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 questionβ€”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 liveβ€”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 β€” 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 β€” just the signal.

Collab Crew

This group’s for those who actually want to get involved. It’s not about chasing brands β€” 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 β€” this is the place to find people to collab with, bounce ideas around, and help each other out.

No ego, no pressure β€” 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 smokesβ€”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-tipβ€”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 β€” 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 β€” welcome to The Hype Crew.

It’s for the ones who want real engagement β€” 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 β€” 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 β€” 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 β€” 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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πŸ”₯ WE’RE LIVE πŸ”₯

www.fourge.uk

It’s official.

FOURGE is live.

From four lads with an idea . . . 
To a registered company.
Rubs crafted and manufactured.
Merch designed.
Festivals booked.
Foundations built.

And this is only the beginning.

On the site right now:

πŸ”₯ Our story
πŸ”₯ Events (with a sneak peek menu)
πŸ”₯ The Journal
πŸ”₯ The Shop β€” our first rub collection, merch and a couple of bundles to get you started

But make no mistake . . . 

We’re already working on a serious range of products behind the scenes.

Every order fuels Pass The Flame.
Every step pushes UK BBQ forward.

Go have a look.
Back it if you believe in it.

United by Flame.
Andy, Ben, Liam & Lee

#Fourge #UnitedByFlame #UKBBQ
For the past few days I’ve been glued to the forecast like some obsessed weather nerd . . . 

Low cloud.
Wind.
Rain.
Cancelled. Cancelled. Cancelled.

But today . . . blue skies 😎

Being half term, I grabbed my two youngest and headed straight for the fence line with cautious optimism . . . 

And boom πŸ’₯

First display @raf_typhoondisplayteam practice of the season, and it did NOT disappoint.

Huge moment seeing DRAGON01 tear up the Lincolnshire sky πŸ”₯

Flight Lieutenant Tom Nation absolutely sending it.

Some things are just worth the wait.

βœˆοΈπŸ‡¬πŸ‡§

#TyphoonDisplayTeam #RAF #DRAGON01 #HalfTermWin
47 today . . . Perfect excuse to chuck a rack of ribs on and get stuck in for a cheeky little birthday treat.

Back in 2024 Ninja flew me out to Nashville for the US launch of the FlexFlame, and it’s only just properly landed here in the UK. So today wasn’t about polished content β€” it was about getting familiar with it again and making sure everything’s running sweet.

After all . . . I did build it myself πŸ˜…

Meaty spare ribs from @thecateringbutcher coated in @harry_js_bbq Smoky Cola rub. Couple of hours in the smoke, wrapped in butter, sugar and honey, then finished off with a sticky glaze.

All while standing out there in the snow of all things ❄️πŸ”₯

Disclaimer:  The FlexFlame was sent to me by @ninjakitchenuk and I’ll be creating some official content with it very soon.
πŸ”₯ The 2026 UK BBQ Events Calendar is Heating Up! πŸ”₯

The calendar’s been live for a few weeks now – but I’ve just dropped a bunch of cracking new events in there… and let me tell ya, BBQ season is looking like it’s kicking off with a bang in March! πŸ’₯πŸ”₯

From epic meat-ups to demo days and smoke-filled festivals – there’s already a solid lineup to get your tongs twitching.

πŸ—“οΈ Free interactive calendar
πŸ“± Subscribe straight to your phone
πŸ“ Find it in The Smoke & Sear HUB
πŸ’‘ Maps, tickets, details, it’s all there

I’m adding events as fast as they’re announced – or when you lot shout about ’em. So let me know what you’re buzzing for… or tag someone running an event I’ve missed.

πŸ‘‡ Which BBQ event are YOU most hyped for this year?
πŸ”₯ Drop it in the comments
♻️ Repost to help this reach more of the BBQ fam
πŸ“¬ Let’s make this the go-to calendar for UK BBQ in 2026

Let’s grow the scene together. More smoke, more fire, more community. πŸ”₯πŸ‡¬πŸ‡§

πŸ‘‰ [Link in bio]
You’ll have seen @fourge.bbq pop up yesterday.

I wanted to take a moment to explain what that means for me β€” and for Smoke & Sear.

Smoke & Sear didn’t start as a plan or a brand. It started when I invested in my first smoker and fell headfirst into outdoor cooking. Along the way, I discovered a growing, supportive BBQ community on Instagram β€” people sharing knowledge, encouraging each other, and genuinely wanting to see the UK BBQ scene grow.

I loved it.

From that point on, Smoke & Sear became my way of giving something back. Sharing what I was learning, being honest about the wins and the mistakes, testing gear, highlighting good people, and doing my small bit to help grow UK BBQ in a positive way.

That’s never changed.

Smoke & Sear is still me. Still community-first. Still about learning, sharing, and supporting where I can.

But being one person, there’s only so much reach you can have on your own.

Being part of @fourge.bbq opens that up.

FOURGE is a separate venture built with three mates β€” bigger in scope, broader in ambition, and built to do things I simply couldn’t do solo. Cooking at events, building products, creating experiences, and pushing UK BBQ forward in a different way.

What matters most to me is that the values stay the same.
Supporting the community. Sharing knowledge. Bringing people together over fire and food.

Smoke & Sear continues exactly as it is.

FOURGE is the next chapter alongside it.

I’m genuinely excited about what’s coming β€” and if you’ve ever backed what I’ve been building here, I’d love your support over at @fourge.bbq too.

Let’s see how far we can take this πŸ”₯