The best kettle barbecues, compared.
Top pick: Char-Griller 22 inch kettle Best value: Weber Compact kettle 47 cm – Best value in this set: about £49.49 with 4.5 from 377 reviews and a bullet area of 1,548 cm². Same score as the 57 cm compact, at about half the price. No lid thermometer in the bullets. Updated 22.10.2026.
A kettle barbecue is a round charcoal bowl with a domed lid and vents in the bowl and the lid. In the UK you buy one for outdoor direct grilling and, on a large enough grate, for indirect roasting with the coals banked to one side. A ceramic kamado and a gas barbecue are different appliances. You tell a suitable kettle barbecue by the bowl diameter and a cooking area that matches it. Porcelain enamel on the bowl and lid is a listing claim, because a material line can contradict the bullets. You want a bowl vent and a lid vent you can move while the kettle is hot. An ash pan that stays on, wheels, and the open width decide a ground-level patio. A shallow bowl suits everyday grilling. Do not light a kettle indoors, in a tent, under an awning, in a caravan, or on a balcony. Carbon monoxide is colourless. Outdoor use is allowed in a smoke control area. Chimney smoke is the restricted act. Diameter, enamel and vents are in the [kettle barbecue buying guide](/hub/grills-and-barbecues/kettle-barbecue/sub/kettle-barbecue-buying-guide).
A kettle barbecue is a round charcoal bowl with a domed lid and vents in the bowl and the lid.
32 products checked · 61 hrs invested · +22,400 readers
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What charcoal kettle are you buying?
The Char-Griller CG30040725 is a 22 inch kettle listed at £87.99, with porcelain-enamelled lid and bowl, dampers, a charcoal access door, and an EasyDump ash bucket. The printed cooking area is 363 square inches and the size is 58.4 × 66 × 96.5 cm at 10.1 kg. The star line is 4.6 from 119, but the 50 saved review blocks are 49 from the United States and one from Mexico, so that score is not British owner opinion. US texts mention a lid handle that broke on the third use and leg spot welds that failed when the kettle was moved. The charcoal door is the practical extra if you accept non-UK reviews. Skip it if you need United Kingdom review text before you buy.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A mid-price 22 inch kettle buyer who wants a charcoal door and will accept a non-UK review sample.
Less suitable: Anyone who needs British review text, or who wants a built-in lid thermometer from this set.
Specifications
Common questions
Are the 119 reviews British?
The star line is 4.6 from 119 on the amazon.co.uk capture. The 50 saved review blocks are 49 from the United States and one from Mexico. None is marked United Kingdom.
How do you add charcoal during a cook?
The bullets describe a charcoal access door so you can add fuel without lifting the whole grate.
What broke in the saved reviews?
US reviews, not UK ones, mention a lid handle that broke on the third use and leg spot welds that failed when the kettle was moved.
House of Home’s tall kettle lists a 45 cm chrome grate, a porcelain-enamelled bowl, a built-in ash catcher, and a 75 cm cooking height, at £33.99 with 4.6 from 106 reviews. The printed cooking area is 1,520 cm² and the weight is 6.45 kg, with overall size 53 × 47 × 91.5 cm. More than one UK review says the plastic lid handle broke, once on first use and once when the lid was dropped during assembly, and a wheel bolt failed to match its nut for another buyer. No cover is listed. The enamel bowl and taller cook height are the reason to look at it next to the thinner £29 bowls, but the handle fault is a real UK pattern, not a one-off moan. Skip it if you will not tolerate a fragile lid handle or buying a spare.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A low-price 45 cm enamel kettle for a couple or small household if you can source a spare handle.
Less suitable: Anyone who treats a fragile lid handle as a deal-breaker, or who needs a cover in the box.
Specifications
Common questions
How tall is the cooking surface?
The bullets say a 75 cm cooking height, with overall size 53 x 47 x 91.5 cm and a weight of 6.45 kg.
What fails in UK reviews?
More than one UK review says the lid handle broke, once on first use and once when the lid was dropped during assembly. A wheel bolt did not match its nut for another buyer.
Is a cover included?
No cover is listed. One UK reviewer plans to buy one before winter.
Weber’s Compact kettle 57 cm, model 1502061, is captured at £99.99 with a bullet cooking area of 2,342 cm² for about six to eight people on Weber’s claim, porcelain-enamel wording, dampers, an ash catcher, wheels, and a lid hook. amazon.co.uk shows 4.5 from 378 reviews. The bullets do not list a lid thermometer or One-Touch cleaning, which is the gap against the Original Kettle Premium at £239. The attribute prints 57 square centimetres, Nylon as a material, and a weight of 3.77 kg that is not credible next to the 47 cm compact at 9 kg, so you ignore those fields. It is the top pick here for a family-size Weber grate without the premium extras, not a thermometer kettle and not a light picnic bowl.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A family that wants a 57 cm Weber compact grate and will manage temperature without a built-in lid thermometer.
