About

Hi! I’m Lee!

A self-proclaimed BBQ geek, passionate content creator, and founder of Smoke & Sear.

Most days, you’ll find me firing up the grill, crafting digital strategies for my clients at DigitalEmber, or spending quality time with my three amazing kids and my loyal chocolate Labrador, Wren.

For me, BBQ isn’t just about the food—it’s about the experience. From experimenting with new recipes to connecting with an incredible community of like-minded BBQ enthusiasts, I’m here to share the journey, one smoky bite at a time.

My goal is to share my BBQ journey, inspire outdoor cooking, and help grow the BBQ scene.


I’m a Big Geek at Heart

Before BBQ became my passion, technology was (and still is) a massive part of my life. I’ve spent over 20 years working in digital innovation, blending creativity and tech to deliver cutting-edge solutions. As a developer, I’ve built everything from websites to bespoke digital tools, and as a digital marketing expert, I’ve helped brands grow their presence and connect with their audiences in meaningful ways. From crafting marketing strategies to integrating the latest A.I., I thrive on solving problems and pushing boundaries.

These days, I balance running my own agency, DigitalEmber, with my love for BBQ and content creation. Whether it’s diving into A.I., exploring VR and AR, or building the perfect website, I’m always learning, experimenting, and looking for the next big challenge. Being a geek isn’t just what I do—it’s who I am.

Life in Lincolnshire

In 2024, after a separation and redundancy, I made the move to a quiet little hamlet in Lincolnshire—a place so small it doesn’t even have a shop or pub. It was a fresh start, a chance to focus on myself, my kids, and finding a new balance. Working from home in this peaceful corner of the world gives me the space I need, but some days it’s just me and the Amazon delivery driver for company. That’s where Wren, my chocolate Labrador, comes in. She’s my shadow, my companion, and honestly, I’d be lost without her.

Half the time, though, the house comes alive when my three kids—Oscar, Olivia, and Oakley—are here. They’re my everything, and we make the most of every moment together. Whether it’s crafting, playing Fortnite, or just being silly in the garden, I’m all in for the fun (as long as they follow the rules, help out, and do well at school!). It’s safe to say they’re turning into little geeks like their dad, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

24,000+ on Instagram.
11,000+ on Facebook.
66,000 website users this year.
130,000 page views.

And somehow, the Ninja Woodfire UK Facebook group has now passed 27,000 members, while the UK BBQ Community on WhatsApp has gone past 450 members.

That’s honestly mad.

Smoke & Sear has always just been me cooking outside, filming what I’m doing, sharing the wins, the mistakes, the gear, the fire, the smoke and all the no-bollocks bits in between.

But this year feels like things are starting to properly move.

The big goals are simple.

Keep pushing @fourge.bbq with three good mates and see how far we can take a proper UK BBQ business built around flavour, fire and graft.

Keep supporting the UK BBQ community, helping it grow, connecting more people, and doing what I can to push it forward.

And hopefully find a couple of brands to work with properly long-term. Real content, proper use, honest feedback, recipes, and maybe even stepping into demos a bit more.

To everyone who follows, comments, shares, reads the website, joins the groups, tries a recipe, buys from FOURGE, or just sticks around for the madness — genuinely, thank you.

It’s all a bit ridiculous.

But we’re only getting started 🔥

#SmokeAndSear #FOURGE #UKBBQ #BBQCommunity #OutdoorCooking
Bit of a special one today ❤️🔥

Olivia and Oakley wanted to take over the Kamado Joe and make their own cooking video . . . so we made smoked & tallow-confit beef cheeks together.

And honestly, this is what it’s all about for me.

Getting kids outside. Around fire. Around food. Learning patience, confidence and where proper food actually comes from.

There is absolutely NO chance I’d have eaten beef cheeks at their age 😅

But when kids get involved in cooking outdoors, they become curious. They want to try things. Learn things. Experience things.

And somewhere between the smoke, the laughs and the chaos . . . core memories get made ❤️
First proper hike completed ✅

Big shoutout to @lads_project25 for a cracking day out in the Peak District.

This was my first real hike and my first ever visit to the Peak District — and what a place to start.

📍 Higger Tor, Burbage Edge & Padley Gorge Circular
🥾 7.2 miles
⛰️ 1,378ft elevation gain
⏱️ 4 hours 6 minutes
🐾 One very happy, very tired Labrador

12 lads turned up, most of us strangers at the start, but it didn’t feel like that for long. Non-stop chats, proper laughs, some deep conversations, a bit of scrambling, a few boggy moments, and views that made every climb worth it.

Groups like Lads Project matter.

No judgement. No pressure. Just good lads getting outside, keeping active, sharing stories, having a laugh, and supporting each other in a way that feels natural.

If you’re a bloke who’s been thinking about doing something like this, reach out to @lads_project25 and get involved.

Fresh air, good people, and a reminder that sometimes the best conversations happen while walking side by side.

I’ll definitely be joining them again soon.

#LadsProject #PeakDistrict #MensMentalHealth #HikingUK #MensCommunity
TEMPER Smoked Pulled Lamb Flatbreads 🔥

2.6kg bone-in lamb shoulder from @thecateringbutcher , hit with TEMPER from @fourge.bbq , smoked low and slow, then pulled into fresh flatbreads with garlic yoghurt, pickled onions, herbs and charred lemon.

Bit more of an involved cook this one, but absolutely worth it.

I also used the @typhur_uk Sync Gold Dual for temps throughout the cook and, to be fair, the Sub-1G connection was solid. No problem getting through the lamb, wrapped in foil, inside the Kamado Joe, through a few walls, while I cracked on writing the full recipe for the website like the BBQ geek I apparently am.

Full recipe is here:

https://www.smokeandsear.world/BBQ-recipes/temper-smoked-pulled-lamb-flatbreads/

Enjoy!
DRAGON, edge of the sky.

Flt Lt Tom Nation, the 2026 RAF Typhoon Display Pilot, putting the Typhoon through its paces over Coningsby.

Tom’s name is now on the jet, the black flying suit is on, the helmet has been unveiled, and the 2026 display season is starting to feel very real.

The aircraft, the pilot, the team behind it — all coming together for what looks like it’s going to be an unbelievable season.

Fast, precise, aggressive, controlled . . . and absolutely breathtaking to watch.

@raf_typhoondisplayteam 
@eurofighter.typhoon 

#RAFTyphoon #TyphoonDisplayTeam #EurofighterTyphoon #RAFConingsby