The Best UK Cities to Cook Outside This Summer
As the sun starts to come out, people across the UK are eager to make the most of their outdoor space and dine al fresco. While some might opt for a traditional barbecue, others are jumping on the rising trend of outdoor pizza ovens. In fact, Google searches for the term 'pizza ovens' have surged from 64,000 in April to 92,000 in May, showing the growing interest in outdoor cooking.
But with so many looking to cook outdoors this summer, which spots in the UK have the best weather for it?
To find out, we explored weather-related data from 50 of the most populated cities and towns in the UK, examining which places have the warmest temperatures, the fewest rainy days, the most sunshine and the longest daylight hours during June, July and August.
Furthermore, to ensure you are the ultimate host, experts at Gozney have shared some tips on outdoor cooking and how to make the most of your equipment this summer.
The 20 best cities for outdoor cooking in the UK
1. Brighton
Leading the way for the best cities to cook outdoors is Brighton. With an average of just 6.7 days of rainfall in June, July, and August, Brighton experiences the least summer rainfall of all cities in our study, making it an ideal location for cooking in your garden and a great space to set up your own personal pizza oven.
Not only that, but the sun shines for an average of 9.1 hours each day in the summer months, the longest duration of sunshine of all cities in the study. Despite the notoriously unpredictable UK weather, Brighton seems to be the best bet for a rain-free day, making it perfect for hosting garden parties and pizza nights under the open sky.
If you don’t have access to a garden, there are plenty of options for cooking in public spaces. Brighton Beach is a great choice, offering wide open spaces and panoramic ocean views. The council permits reusable cooking equipment here after 6pm as disposable barbecues are not allowed. This is the perfect opportunity to bring along a portable pizza oven and dazzle your friends and family with something different from the usual burgers and sausages.
It’s a good idea to check the Brighton and Hove City Council website to see where you’re allowed to use your cooking equipment as there are some areas, like the Hove lawns, where barbecues are banned.
2. London
Claiming second place in our ranking is London. It sees the third lowest rainfall during June, July, and August, with just 7.7 days of rain on average — ideal weather conditions for a garden pizza party.
Though London is extremely urban, there are lots of public places where you can cook outside. Lincoln’s Inn Fields in Holborn, Waterlow Park in Highgate, or Russell Square in Bloomsbury are great places to set up your portable pizza oven in the city3.
If you’re planning to head to a park or green space, make sure to check the local council website to see if you’re able to use cooking equipment there. It’s always better to check to save you a hefty fine!
3. Portsmouth
The southern coastal city of Portsmouth takes third place. Ranking second in our study for average temperature at a comfortable 20.7°C, Portsmouth promises warm and inviting weather, ideal for firing up your outdoor pizza oven. Following just behind Brighton, the city ranks second for the lowest average rainfall with just 7.3 days of precipitation each month.
If you don’t have a garden or enough space to cook outdoors, there are other options for taking your equipment to scenic spots in public. You can set up your portable pizza oven at the seafront on Southsea Common, a park located on the scenic Portsmouth coast. Keep in mind there are designated barbecue zones here with a lot of open space for you to set your equipment up.
4. Poole
The southern town of Poole has the second-highest temperature, reaching an average of 21°C. Poole takes fourth place for the least rainfall, with only eight days of rain on average in the three months of summer.
If you’re wanting to cook out and about, Sandbanks Beach, situated on the iconic Jurassic Coast in Poole, is a beautiful location and permits guests to use cooking equipment between 6.30pm and 10.30pm all year round4. Other beaches in Poole do allow barbecues, but make sure to check the council guidelines to make sure you’re following the rules.
5. Slough
Rounding off our top five is Slough, ranking in fifth place for the highest temperature of all cities in our study, and averaging a pleasant temperature of 20.6°C during the summer months. Plus, the town takes fourth position for the least amount of rainfall, with just over a week (7.7 days) of rainfall in June, July and August.
Top tips for cooking outdoors
1. Pick the right space
Whether it’s with family, friends or for a summer garden party, it can often be tricky to pick an outdoor cooking space that works for you. If you have a garden big enough for equipment and to host those you’re cooking for, then that’s a great place to do it.
However, for those who don’t have access to a garden, there are plenty of outdoor spaces, like barbecue parks, where you can head to cook outside. Just make sure to check that it’s allowed wherever you’re thinking of doing it. If you’re not sure, it’s always better to ask.
2. Preparation is key
From the dough to the toppings, preparation is key when hosting an outdoor pizza party.
Make the dough the day before and then take it out the fridge at least a couple of hours before to give it enough time to rest and loosen up. If you’re short on time or hosting a large party, you can also order ready-made dough balls online that get delivered straight to your door.
Also, don’t forget the toppings! It’s best to prep these before your guests arrive. Pepperoni, olives, mozzarella… Prep, chop and place them in little bowls to make it easier for your guests to choose from.
Last but not least, have a few different base sauce options available for everyone to make their own unique pizza. Check out our cookbook for some inspiration!
3. Have the right tools
You can’t cook outside without the right equipment, and it’s not as difficult as you might think. Whether you’re looking to whip up a feast with a barbecue or impress guests with a top-tier pizza oven, having the right equipment can make a big difference to your enjoyment when serving food outside.
When using a pizza oven, tools like a placement peel and a turning peel are key to help you safely launch your pizza into the oven and turn it to ensure an even bake. Plus, a pizza server and a pizza cutter will make serving up your creation convenient and safe when you’re out in the garden with limited resources.
4. Keep an eye on the weather
Despite all our research into the best spots to cook outdoors this summer, the weather can still be unpredictable and it's worth keeping an eye on it to avoid getting caught in the rain in the midst of an extreme heatwave.
It can be easy to forget about the effects of the sun and heat, so make sure you’re drinking plenty of water and ensure there is some shade for guests to rest under.
5. Make sure your equipment is clean and protected
Everything you cook with needs to be cleaned, whether inside or outside. But equipment that is left outside or in outside areas needs to be maintained because of weather effects. Rain, damp, cold and heat, plus critters from the outside world, can pose a threat to the longevity of your equipment.
Make sure you clean your equipment regularly, and consider buying a cover for your pizza oven or barbecue to protect it from the elements when not in use.
Sources and methodology
(1) To find out which city in the UK is the best for outdoor cooking, we put together a seedlist of 50 UK cities. We then ranked these cities based on the following metrics:
- Avg. temperature in June, July, August - Weather Atlas
- Avg. number of rainfall days in June, July, August - Climatedata.org
- Avg. number of sunshine hours in June, July, August - Weather Atlas
- Avg. number of daylight hours in June, July, August - Weather Atlas
We created a final score out of 10 and ranked these using the metric data, where the higher the score, the better the city is for cooking outdoors. Data was collected between 9th and 14th May 2024.
Other sources used:
(3) https://www.timeout.com/london/things-to-do/smokin-london-spots-you-can-barbecue-in-this-summer
(4) https://www.sandbanksbeach.co.uk/facts-and-planning/about-sandbanks/key-facts-about-sandbanks/
