If you already own a kettle BBQ, gas grill, or compact balcony grill, the smartest upgrades are often the small tools you use every time you cook. This guide to the best BBQ accessories UK under 25 focuses on practical kit that helps with lighting, temperature control, turning food, cleaning, and cooking smaller items without losing half your dinner through the grate. I have kept the shortlist tight because bargain BBQ aisles can get crowded with novelty tools that look fun once and then sit unused.
Prices move during summer sales, but each pick is usually found around GBP 25 or less at UK retailers such as Amazon UK, Argos, B&Q, The Range, Lakeland, Robert Dyas, Dunelm, and supermarket seasonal sections. Check the size against your grill before buying, especially for baskets and brushes. A tool that fits your BBQ and gets used weekly is a better deal than a larger set full of pieces you never reach for.
Quick Picks
- Best Overall: ThermoPro TP03H Instant Read Meat Thermometer, about GBP 12 to GBP 16.
- Best Budget: A stainless steel BBQ tong and turner set, often GBP 8 to GBP 12.
- Best for charcoal BBQs: Weber-style chimney starter, about GBP 18 to GBP 25 when on offer.
- Best for vegetables and fish: Non-stick BBQ grill basket, about GBP 10 to GBP 18.
- Best clean-up buy: Bristle-free grill scraper or coiled wire brush, about GBP 7 to GBP 15.
Comparison Table
| Accessory | Typical UK Price | Best For | Where to Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| ThermoPro TP03H Instant Read Thermometer | GBP 12 to GBP 16 | Safe chicken, burgers, steaks, and sausages | Amazon UK, Robert Dyas, kitchen retailers |
| Stainless Steel BBQ Tong and Turner Set | GBP 8 to GBP 12 | Everyday flipping and serving | Argos, B&Q, The Range, supermarkets |
| Chimney Starter | GBP 18 to GBP 25 | Fast charcoal lighting without lighter fluid taste | Amazon UK, B&Q, garden centres |
| Non-stick BBQ Grill Basket | GBP 10 to GBP 18 | Vegetables, prawns, halloumi, fish, smaller cuts | Lakeland, Dunelm, Amazon UK |
| Bristle-free Grill Scraper or Coiled Brush | GBP 7 to GBP 15 | Post-cook grate cleaning | B&Q, The Range, Argos, supermarkets |
1. ThermoPro TP03H Instant Read Meat Thermometer: Best Overall
A digital thermometer is the BBQ accessory that changes the most meals for the least money. The ThermoPro TP03H is a popular budget option because it folds away neatly, reads quickly enough for weekend cooking, and removes the guesswork from chicken thighs, pork, burgers, and thick sausages. It is also useful indoors, so it will not become a summer-only purchase.
Expect to pay about GBP 12 to GBP 16 depending on the retailer and sale timing. Amazon UK is usually the easiest place to find it, while similar instant-read thermometers are common at Robert Dyas and kitchenware shops. Look for a probe that folds into the handle, a clear screen, and stated temperature range. Backlit screens are nice at evening BBQs, but accuracy and speed matter more.
Pros: Helps avoid undercooked chicken, reduces dry overcooked meat, small enough for a drawer, useful all year.
Cons: Needs a battery, cheaper displays can be hard to read in bright sun, not designed to stay inside meat while it cooks.
2. Stainless Steel BBQ Tong and Turner Set: Best Budget
If your current BBQ tools are short, flimsy, or coated in melted plastic, a basic stainless steel tong and turner set is the best cheap upgrade. Long tongs keep your hand away from heat, while a broad turner makes burgers, fish, and halloumi easier to lift without breaking. You do not need a 20-piece set. Two solid tools beat a bulky case filled with corn holders and brushes you may never use.
Look for locking tongs around 35 cm to 45 cm long, scalloped ends for grip, and a turner with a wide head. Many sets sit between GBP 8 and GBP 12 at Argos, B&Q, The Range, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and seasonal middle aisles. If you cook on a small tabletop BBQ, shorter tongs can be easier to control, but full-size grills benefit from extra length.
Pros: Cheap, easy to find, replaces two worn tools at once, good for meat and vegetables.
Cons: Very cheap handles can loosen, sets with wooden handles may need hand washing, thin turners can bend under heavier food.
3. Chimney Starter: Best for Charcoal BBQs
A chimney starter is one of the best BBQ accessories UK shoppers can buy under 25 if they use charcoal. It is a metal cylinder that lights charcoal evenly from below, so you can pour hot coals into the grill once they are ready. The biggest benefit is consistency. You are less likely to chase cold spots, add too much lighter fluid, or start cooking before the fuel is hot enough.
