The best Barbecues, compared.
Top pick: Weber Compact Kettle 47 cm – Highest score: 89 from 4.5 and 377 ratings, a 47 cm lidded kettle at about £49.49. Not a timed cook. Best value: HOMION kettle 43.5 cm – Best value as the lid kettle with a cover on the included line at about £28.99, score 79 from 4.1 and 150 ratings. It does not outscore the Compact. Updated 22.10.2026.
A barbecue is a charcoal grill you light outdoors: a round kettle, a barrel, or a cabinet-style smoker. You buy one in the UK for a garden or patio cook, to sear with the lid up or to roast with the lid down when the grill has vents you can set. Gas and electric models are other categories. A suitable barbecue has a lid if you want indirect heat, vents that move, and a grate claim that matches the description. A cooking-area field that only repeats the diameter in square centimetres is not the grate. Weight shows whether you can lift the grill. A lid thermometer, where the listing states one, reads the air under the lid, not the food. The order of those checks is in the [barbecue buying guide](/hub/grills-and-barbecues/barbecue/sub/barbecue-buying-guide). Light charcoal only outdoors. A tent, an awning, a caravan or a room is not a place for this fire.
A barbecue is a charcoal grill you light outdoors: a round kettle, a barrel, or a cabinet-style smoker.
44 products checked · 58 hrs invested · +21,600 readers
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
Which shape do you need?
The Weber Compact Kettle 47 cm is £49.49 with 4.5 from 377 amazon.co.uk ratings, the strongest review line in this set. Bullets claim a porcelain-enamelled bowl and lid, adjustable dampers, a stand with wheels, and a 1,548 cm² grate for four to six people; ignore the field that prints 47 square centimetres. UK reviews praise the enamel and say it cooks meat, fish and vegetarian food after a slightly fiddly assembly. Compact buyers often cook for two, though one hosted more than ten. A lid thermometer is not in the bullets, and a reviewer who expected one from the description did not find it. A cover is a common outdoor recommendation and is not listed in the box. It is the top pick here for a garden kettle under £50 with a thick review base.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A patio or garden cook who wants a 47 cm Weber kettle with a large UK review set and a lid.
Less suitable: Buyers who insist on a built-in lid gauge, or who need a long barrel grate for six adults every week.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the Compact include a thermometer?
The bullets do not claim one. A UK review says the description implied a built-in thermometer that was not fitted.
How large is the grate?
The bullet says 1,548 cm² for four to six people. The listing field says 47 square centimetres, which conflicts with that bullet.
Is assembly required?
Yes. Reviews call it slightly fiddly, then say it cooks well.
The Weber Original Kettle Premium 57 cm is £239.00 with 4.5 from 117 amazon.co.uk ratings. Bullets claim a 2,342 cm² porcelain-enamelled grate for larger cooks, lid thermometer, dampers and the premium kettle layout; ignore a field that prints 57 square centimetres. Reviews call assembly straightforward, heat holding good, and capacity enough for eight and above. A long-term Weber owner says the metal does not feel as thick as an older kettle, and one buyer missed indirect cooking rails they expected in the box. The warranty text prints only “10.” It is the large-kettle step in this set, not the best value against the Compact at £49.49.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A garden host who wants the 57 cm Weber Premium grate and will pay for that size.
Less suitable: Couples and small patios that the 47 cm Compact already covers at £49.49.
Specifications
Common questions
How many people is the 57 cm listed for?
The bullet says 2,342 cm² and six to eight people. One review says it may be larger than needed for regular cooks of about six.
What does the warranty line say?
The product warranty text is 10.
Are indirect rails in the box?
A review says they were not included. The included line says user manual.
The House Of Home XL is £99.99 with 4.5 from 71 amazon.co.uk ratings and a listed 22 kg frame at 84 × 112 × 118 cm. Bullets highlight a front coal drawer that raises and lowers, a chimney, foldable side tables and a warming rack. Reviewers call it spacious, even, and usable as a smoker, with shelves they like. Assembly still takes a long time for some, the metal can feel thin, and the unit can shake side to side. Missing parts and a week’s wait for a replacement leg set appear in the file. Lighting is slow without a starter chimney. Against Campfire at the same price, this is the stronger XL pick in the saved reviews.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A garden cook who wants a coal drawer and side tables at £99.99 and will allow time to build it.
