Best Smokers for Beginners (UK)

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Smoking is about cooking at low temperatures (usually around 110–135°C) for hours, with wood smoke for flavour. Think pulled pork, brisket, ribs and smoked chicken. You don't need a huge, expensive smoker to start. This guide explains the main options for UK beginners, based on how each type works, typical UK prices and owner feedback.

Option 1: Your kettle BBQ (cheapest)

If you own a charcoal kettle like my Weber Master-Touch, you can smoke on it today. Bank the coals on one side (or use charcoal baskets), put the food on the other side, add a couple of wood chunks to the coals, and use the vents to keep the temperature low.

• Pros: costs nothing extra, and teaches you fire and vent control.
• Cons: needs more tending to hold low temperatures; limited space.

Accessories like the “snake method” (a ring of briquettes that burns slowly around the edge) or a dedicated smoking insert make it easier. Light the coals with a chimney starter rather than lighter fluid, which can taint the flavour.

Option 2: Water (bullet) smoker

A tall, cylindrical smoker with charcoal at the bottom, a water pan in the middle and one or two cooking grates above. The water pan stabilises the temperature and keeps the meat moist.

• Pros: very stable temperatures, small footprint, runs for hours on a load of charcoal. Widely recommended as a first “proper” smoker.
• Cons: not great for regular grilling; refilling the charcoal mid-cook can be fiddly.
• Typical price: roughly £400–£600 for well-regarded models, less for budget versions.

Option 3: Offset smoker

The classic American-style smoker: a firebox on one side, with heat and smoke drawn across a long cooking chamber to a chimney on the other.

• Pros: large cooking space, real wood-fired flavour and plenty of theatre.
• Cons: needs regular fuel and fire management every 30–60 minutes. Budget offsets made from thin steel leak heat and swing in temperature, which can be frustrating for beginners.
• Typical price: budget models roughly £150–£300; heavy-gauge steel offsets often £800+.

Option 4: Kamado

A ceramic kamado with a heat deflector makes a superb smoker. The thick walls hold steady low temperatures for hours on very little charcoal. It's a big investment, but it also grills, roasts and bakes. Read are kamado grills worth it? for the full picture.

Option 5: Pellet grill (easiest)

A pellet grill feeds wood pellets into a fire pot automatically and uses a fan and controller to hold your chosen temperature. It's the closest thing to “set and forget” smoking.

• Pros: very easy, consistent results, often app-controlled.
• Cons: needs a power supply, has electronics to look after, and the smoke flavour is milder than charcoal and wood.
• Typical price: roughly £400–£1,500+.

More detail in pellet grills explained.

Which smoker suits you?

Prices are rough guides and vary by model and retailer.

Beginner tips for your first smoke

• Start with a forgiving cut. Pork shoulder or chicken thighs are hard to ruin. Save brisket for later.
• Get a good probe thermometer. Cook to internal temperature, not time. A dual-probe model monitors both the meat and the cooker.
• Don't over-smoke. A few wood chunks are plenty. Thick, white, billowing smoke tastes bitter. You want thin, blue-ish smoke.
• Keep the lid shut. Every peek lets heat out and adds time.
• Allow plenty of time. A pork shoulder can take 8–12 hours. Start early, and keep the food warm if it finishes ahead of schedule.
• Be a good neighbour. Long smokes create a lot of smoke. Give the neighbours a heads-up, and maybe a sample.

Frequently asked questions

Dan, founder of Blaze & Graze

Home cook, keen DIYer and long-time website builder, writing practical outdoor cooking guides for UK gardens. More about me.