Meet The Member - The Outdoor Kitchen Collective
the outdoor kitchen collective
We caught up with Ben, Emily and Simon, our members and the passionate team behind The Outdoor Kitchen Collective in St. Albans, to hear how they’ve turned a love for great design and outdoor dining into one of the UK’s most inspiring outdoor kitchen showrooms. From custom BBQ islands to innovative live-fire cooking events, they’re redefining how we eat, entertain, and enjoy our gardens year-round.
Hello Ben, Emily and simon.your Outdoor Kitchens are beautiful, and we’re sure people will be surprised by the large collection on offer. Please tell us how this all came about for you?
Thank you, The Outdoor Kitchen Collective was created out of a passion for design and sharing great food with friends and family outdoors. When we launched TOKC in 2019 we were lucky to be at the forefront of the UK industry because brothers and TOKC Directors Ben and Simon already had a high-end landscape design company and had started building bespoke outdoor kitchens for clients. TOKC evolved after we discovered our first European offering – Dutch outdoor kitchen brand WWOO - which we launched in the UK almost 10 years ago. Whilst its timeless design is still in demand (& now produced by us in St Albans), we created TOKC as we wanted to offer clients a choice showcasing & designing the most innovative outdoor kitchens & cooking equipment available. We wanted to create an inspiring showroom to give clients a wide choice of materials and cooking equipment & help them create an outdoor kitchen unique to their tastes & lifestyle. Each kitchen is produced with cutting edge materials that can withstand the UK climate.
Can you tell us about some of the impressive features of your Outdoor Kitchens?
We have an extensive range of outdoor kitchen styles using different, hard-wearing materials. Whether you are looking for a simple BBQ island or fully bespoke outdoor kitchen with porcelain countertops and soft-closing storage drawers incorporating grills, outdoor fridge, sink and a canopy/pergola – we can tailor something beautiful to complement your garden space & personal style. Our cooking equipment ranges from easy gas to charcoal kamados, wood-smokers, South African style open fireplace Braai’s, Argentinian Style grills, pizza ovens, planchas and more! We can guide you through the USP’s of each to ensure you will enjoy cooking with it for years to come!
How are your kitchens ready for all seasons?
Our kitchens are made to withstand all weather conditions – vital for the UK climate and especially so near the coast to ensure they aren’t damaged by saltwater. From low maintenance Corten, high grade stainless steel & concrete to UV, frost and stain resistant porcelain, enamel & wood-effect Millboard fascia’s – our kitchens require little or no maintenance. We do, however, recommend that you use covers for your cooking equipment so that debris like leaves don’t get into the elements.
Have you seen an upsurge in interest for Outdoor Kitchens following Covid, when people started socialising at home more often?
Absolutely! As people spent more time in their gardens throughout the year, they started to understand how investing in that area could completely transform their lifestyle. Yes, it is a considered purchase - which is why we like to show you around TOKC Barn showrooms & explain the options during our tailored consultation process to make sure you are investing in something that you will enjoy for many years with friends and family – it will not only increase their property value but also add a healthy space away from the main home with natural light and fresh air. The antidote to modern life! Most pergolas do not require planning permission (other than in conservation areas), so when combining an outdoor kitchen with a pergola, you have a new room at a fraction of the cost of adding a room to the main house.
Do you have a favourite product that you sell and why?
We love design-led brands that look completely unique! We will always love WWOO! It’s a clever, simple design that can be personalised and styled easily and looks so different in all our projects! We have recently added HIVE, which is a cool Dutch design based on the octagonal beehive shape. It is unique, and we love the idea that it pushes the boundaries of the traditional box shape. It is a stunning garden focal point.
Do you have a popular recipe for a great Outdoor Kitchen dinner party?
Where to start! An easy recipe would be chicken shawarma cooked on our Big Green Egg rotisserie. Marinated spiced juicy chicken thighs in flatbreads and salad with pickled red onion and a mint & yoghurt dressing! Or a salmon en-croute layered with salmon mousse, queen scallops and king prawns…..yum!!
You run TOKC events at your showroom. What can we look forward to this summer?
We have a fabulous LIVE FIRE BBQ Showcase on 21st June with Guest Chef Chris Mackett (ex 2 Michelin Star Hand & Flowers) cooking Cornish Prawns & Pastrami cured bavette steak & Stephane Delorme (former executive Chef at Rick Steins ‘The Seafood Restaurant’ in Padstow cooking Scallops and fish on our OFYR plancha and local Chef Bridget bringing our live fire grills to life with slow-cooked lamb pani-puri & freshly baked scones with strawberries – absolutely inspiring seasonal BBQ food - with all profit being donated to local charity St Albans Action for Homeless. Plus a Chef’s table lunch on Friday, 27th June with TV Chef and local legend Theo Michaels cooking up an entire Summer Chefs Table feasting lunch!!
Do you have some favourite local shops that you value for sourcing products for your outdoor catering?
Yes! From Hedges Farm in St. Albans for top quality locally bred meat to our local fresh fish supplier Liam (Marshall & Sons), to Redbourn & Paula in the high street, Harpenden, delivering the best fresh fish from Grimsby weekly. We get our plastic-free cucumber, tomatoes and peppers from Smallford Farm Shop and Silver Palate for a variety of delicious Mediterranean treats!
What are the best tips you have for anyone looking to enjoy a new outdoor kitchen?
Come and try before you buy! It’s important that you buy the right cooking equipment so that you actually use – and enjoy using your outdoor kitchen with friends and family. We have years of experience of navigating the fast-changing and confusing world of outdoor kitchens/BBQ’s & Pizza Ovens – with so much choice now available, it can get confusing! So why not book an appointment with one of our friendly team so we can help you navigate the vast amount of choices to ensure you invest once in the right equipment for you! You’ll be met with a freshly made brew and a designer passionate about outdoor kitchen and canopy design!
Do you have a personal favourite spot for outdoor dining in the area?
Of course – our very own TOKC Outdoor Kitchen Courtyard! Otherwise, you can try the new Italian opposite TOKC San Lorenzo Bistro and enjoy sipping on rosé in their beautiful courtyard (which also happened to be home to one of our WWOO outdoor kitchens!) – their new Italian deli will be open very soon! We also love The Alford Arms in Frithsden.