Less suitable: A balcony or patio where 22 kg and a wide footprint will not fit, or a buyer who needs a five-minute assembly.
Specifications
Common questions
Can you add charcoal without lifting the food?
The bullet says a front coal drawer for topping up charcoal or wood chips during the cook, and for raising or lowering the tray.
Do the side tables come off?
The bullets call them foldable. The listing asks whether they can be removed, and the file does not answer that.
How heavy is it?
The listing says 22 kg, at 84 × 112 × 118 cm.
The Weber Original Kettle 47 cm is £111.24 with 4.5 from 65 amazon.co.uk ratings. Bullets add what the Compact omits: a built-in lid thermometer, One-Touch ash cleaning, and the same 1,548 cm² grate claim for four to six people. UK reviews call assembly easy and cleaning straightforward; one says the grate feeds four to five. Size is still the limit beyond a small group in other reviews. The warranty text prints only “2.” and spare parts are listed for five years. A cover is not stated. Pay the step up from the Compact when the gauge and ash system matter more than the £49.49 shelf.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A 47 cm Weber buyer who wants the thermometer and One-Touch lines the Compact bullets omit.
Less suitable: Shoppers who only need a basic 47 cm kettle and will keep the Compact’s £49.49.
Specifications
Common questions
Does this 47 cm kettle have a thermometer?
Yes. The bullets include a built-in lid thermometer. The Compact kettle in this set does not.
How many people is it listed for?
The bullet says 1,548 cm² and four to six people. UK reviews split between four to five people and running out beyond two.
What does the warranty line say?
The product warranty text is 2. Spare-part availability is listed as 5 years.
The KEYO 29 inch spit barrel is £133.99 with 4.5 from only six amazon.co.uk ratings, so the star line barely proves anything. Four written blocks sit in the saved listing. A UK review says do not assemble it alone. Once built, other notes call it easy to use and clean. A French review says the lid does not align when closed, and a German review says the grate height over the charcoal is not adjustable despite a height-adjustable spit bullet. Prefer Big Smokey or a Weber kettle unless the spit is the reason you are shopping.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A buyer who specifically wants a spit barrel and accepts a very thin UK review sample.
Less suitable: Anyone ranking by proven UK ownership volume or solo weekend assembly.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the grate height adjust?
A German review says the grate height over the charcoal is not adjustable. The bullet claims a height-adjustable spit, which is a different part.
How many ratings are on the listing?
4.5 from 6 amazon.co.uk ratings. The saved listing has four written reviews, two of them from the United Kingdom.
What area is listed?
537 square inches. The number-of-racks field says 2, and the special features name a warming rack.
The Big Smokey barrel is £67.99 with 4.4 from 173 amazon.co.uk ratings and a claimed 71 × 35.3 cm porcelain-coated main grate plus a warming rack. Reviewers describe labelled parts, a cook for six adults, and a solid feel for the money. Air vents and a sliding main grill are the heat tools on the listing; a thermometer is not claimed. The coal grate is wide enough that lump charcoal falls through and heat is lost, so briquettes are the review workaround. The push handle sits on the wheeled leg, which makes rolling awkward. A bullet claims EN 1860-1 with no edition or certificate in the file. Among the drums here it has the clearest UK review record for a long grate.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A household feeding about six who want a long barrel grate and a stronger review record than the other drums here.
Less suitable: Cooks who only use large lump charcoal, or who need an easy one-handed push around a patio.
Specifications
Common questions
Can it smoke as well as grill?
The title calls it a 2-in-1 barbecue and smoker with air vents and a warming rack.
Does it have wheels?
Yes, two wheels. A review says the handle is welded on the wheeled leg, so the push side is awkward.
Is a safety standard named?
The bullet says built to EN 1860-1. The file has no edition and no certificate.
