Absolutely! BBQ cabins usually include good ventilation (chimneys and air vents) and are built using durable, weather-resistant timber—like Scandinavian spruce—making them safe and usable all year round
Can BBQ Cabins be used all-year-round?
Some of our most commonly asked questions are “can a BBQ cabin be used in winter?” and “can a BBQ hut be used all year?”. With the unpredictable British weather, you want to ensure you are able to use your new garden feature as much as possible throughout the year.
To explain why our cabins can be used all year round, we need to delve into the history behind our unique Scandinavian inspired BBQ cabins…
History Behind BBQ Cabins
Throughout Scandinavia, you will find wooden huts containing seating around a central BBQ grill. These grillkota, or “grill houses”, originally made by Sámi reindeer herders, are hexagonal or octagonal log cabins that can be found dotted around local communities. Reindeer herders would gather in these grill huts to cook, socialise and escape the cold weather conditions outside- a staple part of life and community. These structures have survived through generations and are still in use today!
Our founders Gareth & Virpi (who is originally from Finland) thought these would be an excellent addition to British gardens, and brought modern day BBQ cabins to the UK in 2001 when they started the family run business, Arctic Cabins. Since then, BBQ huts have been a hit with the British public, with thousands of happy customers and hearing feedback at our show sites and at events across the country.
So why are BBQ cabins suitable for all year round use?
We associate spending time in the garden with the warmer weather, and you can easily enjoy using a BBQ hut or garden bar in spring and summer. They make a great space for entertaining during garden parties or for casual catch-ups with family and friends. Even better, guests won’t be leaving your house in a mess that you have to clean up late at night!
Will a BBQ cabin be hot with the fire on in summer?
BBQ cabins have safe ventilation systems, thanks to the chimneys and air vents. If you require extra ventilation, the windows and door of your cabin can be opened to let plenty of air in to cool down whilst cooking on the grill.
Many of our customers on the Arctic Cabins owners club share photos and videos from their summer parties in their cabins- we’ve seen everything from tropical luaus to Christmas in July! We also love seeing people’s food creations during the peak barbecuing season, and we have plenty of inspiration on our blog!
Are BBQ huts warm in winter?
But a BBQ cabin is for all year round, not just summer! When it comes to winter, this is where a BBQ hut really shines! Our BBQ cabins can be insulated, but once you get a fire started in the central grill, you will have a cosy, warm cabin in no time- boil some hot water for a comforting hot drink and settle in. Think of it being a central log burner that you can cook on. Our BBQ cabins can also be fitted with electrics if you want to have space heaters instead of your central fire for a change. This is also a great opportunity to add accessories like mood lights, fridges or maybe even a TV to create the ultimate hang-out space.
With a side extension, a BBQ cabin can become a spacious garden bar- an excellent space to host cosy parties in the cooler months. Our previous customers have hosted Halloween parties, Christmas lunches, festive feasts and lively New Year's parties in their BBQ cabins - toasting marshmallows over an open fire is the ultimate autumn vibe or how about seeing in the new year with a private bar experience in your back garden!
Are BBQ cabins waterproof?
This is another question that we get asked a lot, and thankfully, we can say, yes, they are! Our amazing delivery and installation team take great pride in their work and will ensure your new grill cabin or garden bar is secure, to keep you and your loved ones sheltered from the weather outside. What could possibly be cosier than being snuggled up in a log cabin on a rainy day?
Our BBQ huts are made from slow-grown Scandinavian Redwood that is sourced from FSC & PEFC certified suppliers, and the roof is covered with high quality, weatherproof bitumen roof shingle. If a grill cabin withstands the Scandinavian weather conditions, it can handle anything the UK climate could throw at it! All our cabins and garden bars come with a 10 year guarantee too, so you can rest assured that in the unlikely event anything were to happen, our team will help get your issue fixed.
Curious to learn more about our Scandinavian-inspired BBQ cabins?
Explore our website to learn more about our grill huts and garden bars - with sizes ranging from 7m2 to 25m2!
If you are in the East Midlands or West Midlands, we have two show sites, where you can see our fabulous BBQ cabins in person and chat with our sales team.
So if you’re in the Nottingham, Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Birmingham, Warwickshire or Lincolnshire area, come down and see us!
We also share our show site with our sister companies;
- Cabin Master: suppliers of bespoke, modern garden rooms for private customers.
- Cabins for Schools: buildings for schools, educators and forest schools, specialising in SEN spaces & facilities.
- Camping Cabins: buildings for camping & glamping accommodation, tourist attractions and farms looking to diversify.
