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A brick barbecue

How to build a brick barbecue

Find out how to make a brick barbecue that will last for many years with the help of our step-by-step guide.

A table displaying which months are best to sow, plant and harvest.
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
At its best
At its best

Plant is not at its best in January

Plant is not at its best in February

Plant is not at its best in March

Plant is not at its best in April

Plant is not at its best in May

Plant is at its best in June

Plant is at its best in July

Plant is at its best in August

Plant is not at its best in September

Plant is not at its best in October

Plant is not at its best in November

Plant is not at its best in December

To do
To do

Do not To do in January

Do not To do in February

Do To do in March

Do To do in April

Do To do in May

Do To do in June

Do To do in July

Do To do in August

Do not To do in September

Do not To do in October

Do not To do in November

Do not To do in December

You can’t beat the taste of food cooked on an open fire. There’s no need to rush to the garden centre to buy an expensive barbecue, though – set aside one day and you can have your own stylish brick barbie for a fraction of the cost of a shop-bought one.

Once you’ve built your barbecue, why not turn to your hand to building a raised bed or a wooden planter?

Find out how to build a brick barbecue in easy steps.

Set aside one day and you can have your own stylish brick barbie for a fraction of the cost of a shop-bought one.
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You Will Need

  • Barbecue grill set
  • Bricks
  • Brick setts
  • Sand
  • Cement
  • Spirit level
  • Shovel
  • Trowel
  • Paving slab
  • Length of hosepipe

Total time:

Step 1

Lay out the first level of bricks for the barbecue using the cooking tray as a guide. Keep as many bricks whole as possible to reduce the need to cut the bricks.

Laying out the barbecue bricks
Laying out the barbecue bricks

Step 2

Mix five parts sand to one part cement, adding enough water to get a stiff consistency. Check the level of the site before spreading the first layer of mortar, compensating for any changes by adding more mortar.

Spreading the layer of mortar
Spreading the layer of mortar

Step 3

Use a spirit level to mark the outer edge of the barbecue in the cement. This provides a straight guideline for laying the first course of bricks. When the first layer of bricks is laid, check the level again, making sure that the corners are at right angles.

Marking out the edge of the barbecue
Marking out the edge of the barbecue

Step 4

Insert a metal tie into the mortar to join the inner wall to the longer wall, giving the finished structure added strength.

Inserting a metal tie
Inserting a metal tie

Step 5

Start laying the extra courses of bricks, starting at the corners. Stagger the vertical joints alternately to the width of a half brick.

Laying the bricks
Inserting a metal tie

Step 6

Use a spirit level to check that each of the barbecue’s corners are vertically straight. Check from all angles to ensure the finished structure is square.

Checking the corners are vertically straight
Checking the corners are vertically straight

Step 7

When five courses are complete at each corner, use a length of wood and the spirit level to check that the two sides are even.

Checking the sides are even
Checking the sides are even

Step 8

Build up walls to seven courses. On the left-hand and inner wall, turn the bricks side-on to create a ledge for the charcoal tray. Create a flush edge by using a half brick at the outer edge. After another three courses add another course side-on to support the grill tray.

Building up the walls
Building up the walls

Step 9

To give a more professional finish to the exterior of the barbecue, take a length of hosepipe and draw it along each of the joints. Create a neat edge by adding a final course of brick setts then, when this is finished, check all the levels again.

Using a hosepipe to neaten the joints
Using a hosepipe to neaten the joints

Step 10

For a handy barbecue work surface, cement a large paving slab on top of the walls.

Adding a cement slab to make a work surface
Adding a cement slab to make a work surface
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Choose your grill height

To ensure the barbecue’s grill is not too low or too high for you, work out the most practical and comfortable height before you start building.

Gardening gloves. Photo: Getty Images.