Cheapest place to buy a BBQ in the UK
The best time to buy a barbecue is when nobody wants one.
The season is the price
Barbecues are bought in a narrow window and stored for the rest of the year, which produces the sharpest seasonal pricing in general retail. Stock arrives in spring at full price, holds through a British summer that may or may not arrive, and is cleared aggressively from late August.
A barbecue bought in September is routinely a different price from the same one bought in May, and the model will still be current the following spring.
Gas, charcoal and pellet are different purchases
They differ in running cost, in what they can cook, and in how much attention they need. Gas has an ongoing bottle cost that never appears in any price comparison; charcoal has a per-use cost that adds up faster than people expect.
What actually drives the price
- Fuel type, which decides both the purchase price and the ongoing cost.
- Burner count and grill area. Match these to how many people you actually cook for.
- Build material. Cast iron and stainless grates last; thin steel does not survive a British winter outdoors.
- Bundled covers and tool sets, which carry high margin and are usually cheaper bought separately.
Before you buy
- Decide the fuel type, and cost the fuel for a season.
- Match the grill area to the number of people, not to the display model.
- Check the grate material — it decides how long the thing lasts outdoors.
- Price bundled accessories separately.
- Buy at the end of the season if you possibly can.