Majjie's Blog

Outdoor kitchens have been big news in the USA for some time and, with the warm weather of last week, perhaps more people in the UK will be considering a kitchen in the garden, as their next development project. For those who are still reluctant to move house, it may be one of the few home improvements left to carry out and - with the new air of austerity around - eating at home, is definitely the new going out. And - no - I'm not just talking about a big barbie! 

There were certainly a few kitchens and outdoor cooking facilities at the Chelsea Flower Show this year. I don't think Smallbone's grand "Oak and Silver" kitchen, housed in an Amdega conservatory, quite qualifies as an outdoor kitchen ... but Jamie Oliver was also there, with his own range of wood fired, outdoor ovens. A wood fired oven, which has no chimney and a stone base to cook on, is much more versatile than a plain barbecue or grill. Often called a pizza oven, because pizzas cook beautifully on the stone base and in the dry heat, they take a while to get heated up but can then also be used for roasting meat, baking foil-wrapped fish and even baking bread. These ovens are, apparently, the latest must-have celebrity accessories, with both Gwyneth Paltrow and Guy Ritchie owning one.

The well equipped outdoor kitchen will also include a gas barbecue (powered from bottled gas, or permanently plumbed in to the mains gas supply) ... so much easier to get going and use than charcoal ... a warming rack (for keeping the food warm); a side burner (for boiling potatoes or pasta); a fridge (to keep the uncooked food fresh and for drinks); a sink (for food preparation); and plenty of preparation and serving surfaces (ideally slabs of granite). For the very sophisticated, there are also infra red searing units and teppanyaki plates ... an ice maker would be good ... and for frequent al fresco diners, permanent seating areas and overhead canopies. Most people spend around £3,000 to £5,000 on their outdoor kitchen but if you go for a proper landscaped area, and the more sophisticated equipment, it could cost £25,000, or more.

The picture above shows a Connoisseur Pro 5 Burner Gas BBQ Kitchen which includes a sink and storage for a gas cylinder. It's 4.8m long and would cost around £3,300.

To make a really good job of your outdoor kitchen, you need to consider landscaping an area of your garden, so that the kitchen blends in. You can consider concrete or brick structures, to house some of the equipment and provide supports for the worksurfaces ... and you could construct an outdoor fireplace. The actual kitchen units obviously need to be able to withstand the elements (so no chipboard!) and are usually made of steel. A permanent electrical supply would need to be installed by a qualified electrician and you would also need a water supply (either one that can be drained in winter, or a hose that can be disconnected).

Here's a picture of an American outdoor kitchen with solid construction ... the overhang around the outside is for the guests to sit at

Like most kitchens, one in the garden needs careful planning. It needs to be situated close to the house, if you want permanent connections to water or gas supplies and drains ... and the walls of the house will also radiate heat in the evenings (after absorbing it during sunlit hours). In the UK an outdoor eating area needs to make the most of the sun but do bear in mind that, on very sunny days, the glare of the sun as it sinks down in the sky in the evening, can be very bright. Face your guests away from it. Try to make the area sociable for the chef, rather than have him cooking with his back to the family and guests (it is usually a male preserve - outdoor cooking) - although that may mean that he is staring into the sun. Some raised planting areas also make for very pleasant surroundings; choose herbs (which can be used in the cooking) and plants with scented leaves and flowers.

Outdoor kitchens may be a rapidly expanding trend in the USA, and outdoor eating is a way of life in Australia and the Mediterranean ... but I'm not entirely convinced about it taking off in the UK. In spite of global warming, we really don't have the climate for it. I mentioned the heatwave of last week but, whilst writing this, I've had to nip and get a cardigan and some socks ... and close the window ... and my feet are still cold. It has turned distinctly chilly. You could, of course, install some underfloor heating in your outdoor seating area and invest in some portable gas heaters. I've got a better idea, though. If you've got between £25,000 and £150,000 to invest (I wish!) ... why don't you combine your outdoor kitchen with a garden room?

I was talking to Dawn Kubicek, from Decorated Shed, the other week about their super looking garden rooms. We were actually discussing the kitchens that you can have installed in their larger buildings ... ideal for granny annexes, garden offices and art and craft studios ... but even one of their smaller sunrooms (around £18,000) would be ideal in combination with an outdoor kitchen. If it turned breezy - or there was a quick shower - your guests could retreat under shelter:

Don't think big garden shed! These garden rooms are very classy indeed. They're clad in FSC certified Western Red Cedar which is maintenance free for up to 40 years, they're well insulated, are built with foundations and can be connected to all services. The roof can be re-cycled rubber, zinc or lead - or it can even be a planted green roof system - and you can have low energy underfloor heating, a wood burning stove, or a solar energy system.  You really would be set up for outdoor living all year round.

Of course, if you're going to do permanent building work in your garden, you may need Building Regulations approval or Planning Permission. You certainly will if you're going to have a toilet and connect your garden room to the drains - or if you're going to include a bedroom and sleep out there - or if it's going to double as your office and qualifies as business premises. The rules are complicated and will vary according to where you live (especially if you live in, for instance, a conservation area), so best to consult your local planning office. Permission will depend, not only on the use to which you're going to put the building, but also on how high it's going to be, how far from the perimeter of your property and what proportion of the land area is used. Decorated Shed can liaise with the planning officer for you, if you're having one of their buildings ... and they also provide a survey service which includes a computer generated image of your garden room, superimposed on a photo of the existing space (it costs £900, deductible from the cost of the building).

Having delusions of grandeur;  I rather like their "Barn" design. You'd need a very big garden to fit one of those in, though - and it would cost you at least £81,000. More practical perhaps (starting at around £29,000), is their Lantern Lite (below) - with a double height roof. Just imagine how it would look with a fantastic outdoor kitchen alongside, and a landscaped garden area. Or ... if you're as pessimistic about the weather as I am ... have it designed with a little kitchen inside too!