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How to light a gas BBQ side burner

Updated: 23 October 2026

The cart is built, the cylinder is upright outdoors, and you have not lit the side ring yet. How to light a gas BBQ side burner is a short outdoor sequence: lid open, controls off, soap-test the hose, light once, and shut the cylinder first when you finish. It is not a ranking of models and it is not a reason to force a bent tube into place. The seven listings sit on the [gas BBQ with side burner comparison](/hub/grills-and-barbecues/gas-bbq-with-side-burner). Peter F. edits DIY and tools at Products Compared. Updated 23 October 2026. Follow the manual for your cart, and the public UK safety pages named below. A qualifying purchase through our links can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

The cart is built, the cylinder is upright outdoors, and you have not lit the side ring yet.

Our top picks

CosmoGrill CosmoGrill Pro Deluxe 6+1 with cover

Best overall

CosmoGrill CosmoGrill Pro Deluxe 6+1 with cover
8.9/10about £299.99
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CosmoGrill CosmoGrill Original 4+1

Rank 2

CosmoGrill CosmoGrill Original 4+1
9.2/10about £199.99
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BROILUCK BROILUCK 2+1

Best value

BROILUCK BROILUCK 2+1
6.8/10about £89.99
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On this page
  1. 1.Before you touch the knob
  2. 2.Soap-test the hose
  3. 3.Lighting the side burner
  4. 4.Shutting down and when to stop

Before you touch the knob

Treat the side burner as a small outdoor hob. Pans belong on the ring, and food for searing stays on the main bars. Stay outdoors on level ground, clear of fences, sheds, awnings, tents, and caravans. London Fire Brigade advises against balconies. The NHS rules out indoor and tent use. Do not move the cart while it is hot. Open the side lid before any spark. Manuals say never light that ring with the cover shut, because gas can collect under the lid. Set every control to off. Patio gas is usually 37 mbar propane with a 27 mm clip-on. Butane sits nearer 28–30 mbar. Liquid Gas UK expects new regulators marked BS EN 16129. None of the seven included lines names a hose, so fit a compatible hose and regulator before you chase an igniter fault. If a joint looks kinked, stop. Forcing a tube is not a lighting method.

Soap-test the hose

Leak checks use soapy water, not a flame. Mix about equal parts washing-up liquid and water. With the cylinder open and the controls still off, wet every joint from the cylinder along the hose to the inlets, including the side-burner feed. Bubbles mean shut the cylinder and do not light anything. Re-seat the fitting only if a second soap test stays quiet. If bubbles continue, or you smell gas with the knobs off, leave the area and call 0800 111 999. A permanent pipe is Gas Safe work, not a weekend hose swap.
CosmoGrill CosmoGrill Pro Deluxe 6+1 with cover

Testsieger

CosmoGrill CosmoGrill Pro Deluxe 6+1 with cover
8.9/10about £299.99
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Lighting the side burner

Keep the side lid open. Open the cylinder, turn the side control to high, and press the igniter, or use a long match at the ports from the side. Never lean over the ring. If it lights, hold high briefly, then turn down. If it does not light, shut the side control and the cylinder, and wait about five minutes with the lid open. Soap-test again if you smell gas, then retry once. Blocked ports or a spark aimed away from the gas are the usual misses. Never light the ring with the lid shut, and never use it as a shelf while it is on. If the main grill is already running and the side ring fails, shut the side control and the cylinder before you investigate.

Shutting down and when to stop

Turn the cylinder or regulator off first so gas in the hose burns off, then close the barbecue controls. Let the side burner cool with the lid open. Store the cylinder upright outdoors, not in a hallway and not in a tent. Stop if a joint still bubbles, if you smell gas after a clear wait, or if anyone may have carbon monoxide poisoning. Suspected carbon monoxide is NHS 111 or 999. Gas emergency is 0800 111 999. Do not click an igniter into a smell of gas, and do not move a hot cart. If you are still choosing a cart, use the gas BBQ with side burner buying guide. If you confused a shelf with a ring, read gas BBQ side burner vs side table.

Common questions

Do I open the side-burner lid before lighting?
Yes. Open the side cover first so gas cannot collect under a shut lid. Light only with that lid open, then cook with it open or as your manual allows for pot use.
How do I soap-test the hose and joints?
Mix washing-up liquid with water, open the cylinder with controls off, and wet every joint. Bubbles mean shut the cylinder and stop. Never hunt for leaks with a flame.
What order do I turn the cylinder and the knobs?
For lighting: controls off, cylinder on, side control to high, then ignite. For shut-down: cylinder or regulator off first, then the knobs, so hose gas burns away.
How long do I wait if the side burner will not light?
Shut the side control and the cylinder, leave the lid open, and wait about five minutes before any second try. Soap-test again if you smell gas.
Can I light it with the cover shut?
No. Side-burner manuals treat a shut cover as a gas-collection risk. Open the lid every time you spark that ring.
Cylinder off first or knobs off first when I finish?
Cylinder or regulator first, then the barbecue controls. That order clears the hose instead of leaving it pressurised.
When do I stop and call for help?
Ongoing bubbles, a persistent gas smell, a burner that will not light after a clear wait, or possible carbon monoxide symptoms. Gas emergency is 0800 111 999. Carbon monoxide is NHS 111 or 999. Permanent pipework is Gas Safe work only.
Is a bent side-burner tube during assembly something to force?
No. Forcing a tube is not a lighting tip. Stop, check parts, and get proper fittings or professional help rather than creating a leak path.

Related pages

Best gas BBQ with side burner

4+1 vs 6+1 gas BBQ

Gas BBQ with side burner

Gas BBQ with side burner buying guide: ring and hose

Gas BBQ side burner vs side table: which do you need

Sources

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.

  1. NHS: carbon monoxide poisoning (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  2. London Fire Brigade: barbecues (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  3. GOV.UK: fire safety outdoors (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  4. BSI: BS EN 498:2012 outdoor LPG barbecues (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  5. BS EN 484:2019 side burner of a barbecue (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  6. Liquid Gas UK: Consumer Guidance Sheet 39 (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  7. Calor: gas bottle sizes (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  8. BBC Gardeners’ World: best gas BBQs, 2026 (retrieved 22 October 2026)