Less suitable: Cooks who need the thermometer and One-Touch sweep on model 1502210, or who only feed two people on a small patio.
Specifications
Common questions
Does this compact 57 cm include a thermometer?
No. The bullets list dampers, an ash catcher, and a lid hook. They do not list a thermometer or One-Touch cleaning.
What is the real weight?
The attribute says 3.77 kg. The 47 cm compact in the same set says 9 kg. 3.77 kg is left as printed and should not be used as the weight.
Which area figure is the grate?
The bullet says 2,342 cm² for six to eight people. The attribute says 57 square centimetres, which copies the diameter.
Weber’s Compact kettle 47 cm, model 1502054, is captured at £49.49 with a bullet cooking area of 1,548 cm², porcelain-enamel bowl and lid wording, an ash catcher, wheels, and a lid hook. amazon.co.uk shows 4.5 from 377 reviews. The bullets do not list a lid thermometer or One-Touch cleaning. The attribute line prints 47 square centimetres and Plastic or Ceramic on the frame, which contradict the bullets, so you trust the bullet area and enamel claim. UK reviews call the assembly diagrams fiddly, and one buyer replaced flimsy screws. It is the best value kettle in this set for a small household that wants a Weber compact without paying for the premium 57 cm extras, not a thermometer kettle and not a balcony grill.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A small household that wants a Weber compact 47 cm at the captured mid-forty price and will cook without a built-in thermometer.
Less suitable: Cooks who need a lid thermometer, One-Touch ash sweep, or a 57 cm family grate.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the 47 cm compact have a thermometer?
The bullets do not list one. A review in this capture says a description promised a thermometer and the kettle did not have it. The same review text also appears on the 57 cm compact file.
Which cooking area should you use?
The bullet says 1,548 cm². The attribute says 47 square centimetres. Use the bullet. The attribute matches the diameter, not the grate area.
Is assembly required?
Yes. UK reviews call the diagrams fiddly, and one buyer replaced flimsy screws.
Weber’s Original Kettle Premium 57 cm, model 1502210, is captured at £239.00 with a bullet area of 2,342 cm², a built-in lid thermometer, One-Touch cleaning into a removable catcher, tool hooks, and wheels. amazon.co.uk shows 4.5 from 117 reviews. Those extras are what separate it from the compact 57 cm at £99.99 in this set. One UK reviewer says the lid handle came off and the nuts felt soft; another expected indirect cooking rails that were not in the box. The attribute again prints 57 square centimetres against the bullet area, so you use the bullet. It is the thermometer-and-ash-sweep kettle in this comparison if you will pay the premium and accept that rare handle complaint, not the value compact.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Indirect cooks who want the thermometer and One-Touch sweep on a 57 cm Weber and will pay the premium price.
Less suitable: Buyers who only need a compact grate without those extras, or who will not accept a rare handle complaint at this price.
Specifications
Common questions
What does this premium kettle add over the compact 57 cm?
The bullets add a built-in lid thermometer, One-Touch cleaning into a removable catcher, and tool hooks. The compact 57 cm bullets do not list those.
What went wrong in UK reviews?
One UK reviewer says the lid handle came off in their hand and the nuts felt soft. Another expected indirect cooking rails and they were not in the box.
Which area figure is right?
The bullet says 2,342 cm². The attribute says 57 square centimetres. Use the bullet.
The HOMION 43.5 cm kettle sits at £28.99 with a cover and utensils in the title, and amazon.co.uk shows 4.1 from 150 reviews. A UK review says the bottom vent sits inside the drum and can only be opened when the kettle is cold, which blocks airflow changes during a cook. Other UK texts say the tongs break immediately, the ash tray drops off if you move the kettle, and a side shelf falls off. The printed weight is 3.5 kg and the size is 47.5 × 43.5 × 75 cm, so it is light enough to tip if knocked, which reviewers also note. There is no lid thermometer. It is a cheap covered bowl for two people who will put up with thin fittings, not a kettle for anyone who needs to open the bottom vent once the coals are lit.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Two people who want a covered 43.5 cm kettle near £29 and accept thin fittings and a cold-only bottom vent.
Less suitable: Cooks who need to adjust the bottom vent while it is hot, or who will not replace broken tools and a loose ash tray.
Specifications
Common questions
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 kettle is cold.
Are the tools worth using?
