UK BBQ WhatsApp Community

Welcome to the home of the realest BBQ chat in the UK. No filters, no cold dinners waiting for a reel to upload, and definitely no over-polished foodie nonsense. This is where proper BBQ folk come to talk fire, meat, gear, wins, fails and everything in between.

This WhatsApp community is split into smaller, focused groups – not because we’re trying to be fancy, but because it helps keep things tidy (and stops your phone from blowing up every 3 seconds). Join the ones that suit you, ignore the rest. Simple.

We’re now 417 strong, and still growing. Everyone’s welcome – but you’ve gotta start in the right place…

How to Join

To keep this community legit and spam-free, every new member must start in the Holding Pen.

It’s our vetting group – just introduce yourself, tell us what you’re cooking on, and say hello. Once we know you’re here for the right reasons, we’ll unlock access to the rest. Easy as that.

Available Groups

Community Chat

The main room. Anything goes (BBQ-related or not). Share your latest cook, tell a daft story, ask a dumb question—this is where we hang out. Expect laughs, chaos, and zero judgement.

Recipes

Got a go-to dish that never misses? Share it here. From rubs to full feasts, this is the spot for crowd-pleasers, experiments, and “I probably shouldn’t tell you this but . . . ” type recipes.

Competitions & Giveaways

Seen a BBQ comp floating about? Running one yourself? Stick it in here. Also where all the giveaways live—because who doesn’t love free meat and merch?

For Sale / Trade

Selling a smoker? Got a grill gathering dust? This is your BBQ boot sale. Be honest, be fair, and try not to cry when you part with your pride and joy.

Intros & Social Links

New around here? Pop your name in, tell us what you’re cooking on, and chuck in your Insta/TikTok if you’re into that. Helps put a face to the meat.

Meet-ups & Events

Organising something? Heading to a BBQ fest? Want to get a pint with some local legends? This is where all the in-person fire starts.

The BBQ Telegraph

This one’s strictly business. Just announcements, updates, and need-to-knows. No chat. No spam. Just the good stuff.

Default Announcement Group

This one’s locked down tighter than a brisket in butcher paper — only Lee can post here.

Used for essential updates, big announcements, and anything the full community needs to know, straight from HQ.

No spam, no noise — just the signal.

Collab Crew

This group’s for those who actually want to get involved. It’s not about chasing brands — it’s about teaming up with other BBQ lovers to create content together, support each other, and grow your reach the real way.

Whether you’re posting a picture, making a reel, or cooking the same dish with your own twist — this is the place to find people to collab with, bounce ideas around, and help each other out.

No ego, no pressure — just community-powered growth.

Grow & Grill

For the green-fingered grillers out there! Whether you’re pottering on your allotment, growing your own herbs, or just love getting your hands dirty while your brisket smokes—this is your spot.

Share your veggie patches, tips, compost chat (yep), and how you’re bringing your garden to your grill. From tomatoes to turnips to tri-tip—it’s all welcome here.

Off the Grill: The Wild & Rowdy Lounge

Where the filters come off and the chaos begins. Rant, meme, banter, offend (within reason) – this is the place for everything that doesn’t belong in the other groups. Join at your own risk.

Grill & Camp

For the wild campers, motorhomers, vanlifers, and tent warriors who love taking the BBQ on the road (or into the woods).

Whether you’re rocking a Campman, solo in the hills, or parked up with a cold beer by the coast — this is your crew.

Share your setups, BBQ ideas for off-grid life, campsite tips, and maybe even organise a cheeky group adventure. BBQ tastes better under the stars anyway.

THE HYPE CREW

This group ain’t for everyone… but if you’re serious about growing your BBQ socials and ready to put in the graft — welcome to The Hype Crew.

It’s for the ones who want real engagement — not empty likes or fake numbers. If you’re not up for giving love as well as getting it, this ain’t the place for you.

Events & Help

BBQ Events – Paid or Volunteer Help Needed

Got BBQ skills and looking to get stuck in? This is the noticeboard for paid gigs and volunteer roles at events that need BBQ folk.

From slinging burgers at festivals to helping out at local cook-ups, if there’s a role needing filled, it goes in here. No fluff — just jobs, details, and contact info. First come, first served.

Community Cookout 2026

Heading to the Big BBQ Community Cookout? This is the group for it.

From sorting lifts and collabs to sharing what gear you’re bringing or just getting hyped – this is the chat before the charcoal.

Want to team up on a dish? Sort out a camping setup? Or just meet a few faces before you get there? Jump in. Let’s make this event even better.

MOD & Service Personnel BBQ Group

A space for current and former service personnel to connect through BBQ, banter, and community.

Whether you’re Army, RAF, Navy, or Reserve — you’re welcome here. This isn’t just about cooking; it’s about having something in common to talk about, share stories, and unwind with people who get it.

Big respect to those who’ve served — and thanks to Chris for suggesting this one.

Regional Groups

For local banter, butcher recommendations, and moaning about the weather.

North BBQ Group

From Yorkshire smoke rings to Mancunian meat sweats, this is where the northern grillers gather.

South BBQ Group

Garden grillers, coastal cookers, and everything in between. Southern sizzle starts here.

Midlands BBQ Group

Smack bang in the middle and holding it down! From Brum to Notts, this is where the Midlands crew link up. Share your cooks, find local butchers, and chat all things BBQ with your fellow midlanders.

