If you enjoy dining al fresco and hosting dinner parties for family and friends, then you might want an outdoor kitchen pergola. It’s no surprise that the UK weather is extremely unpredictable, but don’t worry, as a pergola can keep you protected from the wind and rain.
At Open Space Concepts, we have an impressive selection of modern pergolas that offer a diverse solution to both domestic and commercial properties. All of our pergolas are customisable and come with the option to add additional features such as walls, LED lights, and side closures.
In this blog, we will provide you with some of our favourite outdoor kitchen pergola ideas, perfect for sheltered dining and hosting barbecues. Let’s have a look at these in a bit more detail!
1. Invest in a Louvre Pod
For the perfect outdoor dining area, invest in one of our Louvre Pods®. Our new bioclimatic pergola offers ideal comfort in terms of light and temperature, thanks to a totally natural ventilation system.
Add your furniture of choice and enjoy eating and drinking with family and friends underneath this impressive aluminium structure. Added features include louvred walls, white perimeter LED strips, and wood effect roof blades.
You can add an extra degree of individuality to your outdoor kitchen and enjoy cooking up a storm for your guests!
2. Consider a retractable roof
There’s no doubt that the UK weather is extremely unpredictable, but this doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy outdoor dining all year round. The solution? A retractable roof pergola.
Their roofs consist of rotating aluminium blades that can be adjusted to let in just the right amount of sun or shade. Opening them slightly on a hot day keeps you sheltered from direct sunlight, and if it’s rainy then the blades can be closed to form a watertight roof.
Therefore, you can host dinner parties and make use of your outdoor kitchen no matter what the weather!
3. Add a BBQ
During summer, no outdoor kitchen is complete without a barbecue. Therefore, you might want to create a separate BBQ area, covered practically and stylishly with a beautiful pergola.
Having a separate BBQ area underneath a pergola means that it is well-sheltered and secluded away from the rest of your garden. You can get BBQs of all shapes and sizes, so no matter how big your pergola is, you’re sure to fit a substantial grill and equipment under it. Enjoy flipping burgers and sizzling sausages underneath a well-shaded and cool area.
For more inspiration, check out our BBQ Area Ideas for the Ultimate Alfresco Dining Experience.
4. Frame your kitchen
If you want an outdoor kitchen area that is positioned away from your house then you might be interested in a free-standing pergola. If you have an outdoor seating area then a free-standing pergola will help to define the area a bit better, making it more obvious to guests that it is a social space.
Whilst pergolas tend to be open on all four sides, you have the option to add glass sliding doors or walls to act as a backdrop for kitchen units and utensils. For something more luxurious, you might be interested in one of our outdoor kitchens.
5. Add walls for extra shelter
At Open Space Concepts, many of our pergolas come with additional features such as walls and retractable roofs. Our sloped pergolas can be fully enclosed with glass, meaning that you can have a more secluded and private outdoor kitchen pergola.
Adding walls separates your outdoor kitchen and garden, meaning that you can keep cooking smells at bay whilst your guests dine and relax in the comfort of your outdoors.
With our Louvre Pod, you can add vertical aluminium louvre walls that allow for adequate ventilation whilst also increasing privacy on those cosy evenings indoors.
6. Relax around a dining set
There’s not much point in having an outdoor kitchen area if you don’t have anywhere to relax and dine. At Open Space Concepts, our pergolas are the perfect addition to add to a relaxed area, allowing you to enjoy being outdoors all year round.
Invest in furniture such as a table, chairs, cushions, and side tables for a perfect outdoor dining experience. All of our pergolas can be custom-made to your exact measurements, meaning that you can make plenty of room for a quality dining set.
For a cosier atmosphere, add cushions, throws, and fairy lights. Make sure you’re investing in waterproof cushion covers and keeping them safe!
7. Enjoy fresh air while cooking with a ventilated pergola
Cooking outdoors has it’s perks, but excess smoke and smells can linger in your garden. Luckily for you, we have modern pergola solutions that mean you can enjoy the fresh air whilst cooking up a storm!
At Open Space Concepts, our bioclimatic pergola is a patio covering that uses modern technology to improve your outdoor living space experience. The roof system is made of aluminium blades, which have the ability to open, close, or tilt to the angle you want.
Even if the roof is slightly open at 5 degrees, rainwater will not enter the pergola. Instead, it will allow fresh air to enter even when the windows are closed so that you can enjoy a slight breeze whilst cooking and socialising.
8. Illuminate your kitchen with ambient lighting
No kitchen is complete without cosy and atmospheric lighting. Whether that’s fairy lights, LED strips, or solar lanterns, adding the right lighting to your outdoor kitchen can transform your outdoors into a snug and homey haven.
At Open Space Concepts, many of our modern pergolas, such as the Louvre Pod pergola, have the option to add white perimeter LED lights to the edge of your garden structure. If you’re hosting a dinner party or barbecue, lighting can make your space feel more welcoming and inviting for your guests.
Or, for something more spectacular, choose to add LED starlight sky lighting. It doesn’t matter if it is cloudy outside as you can replicate the skies at night, making for a truly beautiful sight.
Upgrade your outdoor kitchen with Open Space Concepts!
We hope that these outdoor kitchen pergola ideas have given you the inspiration you need to get outdoors and host your own dinner parties or barbecues. Pergolas are the perfect structures for sheltered dining, allowing you to enjoy your outdoor space all year round.
At Open Space Concepts, we are passionate about the design and installation of bespoke outdoor living structures. Our highest-quality structures are proven to last in the hottest summers and the harshest of winters.
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch via our online contact form, or give us a call on 0808 168 0043. A member of our expert team will be more than happy to get back to you!
