Modular vs custom build: cost comparison
Modular stainless steel outdoor kitchens — from brands including Napoleon, Broil King Regal, Caliber and Bull Outdoor — use pre-fabricated stainless cabinets, drawers and appliance housings assembled on a level base. A typical 3m run with built-in BBQ (6-burner gas), side burner, undercounter fridge and granite or Dekton worktop costs £8,000–£20,000 supply and install including the concrete base. Stainless steel withstands London's wet climate well and requires minimal maintenance beyond annual cleaning with stainless cleaner. Custom built outdoor kitchens — rendered dense-aggregate block carcass with tiled or stone worktop, inset appliances and overhead canopy — cost £20,000–£45,000 for a standard 4m run with pizza oven, two-burner gas hob, sink, storage and canopy lighting. Adding a bioclimatic pergola canopy over the kitchen brings total project cost to £30,000–£65,000. Custom builds are more visually integrated into the garden design — the carcass can be faced with matching stone, brick or porcelain to reference the house materials. Appliances: a Kamado Joe Classic ceramic grill (£1,200–£2,000) outperforms a built-in BBQ for versatility; a wood-fired pizza oven (£2,000–£5,000 supply) requires a flue height of minimum 1,200mm above the oven dome for natural draw.
Gas connections, drainage and regulations
Gas connections for outdoor kitchens must be made by a Gas Safe-registered engineer — this is a legal requirement under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. The standard supply is a 22mm copper or corrugated stainless CSST gas line from an internal isolator valve to an external weatherproof isolation valve, then to the appliance connections. Where natural gas is not available (outer London, rural borders), LPG in a concealed external cabinet with twin-cylinder manifold and automatic changeover valve is the alternative. Drainage: a sink requires a minimum 40mm waste pipe to either a drain gully or soakaway; in inner London, routing to an underground drain gully is standard. Electrical connections (lighting, fridge, power sockets) are notifiable under Part P Building Regulations — a Part P-registered electrician must install and certify the circuits. GFCI/RCD protection is mandatory for all outdoor socket circuits.