Weber’s Rapidfire starter can sometimes sit just above GBP 25, but it often drops close to the target price during sales. Own-brand versions from B&Q, garden centres, and Amazon UK are commonly GBP 18 to GBP 25. Pick one with a heat shield, a sturdy side handle, and enough capacity for your grill. For small portable BBQs, a mini starter may be easier to store.
Pros: Faster and cleaner charcoal lighting, less chemical taste, more even heat, useful for repeat cooks.
Cons: Takes storage space, only useful for charcoal, cheaper handles can get hot if the shield is poor.
4. Non-stick BBQ Grill Basket: Best for Veg, Fish, and Halloumi
A grill basket earns its place when you cook food that slips through the bars. Peppers, mushrooms, asparagus, prawns, cubed chicken, halloumi, and flaky fish are all easier to handle in a basket. It also makes mixed vegetable sides quicker because you can shake or turn the whole basket instead of chasing individual pieces around the grate.
Most rectangular non-stick baskets cost around GBP 10 to GBP 18 at Lakeland, Dunelm, Amazon UK, The Range, and supermarket seasonal aisles. Check the handle type before buying. Removable handles save space and let you close a BBQ lid, while fixed long handles are handy for open grilling. Perforated stainless steel baskets last well, but a non-stick coated basket is easier for sticky marinades. Use silicone or wooden tools to protect the coating.
Pros: Great for smaller food, speeds up side dishes, reduces waste, useful for fish and vegetarian BBQs.
Cons: Coatings can scratch, some baskets are too large for compact grills, sticky sauces still need oil or cleaning spray.
5. Bristle-free Grill Scraper or Coiled Brush: Best Clean-up Buy
Cleaning is not the fun part of grilling, but a decent scraper makes the next cook easier. A bristle-free scraper or coiled wire brush is a sensible alternative to very cheap wire brushes with loose bristles. The aim is simple: clean the grate while it is warm, remove burnt-on food, and keep flavours from yesterday’s marinade away from today’s sausages.
Budget scrapers and coiled brushes are easy to find between GBP 7 and GBP 15 at B&Q, Argos, The Range, Amazon UK, and larger supermarkets. Choose a brush head that matches your grate. Flat scrapers suit flat bars, while coil designs can work well across rounded grates. Replace any cleaning tool when it starts to shed metal, bend badly, or feel loose at the head.
Pros: Cheap, extends grate life, improves flavour, safer than battered old brushes.
Cons: Needs replacing over time, not all scraper shapes suit every grate, stubborn grease may still need a soak.
How to Choose BBQ Accessories Under GBP 25
Start with the meals you cook most. If you mostly grill chicken, burgers, and sausages, buy the thermometer first. If charcoal lighting is your pain point, buy the chimney starter before anything decorative. If your BBQs are heavy on sides, fish, or vegetarian food, the basket is a better first purchase than another set of skewers.
Material matters at this price. Stainless steel handles heat up less quickly than thin painted metal, but any tool used over flames should still be handled with care. Avoid oversized sets unless every piece solves a real problem. Also check storage. A compact flat basket, folding thermometer, and locking tongs are easier to keep than a large case of tools.
For the best value, watch early-summer promos, bank holiday sales, and supermarket seasonal reductions after heatwaves. Amazon UK can be fast for thermometers and baskets, while B&Q, The Range, and garden centres are better when you want to inspect size and build before buying.
Buyer Q&A
What BBQ accessory should I buy first?
If you cook meat, start with an instant-read thermometer. It is cheap, small, and helps with food safety as well as better texture. For charcoal users, a chimney starter is a close second.
Are cheap BBQ tool sets worth it?
Some are, but avoid sets with too many weak pieces. A sturdy tong and turner pair under GBP 12 is usually better than a large low-cost kit where the handles flex and the extras stay in the box.
Can I get good BBQ accessories under GBP 25 in the UK?
Yes. Thermometers, baskets, tongs, scrapers, skewers, and many chimney starters sit under GBP 25, especially during seasonal sales. Spend more only when you need premium stainless steel, a branded item, or a larger size.
Which pick is best for a small BBQ?
The thermometer and tongs work with almost any grill. For baskets and chimney starters, check measurements carefully. A compact basket is better than one that blocks the whole cooking area.
When is the best time to buy BBQ accessories?
May through August has the widest choice, but the deepest cuts often appear after hot weekends, after bank holidays, and near the end of summer when shops clear seasonal stock.