Paula and Carl's Garden

MyGardenTeam member with GardenAdvice.co.uk

Building a Brick Barbecue in Your Garden

by · Published · Updated

Building a permanent brick barbecue in your garden can be a rewarding project that provides a stable, heat‑efficient cooking space. While not easily moved once built, a well‑constructed brick barbecue offers consistent heat and a great outdoor cooking experience.

Advantages of a Brick Barbecue

  • Retains and Radiates Heat: Engineering bricks or concrete blocks hold heat like a storage heater, giving off steady, even warmth—ideal for longer cooking times (e.g. baked potatoes in foil).
  • Solid and Durable: Once built, it provides a robust, weather‑resistant structure.
  • Customisable Design: You can tailor the design to your space and cooking needs, including grill height and storage features.

Disadvantages

  • Static Placement: Once built, it cannot be easily moved without dismantling.
  • Initial Planning Required: Choosing the wrong location can lead to issues with smoke direction and usability.

Planning Your Barbecue

  1. Choose a Suitable Location
  • Use a temporary barbecue first to assess:
    • Wind direction and airflow
    • Smoke dispersal
    • Accessibility from your kitchen or seating areas
  • Avoid wind tunnels or areas where smoke might blow back toward your house or seating.
  1. Select Your Grill and Components
  • Choose or custom‑make your grill racks before building.
  • Look for metal clips or supports that can be embedded in the brickwork at multiple levels, allowing you to adjust grill height based on heat intensity.
  • Decide on a charcoal tray or fire base – this will sit at the bottom and hold your burning material.

Construction Process

  1. Foundation
  • Mark out the base area and create shuttering for a concrete slab.
  • Pour and level the concrete to form a solid, level foundation.
  • Let the concrete cure thoroughly before building on it.
  1. Dry Stack to Plan
  • Use bricks or blocks to dry‑stack the barbecue first (without mortar).
  • Adjust layout and dimensions based on grill size and preferred working height.
  • This step helps you visualise the final shape and placement of key elements like grill supports.
  1. Lay Bricks with Mortar
  • Start laying bricks or engineering blocks using mortar.
  • Build up courses, embedding the grill support clips at your chosen heights.
  • Check regularly for level and alignment.
  1. Finishing Touches
  • Cladding (optional): If using concrete blocks, you can clad the exterior with natural stone or tiles for a decorative finish.
  • Engineering bricks often have a clean, attractive look and may not need additional cladding.

Additional Considerations

Paving or Ground Surface

  • Create a paved or gravelled area around the barbecue for safe footing and ease of cleaning.
  • Ensure space for standing and turning while cooking.

Work Surface or Prep Area

  • Consider building a simple side table using blocks or bricks with a flat surface for:
  • Prep work
  • Holding utensils and trays
  • Storing cooked and uncooked food

Final Tip

Once built, let the mortar cure fully before using the barbecue to prevent damage from heat.