Outdoor Kitchen Pergolas: The Ultimate Style and Functionality Fusion
An outdoor kitchen pergola is your ticket to stunning family dinners. However, before you get stuck into months of alfresco dining, you must design your ideal outdoor cooking space.
Over the past 10 years, the popularity of outdoor kitchens has nearly doubled according to Google Trends data. Similarly, global Google searches for ‘pergola’ have increased by approximately 130% since 2013. Combining an outdoor kitchen with one of your favourite pergolas makes it far easier to experiment with outdoor cooking, no matter the weather. It also facilitates more quality time outdoors.
So, how can you set up a pergola for your outdoor kitchen? As this article will divulge, there are key considerations such as layout, material, lighting and landscaping to address before you can begin adding cooking equipment. Plus, our outdoor kitchen pergola images will give you design inspiration, such as ambient solar lighting, helping you bring the space to life.
Why get an outdoor kitchen pergola?
Cooking for friends and family
An outdoor kitchen pergola is an alfresco cooking area which brings the family together. It can also extend your indoor cooking space, which is especially handy for growing families.
Monterrey 8 Seat Rope Rectangular Ceramic Firepit Dining Set in Grey - £3,799
Extending your living space
If you’ve been brainstorming outdoor living space ideas to extend your indoor living space, an outdoor kitchen pergola with a seating area is a great option.
PergoSTET 3m x 3m Steel Square Pergola in Grey - £1,429
Monterrey 8 Seat Rope Dining Set with Oval Ceramic Table in Grey - £2,749
Enjoying more time in your garden
Many of us are guilty of not spending enough time outdoors. With an outdoor kitchen pergola, there’s always a reason to be outdoors, whether it’s for dinner or a cocktails masterclass.
Luna 3 Seat Outdoor Fabric Sofa Set with Rising Firepit Table in Oyster Grey - £3,999
Hosting BBQs and dinner parties
A pergola for your outdoor kitchen can transform your social calendar. Why not host a regular barbecue or throw an extravagant dinner party once or twice a year?
3m x 6m Rectangular Pergola with 4 Drop Sides in Grey - £6,999.00
Pergola over outdoor kitchen ideas
Go for a modern outdoor kitchen pergola
A modern outdoor kitchen pergola is easily achievable with sleek metallic garden furniture or a rattan suite. Other popular modern pergola ideas include adding a high-end pizza oven or a bar with an integrated fire pit. All-black and all-white pergolas also look the part.
You can also buy outdoor kitchen pergola kits, making installation a breeze.
Get a corner sofa for a relaxed and cosy eating space
A corner sofa is a cosy, casual eating space without the formalities of a traditional dining set. Curling up with a good book and a freshly-made sandwich is easier than ever.
Vienna Corner Group Set in Latte - £3,799
Get a grill to host BBQs
When it comes to pergola over outdoor kitchen ideas, barbecues are universally popular. Luckily, they’re also inexpensive and incredibly versatile. With a grill, you can cook meat, veggies, corn and potatoes and other familiar comfort foods with very little hassle.
Napoleon 700 Series 32" Built-in Gas Grill
Take a seat and relax around your dining set
A dining set can hold more dishes than a bar or coffee table. It’s also more comfortable if your family is accustomed to eating at a proper dinner table.
Kalama 10 Seat Rectangular Extending Dining Set with Teak Table in Charcoal - £3,399
Bamboo Pizza Board 16" - £29.99
Bask in the shade of an outdoor kitchen with a covered pergola
A covered pergola helps you get the most use out of your outdoor kitchen. It creates a barrier between UV rays, rain, hail and snow.
Napoleon Phantom Prestige 500 RSIB Gas Barbecue - £2,890
Enjoy the fresh air while cooking with a ventilated pergola
A well-ventilated pergola boosts airflow. Not only does this help the appointed family chef keep cool, but it also disperses steam and smells so others can relax in the same space and still enjoy the fresh air.
PergoSTET 3m x 3m Steel Square Pergola in Grey - £1,399.00
Illuminate your outdoor kitchen in a pergola with ambient lighting
With an ambient LED floor lamp or fairy lights, you can keep using your pergola over an outdoor kitchen well after sunset. Some modern outdoor pergola designs already feature colour-changing LED lighting.
Luna 6 Seat Outdoor Fabric Teak Firepit Bar Set in Grey - £3,849.00
Keep cosy while you eat around a fire pit
A fire pit is a cosy addition to a pergola over an outdoor kitchen. Tabletop fire pits can be packed away when they’re not in use. It’s also possible to get a bar with an integrated fire pit for less hassle.
Integrate a full kitchen space to bring the full cooking experience outside
A pergola over an outdoor kitchen can be as simple or elaborate as you like. A sophisticated set-up with sturdy countertops and a sink means you don’t need to run between indoors and outdoors to chop vegetables or wash your hands.
