Room with a Q

In Part Two of our Outdoor Living series, we look at businesses and products reimagining and reconfiguring the gardens of the UK

Elfin Kitchens

Known for its compact, high-quality steel kitchens designed for apartments, studios, and hospitality projects, Elfin Kitchens has brought its signature craftsmanship and durability outdoors, with a collection of pre-built, weather-resilient outdoor kitchens that combine professional grade performance with sleek design.

Each Elfin outdoor kitchen is crafted from powder-coated stainless steel, engineered to withstand the British climate, from summer heat to coastal humidity and frosty winters. 

“The range offers a variety of modular configurations, including integrated sinks, fridges, worktops, storage, and preparation areas. Whether paired with a smoker, pizza oven, or your favourite barbecue set-up, our kitchens bring the function of an indoor kitchen into your garden without compromise,” says Neill Andrew, managing director of Elfin Kitchens.

“Over the last few years, we’ve seen a real shift in how people want to use their outdoor space. It’s no longer just about a BBQ on a sunny day; it’s about creating a full outdoor living and dining experience. Homeowners are treating their gardens like an extension of their homes,” adds Andrew.

“There’s been a cultural shift, embracing the outdoors more than ever. Whether it’s alfresco dinners, garden parties, or weekend brunches on the patio, the idea of bringing people together outdoors has become part of the lifestyle.”

Andrew expects to see outdoor kitchens becoming more modular, compact, and design driven moving forward, not just for large gardens, but for smaller urban patios and terraces as well, with 2026 all about smart functionality, integrated appliances, and sustainable, weather-resistant materials.

“Our customers are incredibly varied, from families who want to make the most of their garden to design-conscious homeowners and boutique developers. Outdoor cooking has gone mainstream; it’s not just for luxury homes anymore.”

Caterbitz

A leader in luxury kitchen appliances, Caterbitz has opened its flagship showroom in Dorset and with it The BBQ Centre – a dedicated destination for premium outdoor cooking, dining, and entertaining, as Caterbitz takes its design philosophy outdoors, responding to the rising demand for year-round outdoor living spaces.

The launch saw chef Sally-Ann Channing (pictured) from Darts Farm grilling and smoking BBQ dishes on the Big Green Egg, while there were also live cooking demonstrations and brand masterclasses.

The BBQ Centre brings together some of the most respected names in outdoor cooking and lifestyle, including Napoleon, Big Green Egg, Flammkraft, RB73, Wolf, and YETI, with more leading brands set to join in the coming months.

“We’ve seen a huge shift in how people want to live and entertain,” says Ricky Davies, executive director at Caterbitz Luxury Appliances x The BBQ Centre. “Outdoor spaces have become extensions of the home, designed for cooking, socialising, and relaxing all year round. The BBQ Centre allows us to help clients bring that vision to life, offering the same quality, design, and expertise we’re known for indoors, but reimagined for the garden.”

Davies says the launch comes as interest in alfresco dining continues to surge. Homeowners are increasingly investing in high-performance BBQs, modular outdoor kitchen systems, and weatherproof entertaining solutions, turning patios and terraces into true lifestyle spaces.

“BBQ culture has evolved far beyond the occasional summer cook-out. We are seeing customers embrace everything from wood-fired cooking and low-and-slow smoking to precise, chef-level grilling. It’s a movement rooted in flavour, design, and the joy of shared experiences.”

The BBQ Centre has identified key trends shaping the alfresco market:

* Year-round entertaining. Fire features and heating solutions, such as RB73 smokeless log burners, are enabling outdoor dining across all seasons.

* Design integration. Outdoor kitchens are now complementing interiors, creating a seamless aesthetic flow.

* Sustainability and innovation. Brands, such as Flammkraft, are driving demand for efficient, sustainably engineered grills and appliances.

* Lifestyle and experience. Consumers are seeking not just products, but inspiration – a chance to experience and personalise their outdoor spaces.

“The BBQ Centre is designed as more than a showroom; it’s an interactive experience. Visitors can explore fully functioning displays, see live cooking demonstrations, and get hands-on advice from our in-house specialists,” said Davies.

“As someone who spends plenty of weekends behind the grill myself, this project feels especially close to home. Cooking over an open flame has a unique way of bringing people together, and that’s exactly what The BBQ Centre is all about.”

BBQube

No longer are our gardens just reserved for summer and sunshine; these outdoor spaces are rapidly becoming extensions to our homes, reimagined as outdoor kitchens, dining rooms and living rooms. It’s where we gather, celebrate, and unwind, even in the depths of winter, thanks to the advancements in outdoor heating, kitchens and furniture. 

BBQube is a fusion of heater and barbecue and designed for year-round use – cooking and warming. Its 2-Wheel Base version is ideal for moving the fire to where the fun is, while its Log Store edition is for those after something more permanent and practical at the heart of the outdoor space, with the logs in easy reach.

