One thing I really missed when I moved from London to the Cotswolds was being able to have a wood-fired, thin-crust pizza delivered directly to the door whenever I fancied it.

Sure, we have great restaurant pizzas near us – including those at the Cotswolds Distillery and The Fox at Oddington, among others – but I missed being able to indulge in a comforting slice or three without having to leave the house.

It was very good news indeed, then, when I was commissioned to find the latest and best pizza ovens and present you with my tried-and-trusted picks.

To steer me in my search, I spoke to Tom Gozney – the man behind the famous brand that’s built commercial ovens for the likes of Pizza Pilgrims and Franco Manca, while counting stars like Gordon Ramsay, Margot Robbie and Guy Richie as fans – to find out more about what they actually are, why restaurant-quality pizza is so hot right now and how you can find the right one for you.

“Unlike conventional ovens, pizza ovens are specifically designed to reach the extremely high temperatures needed for great pizza – up to 500°C,” he explains. “That intense heat helps create the fluffy, leopard-spotted Neapolitan crust we all know and love. The key with pizza ovens is heat retention to ensure consistent 360°C temperatures and an even cook.”

Tom adds: “Live-fire cooking naturally brings people together, and making pizza is fun – it’s something the whole family can get involved in and it’s a great way to entertain when hosting. Pizza ovens are also incredibly versatile: you can cook everything from steaks to flatbreads and tapas. More broadly, pizza is having a real moment in the UK, growing into its own subculture — from our gardens to a wave of exciting independent pizzerias, caterers and pop-ups.”

When it comes to choosing a pizza oven, Tom says: “I would first consider how you’ll use yours – are you wanting to take it camping or are you looking for a centrepiece for your outdoor kitchen? Those considerations will influence which pizza oven is right for you, alongside the size of your outdoor space.

Then there are a few non-negotiables: you want to pick a design with a thick cordierite stone and insulation for heat retention, a good warranty and intuitive controls such as a built-in temperature display to ensure the experience is as stress-free and seamless as possible. Finally, the aesthetic is key: who doesn’t want an oven that looks good in the garden?” The ultimate bragging rights!

I tested every pizza oven using three considerations: how they look, the cooking experience – it’s a fast and furious process, so good accessibility with a loaded shovel and plenty of room to move the pizza are plus points – as well as ease of assembly. I also roped in my husband, and he’s a great cook – but very critical.

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What we love: This is a first-class piece of kit, and you get that sense from the moment the package arrives, almost presented like an Apple product. It’s easy to assemble and is the perfect height when paired with the purpose-built table. The XL model also represents the sweet spot between cost and size in the range. Its opening is also nice and high, which makes rotating the pizza easy.

Take note: No real drawbacks here.

Billed as the world’s most advanced compact oven for creating 16-inch pizzas, Arc by Gozney combines incredible heat with effortless control – all within a sleek and sexy design. The XL size offers more space to cook even bigger pizzas than previous iterations, rustling up slices in just 60 seconds thanks to a large side burner that offers extra control.

Handily, the built-in digital thermometer tells you when you’ve reached the perfect temperature, while the combination of burner, insulation and 20 mm thick cordierite stone base ensures even and consistent heat distribution.

• Pizza size: 16-inch
• Maximum temperature: 500°C
• Heat-up time: 40-45 minutes

What we love: This is a doddle to set up and get working. It’s similar in size to the ProCook below, but with a more sensible heat control location, and we prefer the fixed square stone.

Take note: As with others in this price range, it’s not too big or heavy – so while it might not be able to offer you restaurant capacity, it’s easy to set up and transport round the garden or to the campsite.

Serving up 12-inch stone-baked pizzas in just 60 seconds, Zanussi’s gas-powered pizza oven uses a top-quality ceramic stone that absorbs and retains heat for light, airy thin-crust slices. Everything is encased within a stylish, hardwearing black stainless-steel shell, meaning it can withstand the elements (much needed in the UK). The simple gas ignition means it quickly heats to the optimal temperature. The foldable legs and carry bag mean it’s perfect for camping trips, too.

• Pizza size: 12-inch
• Maximum temperature: 450°C
• Heat-up time: 15 minutes

What we love: The aesthetic and choice of colours – unlike other ovens tested – this has a large dome design and is by far the most accessible oven that we found the easiest to use. We started the testing process with eight pizzas on this, and it was flawless – more than we can say for some of our friends’ topping choices! A special piece of equipment that complements our similarly coloured Big Green Egg right next to it.

Take note: Unlike other ovens, it comes fully constructed with the heavy stone pre-installed, meaning the purpose-built table and cover are a must, as this isn’t something you’ll be packing away each time you use it.

Designed in Britain, DeliVita flow dual fuel pizza offers dual-fuel capability that means you can cook up a storm with either the convenience of gas or the authenticity of wood. Powerful enough to reach temperatures of up to 550°C in roughly 15 minutes and large enough to accommodate 14-inch pizzas as well as other dishes, this is a serious bit of kit that serves up restaurant-quality slices.

It’s not just about pleasingly crisp bases and deliciously charred toppings, though. The striking but compact oven is beautifully designed to take pride of place on your terrace. See also their gas-fired outdoor pizza oven, which comes with a pizza wheel, temperature gun, and carry case – perfect for camping trips.

