Summertime and the grillin’ is easy. Or at least, it’s easier when you’ve got a portable BBQ in your shed or cupboard.
A portable BBQ is the perfect option for those who dream of being a BBQ King or Queen, but whose gardenless home has left them out of the running - until now, anyway.
Small, compact and simple to transport, they’re as easy to store away as they are to throw into a car boot for next level picnics and feasting on camping and fishing trips. They usually have enough cooking space to whip up meals for two people, although there are plenty of versions to feed a crowd if you’re going away with friends and family.
In the world of portable BBQs, fuel choices are largely charcoal or gas although some clever machines facilitate both so you’ll always have an option. These are arguably the best: more choices means you won’t be left out in the cold if your camp site doesn’t sell one or the other.
Another thing to consider when shopping for a portable BBQ grill is its weight, especially if you’re preparing to lug your machine around on your lonesome. Generally speaking, smaller BBQs will be lighter to haul, but this means you’ll have to sacrifice cooking space, so they’re better for single-use situations or when you’re just cooking for one other person.
Best portable BBQs at a glance
- Best for versatility: Ninja Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill & Smoker OG701UK - £273.66, Amazon
- Best for all-rounder: George Foreman Portable Gas BBQ - £105.99, Amazon
- Best for cheffy flair: everdure by heston blumenthal CUBE Portable Charcoal BBQ - £199.95, Amazon
- Best for easy peasy BBQing: Campingaz Attitude 2Go CV BBQ - £151.05, Amazon
- Best for aesthetics: LotusGrill Standard stainless steel smokeless BBQ grill - £175, John Lewis
- Best for impromptu feasts: BERGHOFF Portable Table Top BBQ - £159.95, Amazon
- Best for moving around the garden: George Foreman Portable Kettle Charcoal BBQ - £104, Currys
- Best for travelling mess-free: George Foreman Go Anywhere Briefcase Charcoal BBQ, Red - £44.99, Currys
- Best for grilling on the go: Weber Go Anywhere Portable Charcoal BBQ - £87.95, Amazon
- Best for beachside cooking: Weber Smokey Joe Premium, Black - £80, Amazon
Whether you’re headed for the park or further afield, we’ve rounded up the best travel BBQs to shop now.
See the list below
Ninja Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill & Smoker OG701UK
Best for: versatility
- Cooking space: 28 x 37cm
- Fuel type: mains
- Weight: 12kg
Ninja’s Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill & Smoker combines the high-crunch, low-fat charms of air frying with another cooking method favourite - barbecuing.
Using real wood pellets in an integrated smoke box, the machine can flavour all sorts of meats and veggies through the smoker, alongside six other cooking functions - including air fry. It’s made to be used outdoors but the 1.6m power cord means you’ll need to stick pretty close to mains power unless you’ve got a generator for camping trips.
Still, for big entertainers and throwers of garden parties, it's a gizmo that can do all your cooking for you. No more to-ing and fro-ing to the kitchen and hauling trays out of the oven: the Woodfire can sizzle sausages, crisp up chicken wings and make pork ribs and extra tenders all in one machine, and make the potato wedges and smoked corn too.
Most persuasive review?: “This grill is SO much less faff than a BBQ, it’s so much easier and quicker to clean which is a big deal to me as I hate the clean up after a BBQ. It’s quicker to heat, safer to use, has more control (no more food charred on the outside and raw on the inside) and more cooking options than any other outdoor cooking option I know of.”
Buy now £273.66, Amazon
George Foreman Portable Gas BBQ, 1 Burner
Best for: all-rounder
- Fuel type: gas and charcoal
- Weight: 9.6kg
- Dimensions: 19.7D x 27.6W x 13.4Hcm
Feed a ravenous crowd with George Foreman’s Portable Gas BBQ which uses dual fuel to give you more options when it comes to cooking outdoors - gas or charcoal.
Crafted from alloy steel with two carry handles to set it into position, it’s lifted off the ground to prevent scorching grass or picnic table tops while also aiding air and heat circulation. Meanwhile, an integrated temperature gauge helps maintain the optimum cooking temperature, so your feast will be ready even faster.