Scotland BBQ Group

Smokin’ in the snow? Midgie-infested meat sessions? Aye, you’ll feel right at home here.

Wales BBQ Group

If you’ve ever cooked lamb in sideways rain with a pint in hand, this is your crew. Proper Welsh fire.

Ireland BBQ Group

BBQing with Guinness in hand? You’re in the right place. Whether you’re in Dublin, Cork, or anywhere in between, this is where the Irish BBQ community links up to share the craic and the cook-ups.

Northern Ireland BBQ Group

From Belfast briskets to Lough Neagh lamb, this is your home for grilling in the North. Join the chat, share your cooks, and maybe even arrange a meet-up when the rain lets up.

To keep our community safe and spam-free, all new members now start in the Holding Pen. This is a temporary group where you can introduce yourself and get to know the community. After a short period, and once we’ve had a chance to ensure you’re here for the right reasons, you’ll be welcomed into the main groups. It’s all about keeping the fire burning without any unwanted smoke!

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Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year . . . 

2025 has been a huge personal challenge but with the kids by my side there is no obstacle we can’t overcome . . . and we’ve made sure we’ve had plenty of fun on the way.

I’ve been slacking off a little with the ‘U.K. BBQ scene’ lately and content creation . . . but behind the scenes I’ve been working on something honestly HUGE and within a month or two I’ll be able to share something that, well, is going to change the U.K BBQ game for sure!  I’m excited just thinking about it . . . 

I want to thank all those who’ve been checking in lately and the thousands and thousands of people who still rely on my Website and WhatsApp Community to help support their own BBQ journey . . . It still amazes me how many of you use what I’ve created.

2026 . . . Let’s do this!  It’s gonna be a wild ride!
Today marks one year since I relaunched the Smoke & Sear website — and honestly, I thought it wouldn’t survive.

With everyone jumping to AI for recipes and reviews, I genuinely expected my little BBQ site to fade away.

But you proved me wrong.

Massively wrong.

Here are 10 epic facts from the first 12 months:

🔥 Nearly 180,000 new people visited the site — enough to fill Wembley twice.

🔥 People from 100+ countries used the site this year.

🔥 The USA alone sent 51,000+ visitors.

🔥 Perfect Pulled Pork was read 32,947 times.

🔥 Ninja content smashed 100,000+ views across Woodfire & FlexFlame reviews.

🔥 Pages were loaded hundreds of thousands of times overall.

🔥 The UK BBQ Events 2025 page hit 7,200+ readers.

🔥 Brisket content pulled 13,000+ views… and I’ve only cooked TWO briskets in my entire life. 😂

🔥 Even the 404 page somehow got 8,406 views.

🔥 And my honest, unsponsored reviews were read over 92,000 times — real testing that people actually trust.

I can’t thank you enough for reading, cooking, sharing, messaging, and keeping this whole thing alive.

In a year where everyone said websites were dead . . . you showed me that real cooks, real stories, and real honesty still matter.

Here’s to year two — bigger, hotter, smokier, and even more ridiculous. 🔥❤️

www.smokeandsear.world

— Lee
Coffee-Infused Beef Short Ribs slathered in a bourbon & maple sauce that was so good I nearly licked the plate clean . . . twice.

Rich, sticky, smoky, sweet, boozy — proper grown-up BBQ that hits different.

🔥 The real star though? That sauce.

Here’s how you make it — trust me, you’ll wanna bookmark this one:

🧪 Bourbon & Maple BBQ Sauce

	•	160g Maple Syrup
	•	80g @woodfordreserve Bourbon
	•	60g Ketchup
	•	60g Brown Sugar
	•	4 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar
	•	4 tsp @norfolk_smoke_pit ‘Brew & Briskets’ Rub

Chuck it all in a pan, simmer it down, and let the magic happen. It’s sticky, boozy BBQ gold.

📸 Would I make these again? Absolutely.

⏪ Did I cook these exact ribs 4 years ago to the day? You bet I did.
1 year living next door to RAF Coningsby . . . and what a year it’s been.

Didn’t miss a single Typhoon display practice, caught every Red Arrows pass I could, and those Lancaster moments over the garden will always feel special.

Here’s a little montage of just some of the magic I’ve seen this year.

Can’t wait to see what 2026 brings. ✈️🔥
Not just cooked . . . this tomahawk was forged in fire.

Reverse-cooked low ‘n slow, then straight-up dirty seared right on the coals for that primal crust. Finished with a fat slice of cowboy butter — melted over the top with a chunk of red-hot charcoal.

Flavour? Savage.
Style? Full caveman.
Crust? Absolute filth.

👉 Full step-by-step recipe now live over on the site if you’re keen to give it a go.

www.smokeandsear.world
Too early for a Christmas-themed turkey cook? Maybe.

But with Thanksgiving just around the corner and festive planning in full swing . . . now feels like the perfect time to drop this belter.

Smoked, brined, and slathered in herby garlic butter – this wood-fired turkey’s an absolute showstopper.

Full cook on the Kamado Joe. Full flavour. Full-on festive vibes. 🎄🔥

🎥 Watch the reel
📌 Save it for the big day
🖱️ Full recipe’s up on the site now

#SmokeAndSear #ChristmasTurkey #BBQTurkey #KamadoJoe #SmokedTurkey #ThanksgivingFeast #FestiveBBQ #BBQSeason #BBQLife #TurkeyDoneRight