Reader-supported: this guide may contain affiliate links. If you buy through them I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How this works.
The quick answer
- Over a BBQ: choose a hardtop structure designed for grilling, with a vented roof and good height. Never cook under fabric.
- Pergola: open or louvred roof, great for shade and looks. Louvred or solid-roof versions also keep the rain off.
- Hardtop gazebo: a solid roof on four posts. The best all-round rain cover for a dining and cooking area.
- Grill gazebo: a compact hardtop shelter made to stand over a BBQ, often with side shelves.
- Awning: fixed to the house, good over seating. Keep the BBQ out from under it.
When people plan an outdoor kitchen, the shelter is often the last thing they think about, but it decides how often you actually use it. This guide compares the main options for a UK garden, with a focus on what's safe to use over or near a BBQ, pizza oven or smoker. Always follow the manufacturer's guidance for both the shelter and your cooker.
Side-by-side comparison
| Pergola | Hardtop gazebo | Grill gazebo | Awning | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rain cover | None to full (depends on roof) | Full | Over the grill only | Good over seating |
| Over a BBQ? | Open or louvred roofs, with care | Some models, check the manual | Yes, that's what it's for | No |
| Footprint | Medium to large | Medium to large | Small | None (wall-mounted) |
| Typical cost | Low (timber kit) to high (louvred aluminium) | Mid to high | Low to mid | Low to high (manual or electric) |
| Permanence | Permanent | Permanent | Semi-permanent | Fixed to house, retractable |
Shelter and BBQ safety
- Choose a shelter that the manufacturer says is suitable for use over a grill.
- Look for a vented roof (often a raised second tier) so heat and smoke can escape.
- Allow plenty of height above the cooking surface, and follow both manufacturers' clearance guidance.
- Keep the sides open. Don't add walls or curtains around a lit BBQ.
- Keep a pizza oven's flue or chimney well clear of the roof.
Pergolas
A pergola is a framework of posts and beams, traditionally with an open or slatted roof. Modern versions come with adjustable louvres or solid roof panels that keep the rain off.
- Open or slatted: beautiful and good for climbing plants, but little rain protection. Keep plants well away from the grill.
- Louvred aluminium: open the slats for sun and smoke, close them for rain. A premium option.
- Solid or polycarbonate roof: full rain cover, but treat it like a hardtop gazebo when it comes to BBQ clearance and ventilation.
Hardtop gazebos
A hardtop gazebo has a solid metal or polycarbonate roof on four posts. It's the most practical way to keep rain off a dining and cooking area, and many have a vented double roof. Some are designed with grilling in mind; others are meant for seating only, so check the manual before you put a BBQ underneath.
Grill gazebos
A grill gazebo is a compact, narrow hardtop shelter designed to stand over a BBQ, usually with side shelves and hooks. It keeps the cook and the grill dry in a small footprint, and suits small gardens. Our best BBQ gazebos guide covers them in more detail.
SUNJOY cedar grill gazebo with bar shelves
A timber-framed grill gazebo with a steel hardtop, side bar shelves and hooks, about 2.73m × 2.13m. Check the dimensions and the clearance guidance against your BBQ.
Awnings
An awning fixes to the wall of your house and pulls out over a patio. It's a neat way to shade a seating or dining area without posts, and electric versions retract at the touch of a button. Most awnings are fabric, so keep the BBQ out in the open, away from the awning, and use the awning for the eating area.
Browse patio awnings on Amazon
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Do you need planning permission?
In England, most garden pergolas and gazebos fall under permitted development, so you don't need planning permission, as long as they meet the size and position rules. In general:
- They shouldn't be in front of the house's principal elevation (usually the front).
- Within 2m of a boundary, the overall height usually needs to stay at 2.5m or under.
- Outbuildings and structures together shouldn't cover more than half the garden.
- Listed buildings, conservation areas and flats have stricter rules.
Rules differ in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. If in doubt, check the Planning Portal or ask your local council. A wall-mounted awning on a house rarely needs permission, but check if you're in a conservation area.
Which should you choose?
- Small garden, cook-only shelter: a grill gazebo.
- Cooking and dining under one roof: a large hardtop gazebo that's rated for grilling, or a solid-roof pergola with the cooker positioned carefully.
- Mainly shade and looks: an open or louvred pergola.
- Shade for a patio next to the house: an awning over the seating, with the BBQ out in the open.
For costs, see outdoor kitchen costs in the UK.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put a BBQ under a gazebo?
Only under a hardtop gazebo that the manufacturer says is suitable for grilling, with good height and ventilation. Never use a BBQ under a fabric gazebo or pop-up canopy.
Can I put a BBQ under a pergola?
Under an open or slatted pergola, usually yes, with plenty of clearance and no plants overhead. With a solid roof, treat it like a gazebo and follow both manufacturers' guidance.
Is it safe to BBQ under an awning?
No. Most awnings are fabric and can melt or catch fire. Keep the BBQ in the open and use the awning to shade your seating.
Do I need planning permission for a pergola in the UK?
Usually not in England, if it's under 2.5m tall within 2m of a boundary and isn't in front of the house. Rules are stricter for listed buildings and conservation areas, and differ across the UK.
Home cook, keen DIYer and long-time website builder, writing practical outdoor cooking guides for UK gardens. More about me.