It’s especially good for camping, caravan or boat trips, compact enough to keep in the car boot while leaving plenty of space for all your other outdoor essentials.
Buy now £105.99, Amazon
everdure by heston blumenthal CUBE Portable Charcoal BBQ
Best for: cheffy flair
- Cooking space: 115 sq inches
- Fuel type: charcoal
- Weight: 7kg
Elevate impromptu cookouts to luxe chef standards thanks to this portable little grill made in collaboration with food wizard Heston Blumenthal.
The CUBE may be small (at table-top size) but it sure is mighty, allowing you to cook, clean and store with the firebox easily. It uses charcoal to cook your grub, leaving that delicious chargrilled flavour on whatever’s on the menu.
A great little investment for yourself, or a gift for the BBQ lover in your life.
Buy now £199.95, Amazon
Campingaz Attitude 2Go CV BBQ
Best for: easy peasy BBQing
- Cooking space: 1200 cm²
- Fuel type: gas burner
- Weight: 13kg
Feel like the coolest camper in town with Campingaz’s gas barbecue under your arm.
This lean grilling machine is compatible with a CV470 gas cartridge, and comes loaded with features: think illuminated controls, an external thermometer and a front-loading grease tray for easy cleaning.
The ultra-solid base of a die-cast aluminium exterior and a tough enamelled cast iron grill all give it a high-quality feel. Get ready for effortless BBQing.
Buy now £151.05, Amazon
LotusGrill Standard stainless steel smokeless BBQ grill
Best for: aesthetics
- Cooking space: 23cm diameter
- Fuel type: charcoal
- Weight: 3.7kg
A BBQ grill that looks as good as the grub it will ultimately cook, the LotusGrill is a great option for those who want to cook quickly, healthily, and with as little mess as possible.
It’s ready to go in just three minutes thanks to the fan-assist feature which funnels air into the charcoal more efficiently. There’s no need to worry about intense heat, the fan speed dial effectively doubles up as heat control, allowing you to grill juicy cheeseburgers and marinated chicken wings at the optimum temperature easily. It can cook enough food for five.
Best of all, the base stays cool throughout, so the LotusGrill is safe to use on table tops and lawns without scorching the grass underneath. Dishwasher safe, requires 4 x AA batteries.
Buy now £175.00, John Lewis
BERGHOFF Portable Table Top BBQ
Best for: impromptu feasts
- Cooking space: 35cm diameter
- Fuel type: charcoal
- Weight: 8kg
Take this fashionable little BBQ with you anywhere; its compact shape and handles means it’s pleasingly portable.
It runs on charcoal so no need to lug extra batteries or gas anywhere, and the cork lid doubles up as a heatproof mat, so there’s no chance of scorching the surface underneath, whether you set it on grass, decking or a table top. Hand washing the grill once you’re finished is recommended.
Buy now £159.95, Amazon
George Foreman Portable Kettle Charcoal BBQ - Black
Best for: moving around the garden
- Fuel type: charcoal
- Weight: 7kg
- Dimensions: 29 x 40.5 x 26cm (H x W x D)
A classic kettle-style BBQ with an extra tray to keep fuel and wheels to move it around from one sunny spot to another, this is George Foreman’s portable charcoal BBQ. Rumbling tummies will soon be satisfied with 45cm of grilling space to cook on, which is enough to sear five portions.
It’s moderately heavy at 7kg empty but easy enough to navigate from the shed to the patio or elsewhere in the garden thanks to the two robust wheels fitted onto the bottom. It can also be dismantled for camping trips, making being outdoors a much tastier experience.
Buy now £104.00, Currys
George Foreman Go Anywhere Briefcase Charcoal BBQ, Red
Best for: travelling mess-free
- Fuel type: charcoal
- Weight: 3.7kg
- Dimensions: 33 x 20.5cm
For those without gardens or who like to grill on the go comes this briefcase-style enamel and steel design from George Foreman.
