STILL GOT QUESTIONS? THE EXPERTS HAVE GOT ANSWERS

* IS IT POSSIBLE TO BUILD MY OWN OUTDOOR KITCHEN?

Of course it is, although, depending on the size and scope of your vision, some things are better left to the professionals. Simon Hawkins says: ‘Rather than taking on the build yourself, why not consider creating an outdoor kitchen from modular units you can add to year after year or even reconfigure in order to adapt to your changing needs?’

* DO I NEED PLANNING PERMISSION?

That depends. Mark Latchford says: ‘If your home is listed, or is located in the green belt or an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it’s likely you will need to submit plans for landscaping work, which might include an outdoor kitchen. However, if your home isn’t listed or in one of these areas, hard landscaped areas with an outdoor kitchen can be covered under Permitted Development.’ So do your research.

* WHAT MATERIALS ARE BEST?

In simple terms, it’s a case of choosing materials that can stand up to the elements time and time again. Kevin Marsh says: ‘For the main structure of the kitchen, many brands use an outdoor-grade powder-coated steel that’s super-tough, and will look great for many years. Stainless steel, on the other hand, doesn’t work as well for this purpose as you might think. While it is durable, it is notoriously tricky to keep large expanses of it looking immaculate – it tends to highlight every mark and blemish.’

* I’M SHORT ON SPACE. HOW CAN I MAKE THE BEST USE OF IT?

Think about your priorities and narrow your choices down to the appliances you know you’ll use the most. Simon says: ‘Perhaps go for a Big Green Egg and stand or a Gozney pizza oven that you can use to cook a variety of food all year round.’