rack while you're waiting to serve up - you're sure to be cooking al fresco all summer with this charcoal BBQ in your back garden.

Dimensions: 127cm x 74cm x 106cm Fuel: Charcoal 

Are charcoal BBQs better than gas?

You might be wondering whether you should go for a charcoal barbecue or a gas one.

The answer is down to your preference as both have their benefits.

Gas barbecues are fast and easy to use, and can be fired up in around 10 minutes depending on the model you go for.

You can adjust the temperature up or down with ease, and you don’t have the faff of having to lift up the grill to add more fuel during cooking.

If you're interested in an alternative to a charcoal BBQ, you might want to read our round-up of the best gas barbecues.

Charcoal barbecues take a lot longer to get started, but coals can reach a higher temperature than gas can achieve, which means it’s easier to sear meat for better flavour.

When the fat from cooked food drips onto the coal, it creates that lovely smoky flavour that’s hard to recreate on gas barbecues.

How to light a charcoal BBQ

There are two main ways you can light a charcoal barbecue.

The most basic way is to stack the charcoal into a mound, leaving plenty of space between the briquettes to allow air to circulate.

In these gaps, you can stuff scrunched up newspaper, or other natural firelighters like wood shavings or wool - these are what you light to start the fire, which will then spread to the coals.

Using lighter fluid, gels or cubes can speed up the process but these are toxic and don’t always break down while they burn, so they’re best avoided and especially if you’re cooking for kids.

Charcoal chimneys are a great alternative way to light your barbecue, especially if it’s a windy day.

It’s basically a cylinder with a handle and a shelf in the middle where you stack the coals on top and the scrunched up newspaper at the bottom.

Once you light the newspaper, the flames will travel up and the coals should catch.

When the coals are ready - you’ll see white ash covering the surface - you simply tip the contents of the chimney into your barbecue.

Make sure you have a suitable heatproof glove for this bit!

How to clean a charcoal BBQ

To properly clean your charcoal barbecue, you’ll need a sturdy brush with metal bristles, an old rag, a wooden brush, and a strong metal scraper.

Always allow your barbecue to completely cool down before you start cleaning.

Start with the grill. Use the brush with the metal bristles to remove any stuck-on food debris and grime and then wash off any grease with warm water and washing up liquid like you would with an oven shelf.

If there are any stuck-on bits, soak the grill in some warm soapy water to loosen these before you brush them off.

To clean the base and the lid, you use a wooden brush to brush away any deposits of ash. If there is stuck-on food, use the metal scraper to remove these.

Finally, using the old rag, wipe down the interior with warm soapy water until it's spotless.

You should clean your grill and lid, if you’ve used it, after every barbecue session.

If you regularly use your barbecue, you should thoroughly clean the base when you start to see build-up. Or if you don’t use it very often, you should clean it before you put it away.

Where to buy a charcoal bbq

Looking for a charcoal BBQ for summer 2023? One of these online retailers is sure to have the right BBQ for you.

How much do charcoal barbecues cost?

There's a wide range of charcoal barbecues available for a range of prices, from around £30-£50 to £300 or more.

Consider what size group you'll be regularly cooking for and the size of your outside space - or whether you plan to take the BBQ away with you on a trip.

You should be able to get a decent-sized charcoal BBQ for your garden for around £150 - and there are always discounts and deals to take advantage of.

What should I look for in a coal bbq?

The main considerations are the size of the BBQ itself - in relation to the size of your outside space - and the size of the cooking area, and how much food it can cook at one time.

You should also consider portability if you want to be able to transport the BBQ and a lid can be useful for helping the food to cook thoroughly and evenly at a constant temperature.

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