The HOMION oil-drum grill is £63.94 with 4.2 from 67 amazon.co.uk ratings, listed at 53 × 85 × 97 cm and 9 kg with a hinged lid and wheels. Bullets name a temperature gauge, ash pan, storage rack and lid hook, while the included-components line says lid only, so box contents are not settled on the page. Several buyers say it cooks well and suits about six people, with a hanging rack and closable vents for smoking. Others report a three-hour build, paint in the threads, a wonky feel, wrong or missing parts, and unanswered support email. One reviewer does not expect the materials to last a single cook. Use it only if you will check the parts list on arrival and can live with a budget barrel build.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A budget barrel buyer who will inspect parts on day one and cook for a small family outdoors.
Less suitable: Anyone who needs reliable support, a clear parts list, or a multi-day cook on a rock-solid frame.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the box include the gauge and the ash pan?
The bullets name a temperature gauge, an ash pan, a storage rack, wheels, handles and a lid hook. The included-components line says lid only.
Can you move it while it is lit?
The bullet says outdoor use only and do not move it during operation.
Is a lid included?
Yes. The title, the bullets and the included line all include a lid.
The HOMION 43.5 cm kettle is £28.99 with 4.1 from 150 amazon.co.uk ratings. The included line lists a grill cover, lid and spatula; the bullets add an ash pan, wheels, a storage rack and a lid hook. Reviewers call it easy to assemble, fine for two, and better value than some dearer small kettles. The same file warns that the bottom vent sits inside the drum and can only be opened when the grill is cold. A wire rack cracked and a bar came loose on a first wash in one review, and several buyers do not expect a second season. It is a lid kettle for the money, not a multi-year Weber substitute.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A couple who want a wheeled lid kettle under £30 with a cover in the box.
Less suitable: Anyone who needs hot-fire vent tweaks mid-cook, or a grate they expect to last several seasons.
Specifications
Common questions
Does it have a lid?
Yes. The included line lists a lid, and the bullets add a lid hook.
Can you adjust the vent while it is hot?
A UK review says the bottom vent sits inside the drum and can only be opened when the grill is cold.
What is in the box?
The included line says a grill cover, a lid and a spatula. The bullets also name an ash pan, a storage rack, wheels, handles and a lid hook.
The Kendane portable smoker is £79.98 with 4.0 from 114 amazon.co.uk ratings. Bullets claim 238 square inches of cooking plus 94 of warming, a lid thermometer, chimney and swivel wheels, at a listed 3 kg and 58 × 46 × 27 cm. Some buyers like the cook once it is up. Assembly is the recurring pain: two adults for well over an hour, another pair over two days, unclear instructions and no tools in the box. One verified UK review says the ventilation hole, coal-side rack and top rack melted after a single use. That melt line is why this row loses score points and why you should stop using any grill whose body softens in the fire.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Only a buyer who accepts a long build and will return the unit at the first sign of melting metal.
Less suitable: Anyone who wants a first charcoal grill with a clean safety record in UK reviews.
Specifications
Common questions
How much grate is listed?
The bullet says 238 square inches of cooking plus 94 square inches of warming. The area field repeats 238 square inches.
Is assembly required?
Yes. Reviews describe two adults taking well over an hour, and one pair taking two days. The box has no tools.
What failed in the reviews?
One verified UK review says the ventilation hole, the coal-side rack and the top rack melted after one use.
The KEYO 23 inch window barrel is £127.99 with 4.0 from 19 amazon.co.uk ratings, a thin written sample. UK reviews that exist call packing and instructions clear, the build sturdy, and assembly about an hour; one fits twelve shashlik skewers and praises the viewing window and thick chrome grate before a first winter cook. Two of four UK blocks had not cooked yet when they wrote. Non-UK reviews report cracked or damaged viewing glass on arrival. A German measurement of 55 × 35 cm for the grate conflicts with the 469 square inch field. Buy it for the window and skewers only if you accept a small UK review base and will check the glass on delivery.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A barrel buyer who wants a viewing window and will inspect the glass before the first fire.
Less suitable: Anyone who needs a thick UK cook record before spending over £120.
Specifications
Common questions
Does it include a cover?
The listing asks that question. The included line says grill parts and a user manual, not a cover.
Is the viewing window intact in the reviews?
The four UK texts do not report a break. French and German reviews in the same file say the glass arrived cracked or damaged.