The title includes utensils. Several UK reviews say the tongs break immediately and the ash tray falls off if the kettle is moved.
Does it include a cover?
Yes. The title and UK reviews both say a cover is in the box.
The PREMZO 43 cm kettle is listed at £28.80 on amazon.co.uk, with a cover, utensils, ash pan, wheels, and side handles in the bullets, and a printed size of 47.5 × 43.5 × 75 cm at 5 kg. The star line is 4.1 from 19 reviews. Five short UK reviews in the saved sample praise the price and assembly, and none of them describes a fault, so the sample is thin rather than damning. No lid thermometer is listed, only an adjustable air vent. The cooking-area field is blank, so you judge size from the 43 cm bowl, not from a square-centimetre claim. It is a covered entry kettle for a couple if those five texts are enough, not a family grate and not a substitute for a Weber compact with hundreds of reviews.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A couple on a ground-level patio who want a covered 43 cm kettle near £29 and will accept a thin UK review sample.
Less suitable: Anyone who needs a lid thermometer, a 57 cm grate, or a review sample larger than five short UK texts.
Specifications
Common questions
Does this kettle include a cover?
Yes. The bullets list a protective cover with the lid, utensils, ash pan, rack, wheels, and side handles.
What do the saved UK reviews complain about?
The file has five short UK reviews. They praise the price and assembly. None of them describes a fault. The listing count is 19, so this is not every review.
Is there a lid thermometer?
No thermometer is listed. There is an adjustable air vent and a lid.
The KEYO 23 inch kettle with a viewing window is captured at £127.99, with a borosilicate window, a lid thermometer, twin casters, and a folding side table. The printed width is 122.5 cm and the weight is 18.2 kg, so the footprint is the side-table span, not a compact bowl. The star line is 4.0 from 19 reviews. Four UK texts are saved: two say it had not been used yet, one is Amazon Vine, and one says assembly took about an hour and the grate held twelve skewers. Ash-system detail is blank in the comparison fields. It is a wide kettle with a window if four UK reviews and a 122.5 cm width are acceptable, not a small-patio pick.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A household with space for a 122.5 cm-wide kettle that wants a window and thermometer and accepts four UK reviews.
Less suitable: Small-patio cooks, or anyone who needs a deep UK review sample before buying.
Specifications
Common questions
Will it fit a small patio?
The printed width is 122.5 cm and the weight is 18.2 kg. That is the side-table footprint, not a 47 cm bowl.
Has it been cooked on in the UK reviews?
Four UK reviews are saved. Two say it had not been used yet. One is Amazon Vine. One says assembly took about an hour and the grate held 12 skewers.
Does it have a thermometer?
Yes. The bullets describe a built-in stainless steel thermometer in the lid, plus a borosilicate viewing window.
The KEYO 22.5 inch kettle lists a lid thermometer, a one-touch removable ash pan, a folding side table, and porcelain-enamelled steel at £114.38. The title says 348 square inches while the attribute says 348 square centimetres, so those units must not be treated as the same grate. amazon.co.uk shows 3.5 from only seven reviews, and two of them are UK: one calls it a Weber copy of questionable quality, and one Amazon Vine review praises the side table and ash pan. A German review mentions enamel chipping when screws were tightened, which is not a UK fault count. At 12.9 kg and 65.5 × 86.5 × 102.5 cm it is a mid-size kettle with extras, but the UK evidence is too thin to treat as a default buy.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Only a buyer who wants the thermometer and side table and accepts two UK reviews plus the area-unit clash.
Less suitable: Anyone who needs a larger UK review sample or a clean cooking-area figure without unit conflicts.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the cooking area 348 cm²?
The title says 348 square inches. The attribute says 348 square centimetres. Those are not the same unit. Do not treat 348 cm² as the grate.
What do UK reviewers say?
Two UK reviews are saved. One calls it a Weber copy of questionable quality. One is an Amazon Vine review that praises the side table and the one-touch pan.
Did enamel chip?
A German review, not a UK one, says enamel chipped when the screws were tightened. That is not a UK fault count.
Scores on the nine amazon.co.uk kettle barbecues in this set come from the listing star line, the review count, how well the listing fits a round charcoal kettle, and the saved review text. They are not a laboratory cook, and a star rating is not a BS EN 1860 result. None of these rows is scored as certified to BS EN 1860-1:2024. The top pick is the highest score. The best value is the other row with the highest score per pound among rows that still score at least 50. The weights below sum to 100.
Stars
40%Up to 40 points from the amazon.co.uk star line, as stars divided by five and multiplied by 40. A missing star line scores nothing. The stars are not a BS EN 1860 result.