Napoleon 700 Series 38" Built-in Gas Grill - £3,210
Host a pizza party with your outdoor pizza oven
A modern gas-fired or wood-fired pizza oven looks particularly show-stopping in a pergola over an outdoor kitchen. And for cost-effective pizza parties, a basic pizza oven can cost as little as £500.
Juno 16" Pizza Oven Bundle with Stainless Steel Pizza Peel and Cover - £459
Install solar lighting for a sustainable ambience
Solar lanterns are an ambient and eco-friendly way to enhance your outdoor kitchen in a pergola. They recharge in the sun, making them best for sunnier climates or summertime. 
Luxor Large Floor Outdoor and Indoor Solar Lantern in Charcoal
Set up a bar for summertime cocktails and sangria
There is no need to visit the local beer garden when you can drink homemade espresso martinis at your outdoor bar. A bar doubles up as a breakfast bar, and if it’s large enough, it can save you money on a dining set.
Luna 6 Seat Outdoor Fabric Teak Firepit Bar Set in Oyster Grey - £3,849
How to build an outdoor kitchen pergola: practical considerations
Design and layout considerations
When it comes to designing an outdoor kitchen pergola, the first thing to think about is size. Are you building a full kitchen with countertops? Do you want to fit a key piece of cooking equipment? Will it be fully covered or extend onto a patio?
PergoSTET 3m x 4m Rectangular Pergola with 3 Drop Sides and LED Lighting in Grey - £3,999
A helpful first step is identifying exactly which furniture and cooking items you want to purchase. From there, you can use their dimensions to determine what size pergola you need. Creating a basic sketch and labelling their dimensions on a piece of paper can help you piece the layout together, like a jigsaw. Adding décor such as plants or lighting is the last piece of the puzzle.
Being realistic with your layout is essential. It’s better to underestimate your space than overestimate.
Safety precautions
When considering different garden structure ideas, you need to think about safety. This could be as simple as installing good lighting for night cooking or as thought-out as ordering a pergola with a louvred roof to boost airflow.
Remember, constructing a DIY outdoor kitchen with a pergola shelter may be less safe than a professional pergola installation.
Material selection
If you want to purchase a fire pit or grill, it’s probably safer to bypass wood. Furthermore, while wood looks beautifully rustic, it can crack or change shape over time without regular maintenance.
Some of the most durable pergola materials are aluminium and vinyl. They are also good materials for outdoor furniture, along with rattan and rope. Polyester and polyethene fabrics are very UV- and water-resistant.
Outdoor kitchen pergola kits
An outdoor kitchen pergola kit typically includes essential tools for setting up a pergola yourself, so you can create your own DIY outdoor kitchen with a pergola. While this option is cheaper, it may be too complex for people who aren’t regular DIY-ers.
Can you build an outdoor kitchen without planning permission?
In the United Kingdom, building an outdoor kitchen typically does not require planning permission because it is not a permanent structure.
However, local authorities have different rules and size constraints. Listed buildings or homes located within conservation zones may not be allowed an outdoor kitchen.
Costs
Creating an outdoor kitchen pergola can cost as little as £2,000 to £5,000. A pergola can cost anywhere between £1,000 and £5,000 depending on the design, size and materials. However, a standard modern pergola with a tilted louvred should cost approximately £3,000.
A basic grill and dining set can cost as little as £500. However, some woodfired pizza ovens cost up to £5,000, so costs for cooking equipment can quickly add up.
Design your dream outdoor kitchen pergola with Harbour Lifestyle
With just a few practical considerations, it is easy to design an outdoor kitchen pergola that looks and feels good. Once it’s finished, it is somewhere that you can host family dinners and garden parties for years to come. Hopefully, our outdoor kitchen pergola images and ideas will have given you some good inspiration to get started.
If you’re ready to take the next step, Harbour Lifestyle’s modern pergolas feature tilted louvred roofs, making your outdoor kitchen pergola an all-weather destination. Meanwhile, our outdoor cooking appliances are robust, high-quality products designed to bring the whole family together.
Browse the full Harbour Lifestyle range and start elevating your outdoor space.
Outdoor kitchen pergola FAQs
Can you put an outdoor kitchen under a pergola?
Yes, you can put an outdoor kitchen under a pergola. In fact, it’s very beneficial to do so.
An outdoor kitchen placed under a pergola blocks rain and sun. Grills should be placed towards the outside of a covered kitchen pergola so that smoke can disperse more easily.
Do I need a roof over my outdoor kitchen?
Adding a roof to your outdoor kitchen creates a barrier between the cooking equipment and sun, rain and snow. However, it can take longer for cooking fumes and smells to disperse.
