Why a Cheap Charcoal BBQ Still Delivers on Flavour
Charcoal barbecues remain the go-to choice for outdoor cooks who want smoky flavour without splashing out on high-end gas or electric grills. A budget barbecue under £100 can still offer excellent value, particularly if you prioritise essentials like a decent cooking area, controlled airflow and practical design rather than gimmicks. Traditional coal setups give you that hands-on fire-making experience, while modern entry-level grills add features such as vents, lids and removable ash catchers to make cooking and cleaning easier. Even simple barrel and kettle-style units can handle burgers, chicken, sausages and veggie skewers confidently when well-ventilated and properly heated. For occasional summer entertaining or family dinners, an affordable charcoal grill is often all you need – especially if you choose a model that balances build quality with straightforward functionality, rather than chasing fancy extras you may rarely use.
Argos Home Charcoal Oil Drum: Best Budget Barrel BBQ
The Argos Home charcoal oil drum barbecue is a standout cheap charcoal BBQ for those watching their spend. Priced under £50, it offers surprisingly generous cooking space, enough for two people comfortably or elements of a meal for four. Its barrel design promotes efficient heat distribution, with vents in the bottom basin feeding the coals so they stay hot and burn evenly. This helps eliminate cool spots that are common in some kettle grills and makes it easier to achieve consistent results. On the downside, there is no built-in tool storage and some parts feel lower in quality, reflecting the bargain price. Still, its light weight and easy-to-use layout make it a smart pick if you want a budget barbecue under £100 that focuses on reliable performance rather than frills, especially for casual summer gatherings.
VonHaus Barrel Charcoal Barbecue: Best Basic All-Rounder
If you want an affordable charcoal grill with more capacity, the VonHaus Barrel charcoal barbecue is a strong contender. With a substantial 73cm x 39cm cooking surface, it’s well suited to feeding a crowd, whether that means burgers, sausages or whole spatchcock chickens. Testers found potato wedges developed defined charring and cooked evenly under the fold-down lid, while vegetables like courgettes released easily without sticking. A whole spatchcock chicken cooked through in under half an hour, demonstrating impressive heat retention and distribution for a best budget BBQ. Build quality is solid for the price bracket, and the barbecue sits at a good working height, making extended grilling sessions more comfortable. Cleaning is a little fiddly, which is common with barrel designs, and there are no included tools, but these are minor compromises for a budget barbecue under £100 that delivers dependable, family-sized grilling power.
Lifestyle 22" Kettle and Bar-Be-Quick Tandoori: Bigger Grills, More Versatility
For those who want a larger cheap charcoal BBQ with extra control, the Lifestyle 22" kettle charcoal barbecue provides a sizeable cooking area plus an adjustable twin air-vent system. Two cooking grills give you flexibility to cook close to the coals for high heat or use the upper level for gentler, slower cooking. A removable ash catcher adds convenience, though the handles feel a little cheap and the diagram-only instructions can be ambiguous. If versatility is your priority, the Bar-Be-Quick Tandoori Smoker and Grill is another compelling affordable charcoal grill. It combines a standard BBQ grill with a ‘tandoori’ attachment, smoker and fire-pit functions, and even includes skewers. You trade some build quality and the tandoori capability has limitations, but for an all-in-one, portable budget barbecue under £100, it offers a lot of cooking options for experimental outdoor chefs.
How to Choose the Best Budget BBQ for Your Space and Lifestyle
Picking the best budget BBQ starts with being realistic about how you cook and how often you’ll grill. First, consider capacity: small portable models are ideal for couples, small families or anyone happy to cook in batches, while larger barrel and kettle grills suit frequent hosts. Next, think about storage space for both the barbecue and bags of charcoal; neat footprints and wheels make it easier to tuck grills away between uses. Ventilation is critical – coals need airflow from underneath to burn efficiently, so avoid designs where coals sit on flat, poorly ventilated surfaces. Prioritise practicality over looks by choosing grills that offer clear temperature control, comfortable working height and manageable cleaning. If you only fire up the barbecue once or twice a year, an affordable charcoal grill with a modest footprint is often a better investment than a bulky, high-end unit you rarely use.