• Pizza size: 14-inch
• Heat up time: 15 minutes

Luxury, multifunctional pizza oven

What we love: This is a seriously desirable bit of kit and is a joy to use when paired with the hardwood table. Everything we’ve cooked on here has been better than any other BBQ – but not pizzas, sadly.

Take note: To sustain the sort of heat needed to cook multiple pizzas isn’t as easy as simply opening the vents, as when fully open it burns through charcoal at an incredible pace, meaning it needs topping up, which at these kinds of temperatures becomes quite the operation. The stone also isn’t huge. For all its other virtues, it’s not a purpose-built pizza oven, and I think that shows.

Some very kind friends gifted us a Big Green Egg – no word of a lie – as a housewarming present. From steaks and fish to burgers and veggies, we’ve cooked pretty much anything and everything on it at this point – except, perhaps, pizza. While you can buy specific wedges to turn the ceramic barbecue into a pizza oven by propping it open, they were out of stock at the time of testing, so we decided to go it alone simply by using the baking stone and high heat.

• Pizza size: 14-inch
• Heat up time: 15-20 minutes

What we love: This is Gozney’s entry-level oven, but it doesn’t lack any of the high-end feel of its bigger siblings. It’s perfect for those who are tight on space while still feeling special and premium.

Take note: This is small enough to fit on a heat-resistant patio table – but without the stand, you’ll be bending down a lot to peer in. In terms of pizza, 12 inches sounds a lot, but it doesn’t leave you much room for error when trying to slip the raw pizza off the shovel.

Brilliant for small patios or even balconies, Gozney has launched the Arc Light as their most accessible pizza oven to date in terms of size and price. It’s seriously lightweight at just 12kg and incredibly compact with a 12-inch stone floor while still featuring the brand’s signature lateral rolling flame and intuitive dial control on the front.

A neat design, you can expect the same even, consistent heat up to 500°C for the Neapolitan-style blistered pizzas its siblings deliver. Plus, a simplified gas connection with a fixed hose for a quick and easy set-up.

• Pizza size: 14-inch
• Maximum temperature: 550°C
• Heat-up time: 15 minutes

What we love: This is a bit of fun. It’s small, lightweight and great for pizza Thursdays with the kids. It was the only electric model we tested, but we were pleasantly surprised by how hot it could get. Given its size, weight and electric power supply, it’s a great option for camping.

Take note: You get what you pay for – this isn’t a Gozney and not the sort of machine you’d want to feed a group of hungry friends with as it’s small and not as robust or powerful as the others tested.

Let’s face it: the UK isn’t always basking in glorious temperatures or uninterrupted sunshine. Even the summer can be temperamental, in which case an indoor pizza oven like this affordable number from CASO is just the thing and can sit on a worktop so it’s always to hand or stashed away when not in use.

Reaching temperatures of up to 430°C, it allows the would-be cook to recreate the intense heat of a traditional brick oven in minutes with a powerful heating system, digital touch display and eight automatic programmes. There’s a triple-glazed glass door for safety – meaning little fingers can’t get burnt – and built-in lighting so you can have the pleasure of watching your dough crisp up and avoid burning in the process. It’s also hardwearing enough for use in a sheltered environment outside.

• Pizza size: 14-inch
• Maximum temperature: 430°C
• Heat-up time: 15 minutes

What we love: This is a serious bit of kit. It’s well-built, very easy to assemble and boasts a very large cooking surface. We aren’t capable of making 18-inch pizzas to fit the stone, but it easily accommodated two smaller creations at once!

Take note: You will need a large table for this and ideally one that’s high up as you need to be able to see inside your oven.

When it comes to pizza oven brands, Ooni is another heavyweight, so firing up their Koda 2 Pro was an exciting moment indeed. Thankfully, it lived up to its name with a tapered flame gas burner that delivers heat where it’s needed – patented technology, no less – while reaching temperatures of up to 500°C and featuring an 18-inch baking stone for supersized slices.

Everything’s packaged up in a dark and sexy modern design that’s best suited to modern outdoor schemes, and there’s even a Bluetooth-enabled temperature hub so you can see what’s going on inside from the palm of your hand. Technophiles will love it.

• Pizza size: 18-inch
• Maximum temperature: 500°C
• Heat-up time: 30 minutes

What we love: The rotating pizza stone. This was the only one with this incredibly handy function.

Take note: The rotating turntable is small, which makes it hard to position the pizza – not helped by the narrow opening. But the biggest issue is the location of the heat control – on the back of the machine – which means you either have to lean over a hot oven to adjust it or position it on a table where you can walk around it. Neither is ideal.

I love everything ProCook, especially their cookware, so I was excited to try their outdoor pizza oven. Promising to cook slices in under 60 seconds, this outdoor gas-fired design features a clever dial that rotates the baking stone 360° for even cooking without breaking a sweat.

It reaches temperatures of up to 500°C and fits 12-inch creations, while it’s quick and easy to set up thanks to its foldable legs. Finally, it’s ready to rock in just 15 minutes, and the adjustable heat means you can also cook everything from fish to veggies, too. A major gripe, however, is the heat control found on the back of the machine – which makes it something of a challenge to reach.

• Pizza size: 12-inch
• Maximum temperature: 500°C
• Heat-up time: 15 minutes