How big is the grate?
The field says 469 square inches. A German review in the file measures 55 × 35 cm, which is a different figure.
The Amig AZKAR is an open steel charcoal box at £17.89, about 2 kg and 56 cm high, with 3.9 from 43 amazon.co.uk ratings. Across 33 written reviews it suits a couple or a camping meal and is described as easy to put together. Three cooking heights are the only heat control on the listing. A UK review states the main limit plainly: there is no lid, so closed-lid and indirect cooking are out. Buyers also call it smaller than expected and find the 56 cm working height low. The bullet says a 29 cm span; the field that prints 29 square centimetres is not a grate area. Treat it as a cheap open fire for a quick sear outdoors, not as a kettle.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A couple or camper who wants an open charcoal box under £20 and will cook only outdoors.
Less suitable: Anyone who needs a lid, kettle heat, or space for more than two plates.
Specifications
Common questions
Does it have a lid?
The listing does not claim a lid. A UK review says the main limitation is that it has none, so indirect cooking is limited.
Will it suit a balcony?
The title says terrace and balcony. Reviews describe it as enough for a couple, and the 56 cm working height feels low.
Is assembly required?
Yes. The bullet says simple assembly, and reviews call it easy.
The Campfire XL smoker is £99.99 with 3.2 from 82 amazon.co.uk ratings, the weakest star line in this set. The field states 2,455 cm² against a 58 × 42.5 cm bullet, with side shelves, two wheels and a handle that raises the charcoal. When the build succeeds, reviewers say it cooks and cleans, and the height adjuster helps. Most of the 49 written reviews instead describe a nightmare assembly: unclear diagrams, unnumbered parts, wrong or missing legs and screws, paint that bubbles on first light-up, rust after one use, and lid welds or seams that fail. Treat the XL title as marketing until the unit stands square. Prefer the House Of Home XL at the same shelf price if you want this shape with a better rating line.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Only a patient assembler who will check every part against the list before lighting.
Less suitable: Anyone who wants a weekend-ready smoker without fighting missing legs and peeling paint.
Specifications
Common questions
How large is the cooking area?
The field says 2,455 cm². The bullet says 58 × 42.5 cm, which is close to that figure. Overall length is 124 cm in the bullet and 113.5 cm in the attribute lines.
Is it easy to assemble?
Assembly is required. Most of the 49 reviews call unclear instructions and missing or wrong parts the main problem.
Does the lid finish hold?
Several UK reviews say the paint bubbled or peeled on the first light-up, and one reports rust after a single use.
Twelve amazon.co.uk charcoal barbecue listings were scored from 0 to 100. Stars contribute round(stars divided by 5, times 70). Review count contributes log10 of the count, times 10, capped at 30. A 4.5 from 377 ratings is 63 plus 26, which is 89. Four listings then lose points for a review signal: Kendane loses 15 after a verified UK report that the vent and racks melted after one cook; Campfire loses 5 for an assembly, missing-parts and paint-lift cluster beyond its low star line; the HOMION oil drum loses 5 for wrong or missing parts and unanswered support; the KEYO 29 inch spit loses 5 because it has only six ratings. The top pick is the Weber Compact Kettle 47 cm, score 89, once. Best value is the HOMION 43.5 cm kettle, a lid kettle with a cover on the included line at about £28.99, score 79, after the Compact takes the top badge. This is not a lab cook.
Stars
70%Up to 70 points from the amazon.co.uk star line: round(stars divided by 5, times 70). A 4.5 becomes 63, a 4.4 becomes 62, a 4.2 becomes 59, a 4.1 becomes 57, a 4.0 becomes 56, a 3.9 becomes 55 and a 3.2 becomes 45. The star line is the listing figure, not a lab score.
Review volume
30%Up to 30 points from log10 of the amazon.co.uk rating count, times 10, capped at 30. 377 ratings add 26. 173 ratings add 22. 150 ratings add 22. 117 ratings add 21. Six ratings add 8 before a further 5-point deduction for that thin sample. A missing review line would score 0. No listing in this set is missing that line.