“Winter doesn’t have to mean retreating indoors and not enjoying your outdoor space; it’s about embracing the season and making the outside feel just as homely as our rooms indoors,” says interior designer Rachel McShane, who owns a BBQube.

“The BBQube is a brilliant example of how outdoor living has evolved. It’s both a stylish heater and a practical barbecue, meaning you can cook, entertain and stay warm in one place. It instantly becomes a focal point, drawing everyone together.”

“The key to making your garden work all year round, is to create a defined zone for dining, with shelter such as a pergola. Then layering in warmth and texture through outdoor rugs, cushions and throws. And finishing it off with the use of soft lighting such as lanterns and festive lights to set the atmosphere.” 

McShane says winter outdoor living is about reframing how we see our spaces. It’s not about waiting for the sun and the longer days; it’s about using the outdoors for everyday moments, like morning coffees, late-night feasts, or garden parties.

“With the right fire at the centre, a garden becomes more than just a space; it becomes a sanctuary and a place to use throughout the year.”

Tobermore

As a manufacturer of paving and walling, Tobermore is well placed to advise on garden transformations to create the ultimate outdoor dining space.

“When designing your outdoor kitchen, you want to create both a sturdy base for your BBQ equipment and a stylish seating area for alfresco dining. If your plot is sloping, you’ll need to level the ground,” says Erin Simpson, a landscape architect at Tobermore.

“Mortarless retaining walls are a quick and practical way to build tiers and create a usable space. They can even be used to create a sunken fire pit where you can grill by day and enjoy warmth from the fire by night.

“Ornamental or mortarless retaining walls can also be used to make raised beds close to the grilling area. These can be planted with an array of herbs, spices and vegetables to add to the barbecue.”

Simpson says be bold in your choice of materials, with paving and walling coming in a wealth of textures, patterns and finishes, giving you the opportunity to create a real design statement. 

“Experiment with different colours, sizes of paving, or even laying patterns to create distinct zones for your cooking and dining spaces and to draw the eye through your garden.”

Kasai

Kasai Grills has unveiled the latest addition to its fire-led cooking range – the Kasai Grill Asado Grill Top Edition, which has been designed in conjunction with award-winning chef Tommy Banks, who cooks on a Kasai at home, as well as in his Michelin Star restaurants, The Black Swan at Oldstead and Roots York.

Designed for those who love the ritual, flavour, and connection of cooking over live fire, this new edition brings the authentic spirit of Argentinian asado to the garden or outdoor kitchen.

The set includes the Kasai Grill and the Kasai Asado Grill Top, designed to work seamlessly together for authentic Argentinian-style cooking, or you can use the Kasai with its mesh without the asado top for traditional style grilling.

Wickes

Step outside to the ‘fifth room’ of the house, for that is what the garden is increasingly being referred to, as homeowners invest in more and more outdoor features, be they BBQs, bars, fire pits or furniture, with The Wickes Great Garden Report highlighting a trend for seamless indoor-outdoor spaces.

“They are a space to escape and a place to entertain. More than a third of homeowners with a private back garden told us they entertain in their garden more than they did 10 years ago, and for many, that’s because they are prouder than ever of what they’ve achieved. Everyone can create a special space, no matter the size of their plot or the scale of their ambitions,” says Shelley Allison, head of retail marketing at Wickes.

The report from the leading home improvement retailer looks at trends in outdoor living and gardening, with outdoor areas viewed as extensions of homes, with people spending more time gathering and entertaining outside. Nearly half of homeowners now view the garden as the most important ‘room’ in the house, and also important for mental health and wellbeing.

Wickes reports that homeowners with gardens would consider spending around £4,700 to transform the outdoor space, adapting it to changing lifestyles, which has meant a huge rise in interest in BBQs and alfresco cooking and dining, as well as fire pits, patio heaters and lighting.

HEX Living 

Taking Christmas Day and all the trimmings to the garden is proving increasingly popular. Cold? Perfect excuse to wear that reindeer jumper. Hex Living suggests plenty of seating from cushioned chairs to comfy outdoor sofas and a range of tables, providing so much more space and fresh air than a hot, crowded dining room.

A garden pergola can offer good protection from the elements, but also creates an intimate alfresco atmosphere, leaning into the season with blankets and a roaring firepit to extend the warmth into the evening. Or you may have a full outdoor kitchen, allowing you to prep the festive turkey and with fridge beers close to hand.

Calor

According to research by Calor most British people value year-round outdoor access, yet nearly two-thirds are unsure how to make the most of their space.

LPG patio heaters can extend the use of your outdoor spaces well beyond the summer and Calor BBQ gas bottles allow your grill to heat up quickly and give you instant control.  

Weatherproof seating, wind barriers and covered areas are also invaluable additions, while Calor research also revealed that 72% believed dining outdoors with loved ones boosts their mental wellbeing, with 67% feeling the same about cooking outside.