Best budget BBQs for al fresco cooking without the hefty price tag

You get the best of both worlds with the Argos Home 2 Burner Gas And Charcoal BBQ - functionality and price. This unique hybrid comes in at £300 and allows you to cook with both gas and charcoal; meaning you get the speed and ease of gas and the flavour of charcoal in one convenient grill. The design of this BBQ is sleek and stylish, with a matte black steel exterior. Plus, it has added features that every BBQ enthusiast will love, such as thermostats on both hoods, a storage shelf, wheels for portability, hooks for utensils and tea towels, and even a spice rack. One thing to note is that only the regulator for propane gas is included, so if you prefer butane or have some leftovers from an old gas grill, you'll need to purchase a regulator separately.

Customer review: "This BBQ is perfect for us, we love the possibility of cooking two ways, the size and how it looks are great. Plus it is easy to assemble too. Just so happy to have it."

Neat and perfectly formed, this 25.5cm diameter grill teams a classic ceramic shell with fish-scale texture and standout detailing at a brilliant price. Adjustable top dampers, a stainless-steel grill and a sturdy crate make it perfect for smaller households.

Customer review: "Build is what you'd expect, solid and heavy. But, it's small enough that moving it is easy. Grill has the expected features and vents. Temp is in F and C. Nice little feature is the screen on the bottom vent opens all the way, making cleaning easier."

Do you only have a small garden or patio area? This Uten Portable Barbecue will allow you to BBQ on a budget like never before. Gone are the days of having to buy disposables. Sure, you won't be grilling with this one straight away, but if you can last a couple of extra minutes, you'll find this is a versatile piece of kit. It's easy to fold up, making it perfect for any outings with family and friends. Offering near-unbeatable value for a family-size charcoal BBQ, the Uten is rust-resistant, and it has a good amount of space to grill on. It'll earn its money back in repeated usage in no time.

Customer review: "This BBQ was bought last minute for this year's camping trip. Worked better than I was expecting, and the only downside I could really level at it would be that the cooking mesh 'stretched' a little in the heat from the coals. This wasn't a big issue, it just meant that sausages required positioning so that they didn't roll around at all."

A household name for grilling, the George Foreman Charcoal BBQ is no exception and is a great budget option. It offers great convenience with two wheels for portability and compact size for easy storage. It's simple to put together and should be able to serve a hungry group of five - perfect for larger cookouts. It has an integrated thermostat to help you maintain optimum cooking temperatures, and while you might not get all the features as with some of the more expensive models, it certainly gets the job done.

Customer review: "The drip cup (I think) is great for getting rid of ash without having to turn the BBQ over. Quality isn't that of a Weber but for the price, it's well worth it."

Up your BBQ game this summer with this highly affordable 2 Burner Gas BBQ with Side Burner from Argos. Designed with a compact and organised set-up featuring wheels and a convenient foldable side table, you can feed up to eight people with ease. It also comes with a handy storage shelf for keeping ingredients close by when cooking up a storm. It gets a big thumbs up from us, and if you were hoping for more burners, there's a four-burner option available from Argos too.

Customer Review: "Compact barbecue but perfect for our needs. Plenty of space on the grill for cooking several items. Easy to move around the garden as required. Easy to assemble and very good delivery.”

The Summit Alfresco Smokeless BBQ is a mini grill that uses minimal charcoal. It's ready to use in five minutes and can cook enough to feed six people. It delivers those unique BBQ flavours on a budget and has the benefit of being portable and convenient. The USB or battery-operated fan allows you to control the heat intensity. Also, the handy carry case means it's never a hassle to take with you on a day trip or even just down the road to your local park. Compared to a disposable BBQ, this is a much better choice for the environment as it produces low smoke emissions. It's also a good option for large groups as it stays cool to the touch, so reduces the chance of accidental burns.

Customer review: "This is the best and easiest BBQ I've ever used. I'm taking mine on holiday, as you can fit all the bits and cooking tools (not included with the BBQ) inside the BBQ and it has its own carry bag. As an added bonus, it's so so easy to clean. It also remains cool on the sides and underneath, so much so, that you can cook on a plastic table."

This is an accessory that provides smoky flavours; essential if you want authentic BBQ tastes and aromas but you're limited to a gas BBQ. The RoseFlower BBQ Smoker Box is made of thickened steel that's corrosion-resistant and can withstand high temperatures. The hinged lid on this box makes it easy to switch out your wood chips if needed. Dishwasher safe, as well as reliable, sturdy and heavy-duty. If it's not time for you to splash, put on a smoker grill, add this to your current gas or charcoal BBQ.

Customer Review: "Worked pretty well. Put on gas BBQ and it cooked spatchcock chicken superbly."