The Best Outdoor Kitchen Layouts
- 4 days ago
- 5 min read
Whether you call it a barbecue or a cookout, firing up the grill outside is one of life’s great pleasures, and the right outdoor kitchen layout makes all the difference
From beautiful British gardens to sprawling American backyards, outdoor kitchens have evolved from a simple grill and a table into fully considered cooking and entertaining spaces. The key is getting the layout right from the start.
This guide explains the most popular outdoor kitchen layouts for BBQs, what each one suits best, and why the materials and craftsmanship behind your kitchen matter just as much as the design.
The four essential layouts
Not every garden or patio calls for the same configuration. Space, cooking style, and how you like to entertain all influence which layout will serve you best.
Linear / straight run
Everything in a single row along one wall or fence. Simple, efficient, and great for smaller spaces. Your BBQ anchors one end with prep and storage alongside. From 1.8m/6 ft
L-Shape
The most popular layout worldwide. Two connected runs create a natural divide between cooking and prep, while the corner opens up toward your guests. From 3×3m / 10×10 ft
Galley
Two parallel runs facing each other. Ideal for serious cooks or two chefs working together. Brilliant for long narrow terraces. From 3.6–5.5m / 12–18 ft
Island with stools
Perfect for the keen chef who likes to cook and entertain their guests at the same time. Social and dramatic, it's perfect for big gardens and backyards, on a large terrace or under a pergola. From 4.5×4.5m / 15×15 ft
Whichever layout you choose, position your BBQ grill upwind of your seating area and leave at least 1m (3 ft) of clear space around all sides of the cooking zone for safe, comfortable movement.
The work triangle, outdoors
The classic kitchen design principle applies just as much outside: your grill (heat), prep surface, and serving area should form a triangle that minimises unnecessary movement. In practice, this means:
Hot zone
Your BBQ grill, whether gas, asado or kamado. Position this away from seating to keep smoke clear and guests comfortable.
Prep zone
Worktop for chopping, marinating, and plating. Ideally adjacent to the grill so you can move food without crossing the space.
Social / serve zone
A bar counter or side table facing your guests. The L-shape and island layouts do this best, letting the cook stay part of the conversation.
Wash zone
A sink and drainage, ideally near the prep area. Not essential, but it eliminates the dash back to the indoor kitchen entirely.
Cooling zone
A fridge or ice chest. Again, not essential, but very useful if you have the room for it.
Choosing your BBQ: gas, charcoal, or kamado?
The layout you choose should work around the BBQ at its heart. Each type has different space, clearance, and infrastructure requirements.
Gas grills (like those by Beefeater or Wolf) are the dominant choice in the US and increasingly popular in the UK. They offer instant heat, precise temperature control, and easy cleanup. A built-in gas grill with a fixed supply line is the most seamless option for a permanent outdoor kitchen, although our garden kitchen cabinets are designed to accommodate gas bottles.
Kamado grills (ceramic egg-shaped cookers like the Big Green Egg) have become the choice for serious outdoor cooks worldwide. They reach extraordinary temperatures for searing, hold low heat for hours for slow-cooking, and can double as a smoker or even a pizza oven. Huckleberry builds their kitchens around the Big Green Egg’s dimensions as a first-class option.
Asado grills are the traditionalist’s choice on both sides of the Atlantic. In the UK, where 'barbecue' is more likely to mean charcoal, they deliver the smoky flavour and barbecue smell that reminds you of summer. They need more space around them and slightly more clearance around them, but the results justify the effort.
In the UK, 'BBQ' typically refers to the event and the charcoal grill. In the US, a 'BBQ' often means slow-smoked low-and-slow cooking.
Materials that last outdoors
Whatever your layout, the surfaces and structure need to handle whatever the weather throws at them. In the UK, that means frost, rain, and damp. In many US states, it means blazing sun, humidity, or hard winters.
Worktops should be rated for outdoor use: Dekton (ultra-compact porcelain) is a very strong porcelain, which can be used outdoors as it is not affected by sunlight or frost and its colour remains true. It is also very resilient to high temperatures unlike other manmade worktops like quartz which can fade or crack in sunlight and heat when used outdoors.
For cabinetry, solid natural materials like oak (as Huckleberry uses) develop character over time. Oak with a natural finish (meaning not oiled or painted), is a very hardy material and is used for many outdoor applications. It is recommend that it should be cleaned with a pH neutral product, and a gentle scrub with a nylon brush works well. Then rinse it down and let it dry before covering for the winter.
Flooring beneath the kitchen matters too: natural stone, porcelain tiles, or composite decking all hold up well and don’t create a fire risk beneath the grill.
Huckleberry: beautifully hand-crafted outdoor kitchens
We make solid oak outdoor kitchens and furniture by hand in the South West of England, using traditional joinery techniques that honour the integrity of natural materials. Every piece is made-to-order and crafted by skilled makers: it is built to last and designed to be loved.
Our philosophy is one of slow, intentional design. We create kitchens that stand the test of time, age gracefully, and become more characterful with every season. Natural oak develops a soft grey patina as its tannins settle, giving each cabinet a lived-in, bespoke quality that complements the natural beauty of a garden.
Our kitchens are available in both Classic and Contemporary ranges, with configurations to suit gardens of all sizes. We work with trusted BBQ and appliance brands, including Beefeater and Wolf gas grills, Big Green Egg kamado BBQs, Gozney pizza ovens, and Blastcool fridges. Our worktops are typically Dekton, a high-performance porcelain that handles UV rays, frost, and heat without fading or cracking.
If you’re visiting from the US, our aesthetic sits closest to what the luxury outdoor kitchen market calls 'bespoke artisan' — the antithesis of the stainless steel box. Our kitchens start from £20,995 ($29,000 (plus delivery).
“The outdoor kitchen is no longer an afterthought, it’s the heart of the garden. Get the layout right, choose materials that age beautifully, and your BBQ space will reward you for decades.”
Delivery, Installation and International Shipping
We offer delivery and installation to mainland UK, with the cost included in your project estimate. We regularly work with international clients, both trade and private, and routinely ship to the USA, EU and beyond. The design process is the same wherever you are: we communicate by email and video call, share detailed drawings for approval, and organise safe shipping through our shipping agent.
Ready to start your project?
Book a design consultation or get in touch to discuss your garden kitchen. Lead time is typically around 6 weeks from drawings sign-off.
team@homeofhuckleberry.com · +44 (0)1458 570110
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