Wonderfully portable, the 33 x 20.5cm BQ unlocks to create a chamber for charcoal, with a grill sitting on top to cook things like burgers, chicken wings, sausages and corn. You can make enough for two to three hungry people and once you’re done, allow it to cool down before locking securely for the journey home.
The charcoal is kept lifted off the ground by carry handles that transform into a stand, so no need to worry about scorching the ground underneath either.
Buy now £44.99, Currys
Weber Go Anywhere Portable Charcoal BBQ
Best for: grilling on the go
- Cooking space: 42 x 26cm
- Fuel type: charcoal
- Weight: 10kg
This portable party starter from the BBQ boffins at Weber sure has some compelling selling points, not least its price tag.
Other welcome touches on this supremely capable budget portable charcoal BBQ include the solid, triple-plated cooking grate; tough porcelain-enamelled lid, complete with heat-proof handle; and the rust-proof aluminium lid vents promoting lid-down air flow. The fold-out legs, meanwhile, serve to both raise the BBQ to avoid scorching surfaces and to lock the lid in place when not in use.
All told, it’s a solid, durable option with a space-saving design that’ll pack away nicely. You could even lash it to the back rack of a bike with some strategically applied bungee cords, drawing envious looks down the park from those nursing shonky supermarket disposables (which are fast becoming banned, anyway).
Buy now £87.95, Amazon
Weber Smokey Joe Premium, Black
Best for: beachside cooking
- Cooking space: 37cm diameter
- Fuel type: charcoal
- Weight: 4.5kg
Grill specialist Weber has some of the best BBQs on the market - with top-end price tags to match. However, there are more palatable options for those on tighter budgets, like this smart black charcoal design.
Perfect for small gardens as well as taking on camping and beach trips, the Smokey Joe features a tuck-n-carry locking carry handle plus rust-free dampers. The steel cooking grate measures 37cm across, offering plenty of space for burgers, bangers and chargrilled veggies.
Also available in green, blue, grey and cream as well as black.
Buy now £80.00, Amazon
ProQ Flatdog
Best for: ultra-compact storage
- Cooking space: 30 x 38cm
- Fuel type: charcoal
- Weight: 4.65kg
As more supermarkets move to ban the sale of disposable BBQs, ProQ has launched the perfect compact grill for summer 2024. Its portable design, Flatdog, is built to last and the ideal accessory for all sorts of outdoor adventures thanks to its flatpack mechanism.
It springs from laptop-like flat (25mm when properly folded) to ready-for-action like a magic trick in seconds, and boasts a 30 x 38cm cooking surface that will allow you to cook for up to a dozen people in one go.
Buy now £69.99, Amazon
Campingaz Party Grill 400 CV gas stove
Best for: crowd cooking
- Cooking space: 36 x 42cm
- Fuel type: gas
- Weight: 4.9kg
If you’re worried about accidental fires, you’ll love the peace of mind that the Campingaz Party Grill 400 CV gas stove offers. It can be used as a griddle, barbecue or a wok, and comes complete with its own carry bag to make getting from A to B less than a mess.
Two features stand out: the super-smooth matchless ignition, and the water compartment, which doesn’t just make cleaning easier by stopping grease and cooking juices from sticking but cuts the fire risk, too. It’s incredibly compact, and so easy to assemble: the three legs simply twist in, although you’ll need a screwdriver to attach the two handles on either side of the lid, which doubles as a wok so be sure to pack it with your utensils.
The universal nozzle means you can use either CV300 Plus or CV470 Plus gas canisters.
Buy now £96.06, Amazon
Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0
Campfires are great but the smoke that comes with it? Not so much. Get hi-tech with your flames with Solo Stove's Bonfire 2.0 gadget. The firepit, which comes in pretty metallic hues, offers a high level of heat without smoke thanks to Signature 360° Airflow technology, which super-heats air to burn off smoke before it finds its way into your hair and clothes.
The portable device sits on a stand to protect the ground underneath and can be used at home and away on camping pitches, allowing you to bask in its warm glow wherever you go.
Buy now £264.99, Solo Stove