Review volume
20%Up to 20 points from the review count on the UK listing. One to nine reviews score 4. Ten to 49 score 8. Fifty to 199 score 12. Two hundred to 999 score 16.
Listing fit
25%Up to 25 points for a round charcoal kettle with a stated bowl or grate size, a porcelain-enamel claim, usable bowl and lid vents, an ash pan or catcher, and wheels or a clear stand.
Sentiment
15%Up to 15 points from saved review text. No UK review text stays low. A recurring hardware fault on vents, the handle or the ash tray caps the point. A large UK set without a blocking fault scores higher.
Choose by diameter, a cooking area that matches it, enamel, vents you can move while the kettle is hot, and an ash pan that stays on. A large review count does not make a wide side-table kettle fit a small patio. Prices are the amazon.co.uk lines saved with this comparison. There is no laboratory cook.
A kettle barbecue is a round charcoal bowl with a domed lid and vents in the bowl and the lid. You use it outdoors for direct grilling and, on a large grate, for indirect roasting with the coals banked to one side. A ceramic kamado and a gas barbecue are different appliances. Start with diameter and a cooking area that matches it. Trust a bullet figure such as 1,548 cm² or 2,342 cm².
A bullet of 1,548 cm² or 2,342 cm² is the grate figure to use. An attribute that says 57 square centimetres on a 57 cm bowl copies the diameter. Square inches in a title are not square centimetres in an attribute.
A compact 57 cm bowl in this set has no lid thermometer and no One-Touch sweep in the bullets. The premium 57 cm lists both. The printed weight of 3.77 kg on the compact is not credible next to the 47 cm compact at 9 kg.
Do not use a kettle indoors, in a tent, under an awning, in a caravan, or on a balcony. Carbon monoxide is colourless. Cool the kettle outside before you move it, and do not cook before the coals are grey.
Match the bowl to the number of people you actually cook for. Trust a bullet area, not a unit clash. Porcelain enamel is a listing claim on the bowl and lid. A material attribute that says plastic, nylon or ceramic does not replace the bullets.
You need a bowl vent and a lid vent you can move while the kettle is hot. An ash pan that drops off, or a width of 122.5 cm with the side table, changes the patio. Never site the kettle on a balcony or indoors. The light-up steps are on the how-to page linked above.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You want a 57 cm charcoal grate and you can manage the cook without a built-in lid thermometer. The Weber Compact kettle 57 cm is about £99.99, with 4.5 from 378 reviews, and the bullet area is 2,342 cm². Skip it if you only feed two people, or if you need the thermometer and One-Touch sweep.
You want a Weber compact for a small household and you will cook without a lid thermometer. The Weber Compact kettle 47 cm is about £49.49, with 4.5 from 377 reviews, and the bullet area is 1,548 cm². Skip it if you need a 57 cm family grate.
You accept a short life on a covered 43 cm kettle and a thin UK review sample. The PREMZO 43 cm kettle is about £28.80, with 4.1 from 19 reviews. Five saved UK texts praise the price and name no fault. Read the handle and ash-tray notes on the other near-£30 bowls before you treat that silence as a long life.
In this set the top pick is the Weber Compact kettle 57 cm, model 1502061, at about £99.99. The bullets give 2,342 cm², porcelain-enamel wording, an ash catcher and wheels, with 4.5 from 378 amazon.co.uk reviews. There is no lid thermometer or One-Touch in the bullets, and the printed 3.77 kg is not a usable weight. The best value is the Weber Compact kettle 47 cm at about £49.49, with the same score, a bullet area of 1,548 cm², and 4.5 from 377 reviews. The Original Kettle Premium adds the thermometer and One-Touch at about £239, and one UK review reports a lid handle that came off. House of Home is a 45 cm enamel bowl at about £33.99 with a UK handle-break theme. HOMION is about £28.99 with a cold-only bottom vent in a UK review. PREMZO is about £28.80 with only five short UK texts and no fault written down. Char-Griller’s 4.6 from 119 is not a UK sample. The KEYO rows are a 23 inch window kettle at about £127.99 with four UK texts, and a 22.5 inch kettle at about £114.38 whose area units clash and whose star line is 3.5 from seven reviews.
Weber Compact kettle 47 cm
Best value in this set: about £49.49 with 4.5 from 377 reviews and a bullet area of 1,548 cm². Same score as the 57 cm compact, at about half the price. No lid thermometer in the bullets.
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 on smoke control, outdoor fire safety and carbon monoxide, plus the solid-fuel barbecue standard and Weber UK. Prices, stars and review counts are the amazon.co.uk lines captured for this comparison on 21 October 2026. No row is a laboratory cook.
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. We did not run a lab cook.
