Best portable BBQ for cooking away from home

In comes our round-up, determined to find you the best portable BBQ - to save the day. Your beloved BBQ or outdoor grill is a staple when it comes to rustling up food at home during the warm months of the year. But what happens if you want your grilling fix when you're away from home? Well, portable BBQs are lightweight and easy to use, clean and store so you can enjoy the mouth-watering flavours of barbecued food, even when you're not in your garden.

If you're someone who enjoys a UK break, whether that's camping or touring in a caravan or motor home, a portable BBQ is perfect for taking with you. They won't be as big as the BBQ you've got sitting in your garden, but they're the ideal size for cooking up some burgers and sausages for you and a couple of friends. Just because they're smaller in size than a regular BBQ doesn't mean they compromise on power and features. Portable BBQs are just as capable of delivering tasty results, and some even have built-in smokers to add an extra level of flavour to your BBQ food.

A portable barbecue is designed to be easy to transport as well, with things such as robust handles and carry bags included, so you can take it from A to B with no trouble at all. The small size and light weight aren't just handy for travelling; a portable BBQ may be a great option for you if you haven't got the room in your garden to permanently have a larger one out. You can get it out when you want to use it and tidy it away again afterwards.

Best portable BBQ at a glance

• Best anti-rust portable BBQ: Weber Smokey Joe Premium Charcoal Grill Barbeque – Buy now on Amazon
• Best easy-to-clean portable BBQ: John Lewis Portable Charcoal BBQ – Buy now on John Lewis
• Best portable gas BBQ: Weber Go-Anywhere Gas Barbeque Grill – Buy now on Amazon
• Best budget portable BBQ: Gardenline Portable BBQ & Cover – Buy now on eBay

Whether you're looking for a charcoal BBQ, a gas BBQ or even a smoker grill, we've covered all bases in our guide to the best portable BBQs that will elevate your outdoor cooking game.

Best portable BBQs for use outside of the home

What type of portable BBQ do I need?

In our selection of the best portable barbecues, you can find the following, each with their own perks:

Charcoal BBQ: A charcoal grill is great for delivering a traditional BBQ experience with smokey flavours. It's affordable, and all you need is some charcoal to get going. However, you'll find it takes longer to reach the correct temperature for cooking, and the use of coal can make for more mess to clean up.

Gas BBQ: A gas grill is perfect for convenience as the heat can be controlled - meaning you can cook quicker and more evenly. It's easy to clean and easy to ignite. However, they are initially more experience, and you'll need to factor in the cost of fuel.

Hybrid BBQ: Want the best of both worlds? Hybrid BBQs give you the option to cook using gas or charcoal so you can adapt your cooking method to suit what you're cooking and where. Not surprisingly, they are more expensive but ultimately save on space if you'd like to have both a gas and charcoal grill.

Where can I use a portable BBQ?

You may be tempted to light up your portable BBQ wherever you go, but there are some rules and laws about barbecuing in public places you should know. Many UK councils have restrictions in place for using a BBQ in parks and beaches, so before you have a BBQ, you should check the council website of the area you're visiting to make sure it's not prohibited.

If you're using a portable BBQ when camping or caravanning, the Government advises that you use a barbecue at least six feet away from a tent or caravan.

Portable BBQ safety tips

When barbecuing in a public place, you may have to use it in a designated area. These are usually well away from sheds, fences, trees, shrubs or other garden waste to reduce the risk of a fire.

When it comes to disposing of ashes, you should do this on bare garden soil, not in dustbins or wheelie bins. If they're hot, they can melt the plastic and cause a fire.

What to read next:

Best Kamado grills to take BBQs to the next level

Best BBQ cleaners for an effective clean-up

Essential BBQ tools you need to become a grill master

Rosie Floyd is a Pets, Homes and Garden Product Writer for Modern Gardens, specialising in outdoor living. Before joining the team at Bauer, Rosie spent almost three years writing content for a garden buildings company so knows her stuff about garden sheds, rooms and offices and how to make the most of your outdoor space.