Choose the fuel and the lid before the star count. These listings are charcoal barbecues. Gas and electric are other categories. A useful grill here has a lid, vents that move, and a grate claim that matches the description. A square-centimetre field that only repeats the diameter is not the grate. Shelf prices in this set run from about £17.89 to about £239.00. A 4.5 from 377 ratings is a different record from 4.5 from six ratings.
A barbecue in this category burns charcoal under a grate. With the lid open you grill. With the lid down and the vents set, the same fire can roast, but only if the listing actually includes a lid. The shapes are a round kettle, an oil-drum barrel, a cabinet-style smoker, and a small open box. Gas and electric grills are sibling categories. Do not read burners or hoses into a charcoal listing. The lid and the vents are the first hardware check. Closed-lid cooking needs both.
Fields of 29, 47 and 57 square centimetres repeat the diameter. Weber bullets state 1,548 cm² and 2,342 cm². Use the bullet, and treat square-inch claims on other listings as claims.
Closed-lid cooking needs a lid and vents. A UK review of the open Amig box states the missing lid as the limit. Three cooking heights are not a lid.
Only the Big Smokey bullet names EN 1860-1, with no edition and no certificate in the file. The UK committee voted against BS EN 1860-1:2024 over the carbon monoxide symbol. The bullet is not a lab pass.
Fuel and the job come first. This comparison is charcoal: a fire under a grate, for direct grilling or for indirect cooking when a lid and vents are both present. Gas and electric grills are sibling categories. Do not read burners or hoses into these listings. Closed-lid cooking needs a lid and vents that move. An open box that a UK review describes as having no lid will not hold kettle heat, however low the shelf price. A lid thermometer is on some kettle bullets and not on others.
Read the grate from the bullet, not from a field that repeats the diameter. Bullets state 1,548 cm² on the 47 cm kettles and 2,342 cm² on the premium kettle. Fields of 29, 47 or 57 square centimetres are not those grates. A barrel can state a main grill of 71 by 35.3 cm. Other listings state 537, 469 or 238 square inches, or 2,455 cm². Those are claims. Build is the next check. Porcelain enamel is a bullet claim on some kettles. Budget drums are painted or powder-coated steel.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You want a lid and you will wait for charcoal. The Weber Compact Kettle 47 cm is about £49.49, at 4.5 from 377 ratings, score 89, with a 1,548 cm² grate claim and no lid thermometer in the bullets. A field that says 47 square centimetres is not that grate. A cover is not in the box.
You want a long grate for about six adults. The Big Smokey barrel is about £67.99, at 4.4 from 173 ratings, score 84, with a claimed 71 by 35.3 cm main grill. Lump charcoal falls through the coal grate in reviews, so briquettes are the workaround. The EN 1860-1 line has no certificate in the file.
You want a front coal drawer and foldable side tables, and the garden can take 22 kg. The House Of Home XL is about £99.99, at 4.5 from 71 ratings, score 82. Assembly still takes a long time for some, and the frame can shake. Treat the Campfire XL at the same shelf price as the assembly risk, not as the pick.
The top pick is the Weber Compact Kettle 47 cm at about £49.49. It is the highest score in this set: 89, from 4.5 and 377 amazon.co.uk ratings, for a lidded kettle with a 1,548 cm² grate claim, stand and wheels. The bullets do not include a lid thermometer, and a cover is not in the box. The best value is the HOMION kettle, 43.5 cm, at about £28.99, score 79 from 4.1 and 150 ratings, with a lid and a cover on the included line. A UK review says the bottom vent opens only when the grill is cold. Big Smokey and the Weber Premium both score 84 and take no badge. None of these scores is a lab cook.
Weber Compact Kettle 47 cm
Highest score: 89 from 4.5 and 377 ratings, a 47 cm lidded kettle at about £49.49. Not a timed cook.
HOMION kettle 43.5 cm
Best value as the lid kettle with a cover on the included line at about £28.99, score 79 from 4.1 and 150 ratings. It does not outscore the Compact.
Editorial
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Public UK sources used for this comparison. Listing prices, stars and review counts are the amazon.co.uk figures for these ASINs. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts are the UK listing lines for these ASINs. We did not run a lab test.
