Outdoor dining has never been more popular, but like any ‘room’ in the house you need to plan, style and accessorise to make the very best of your outside space, says Chelsea Flower Show gold medallist JAMES SMITH of James Smith Landscape & Garden Design

Fixed or Flexible

Depending on the size of your garden you may choose to have a full blown fixed outdoor kitchen area or aim for flexibility with individual units and products that can be moved around to suit your space and needs.

Even in the smallest of spaces it’s perfectly possible to cook outdoors and enjoy the experience given the range of products on the market. I personally use a small portable Weber gas BBQ and have recently purchased an Ooni Karu 12G multi-fuel pizza oven, which is amazing and very portable.

We also have a very small chiminea for occasional outdoor fires and making s’mores with the kids. All are easy to store away in the shed or garage, as I like to keep the garden clear when not using them.

If space is at a premium, think about using modular kitchen units or equipment such as compact pizza ovens, BBQs, ceramic grills etc. Combining these with wheeled storage units or fold out tables means you can change your garden set up depending on who you are entertaining for. You can also store them away easily after use.

Combine the above with fold-out chairs, bean bags, or stools that can be quickly deployed when you have large numbers of guests arriving.

Fixed outdoor kitchens tend to be more popular in larger gardens and can be great. They do, however, need to be carefully planned and located, as once they are in, they become a permanent feature. They are also a significant investment, so need to be right for your lifestyle.

Practical Planning

The proximity of your cooking area to the main house is important, especially if you are taking food back and forward. If the outdoor kitchen doesn’t feel easy to use or to keep clean, the chances are you won’t fire up the barbecue so often.

Think about storage within outdoor kitchen units, whether this is simply for fuel, plates, cooking implements, or possibly an external fridge for keeping drinks cool. Make your life as easy as possible.

The flow of people from cooking areas, to dining areas, to lounge areas is important to plan and can be looked at easily by a professional garden designer as part of your overall garden layout.

The orientation of your cooking area needs to be considered. Are you happy with your back to your guests, or do you want to be facing them when cooking?

Will you need shelter from the elements? Whether this be from a simple pop-up parasol or a fixed, louvred pergola to ensure the party continues when the unpredictable weather changes.

You could grow produce nearby the kitchen to use in your cooking, whether that be a herb bed or space for fruit and vegetables. There is something rewarding about cooking with your own produce from your garden.

Looks and cooks

As you would with your internal kitchen, try to go for the most attractive and durable outdoor kitchen and products you can afford and aim to ensure the materials and colours complement your garden. The garden is, after all, an extension of the home and should feel well considered, planned and stylish.

Gardens are, of course, different to internal spaces, and you have the luxury of breaking up terraces for cooking, dining, and lounging areas with planting, pots, or even paths between. Planting in particular plays a very important role in softening, avoiding the need for large expanses of paving that can often look soulless when not in use.

Think carefully about what you see when looking out from inside the home. You ideally want to avoid staring out at a BBQ if you can help it, and instead find neat storage areas or dapple screening with planting and other features.

Fuel and safety

Think about your preferred cooking fuel whether it might be gas, electric, charcoal or wood. Do you want mains supply or bottled and how will you get the supplies safely to the outdoor kitchen? Always use a professional for mains supplies. This can also include water supplies for external sinks. If burning coal or wood, bear in mind smoke and proximity to neighbours and internal rooms.

Storage of fuel is important to consider whether in a kitchen storage unit, or within a nearby secure shed.

Think about children and other people around you when cooking in the garden and try to ensure plenty of room for people to manoeuvre around safely.

Comfort and joy

Above all, comfort and enjoyment of your outdoor cooking and dining experience is a must, otherwise there is no point going to all that effort. Creating spaces that entice you to spend plenty of time with friends and family make it all worth it. Whiling away the hours deep into the evening is something a garden designer can certainly help you to achieve in your garden.

External heating and subtle lighting are good for extending the use of the garden, often combined with small outdoor fire pits or places to toast marshmallows with the kids. Failing that, a good set of outdoor blankets will help keep the evening chill off.

Invest in good-quality comfortable garden furniture for dining and lounging and you may never want to leave the garden. Ideally, try before you buy.

James Smith, based in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, is a Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medal winning garden designer, chartered landscape architect and registered member of the Society of Garden Designers.

Images: ©London Square