COMPBBQUK IS DELIGHTED TO BE BE WORKING WITH

Friends Dave and Joe from Merseyside dipped their toe in to barbecue competition in 2023 making a strong showing at their first contest at our event, Fire in the Valley @ Valley Fest. They followed it up with an astonishing Reserve Grand Champion (runner up) in only their second contest at Smoke on the Waters. Barbecuing has been an (expensive) hobby for these guys for about six years.

Fat Wally's Firehouse BBQ are a vastly experienced team and also the team comfortably with the most airmiles. Steve is joining us all the way from Canada just for this contest and enlisting John and Rodger for some local support. Roger is one of only four KCBS Master Judges in the UK so brings his own wealth of experience. With hundreds of contests under their belt, both competing and judging, this group of friends  make up a truly international team.

A new team to competing, but no strangers to barbecue, cooking and catering. Started as a hobby at artisan markets by James S and John, The Gentleman Smoker is now a thriving enterprise being part of wedding venue catering teams, using Tubby's sauces for their menus. They are joined by John C, a publican with a passion for fusion food.

Chris and Jon have been brothers in BBQ arms since 2014 when they were part of a team put together by Weber for the original barbecue festival, Grillstock. Regulars as a duo on the UK competition circuit. Illinois native but UK resident Jon and Sussex local Chris are a true Transatlantic team. 

Proudly Welsh husband and wife team Mel and Gareth started their barbecue journey after discovering legendary Barry restaurant HangFire in 2013 when it was just a popup. After five years as back garden warriors, they stumbled on competition barbecue at Black Dear Festival in 2019. Ever since then competing has been a delightful distraction, but certainly not a profession.

Matt and Andy are alumni of one of Tubby's barbecue courses. A first time encounter with an offset smoker in California in 2010 sparked the start of Matt's BBQ love affair which has now branched out in to sausage making, bacon curing and charcuterie. A brand new team, but what they lack in experience, they make up for enthusiasm.

 Husband and wife team Nick and Tracey are one of the most experienced and successful teams competing in the UK. After starting out in chili contests in 2013, they graduated to barbecue in 2015. Recent years have seen them triumph in multiple contests including Fire in the Valley @ Valley Fest and The British Open Freestyle at Maldon Smoke and Fire in 2023. 

This team of ex rugby forwards first competed at Grillstock 2012. Pitmaster Kev, chief cider drinker Brad, and greenhorn Matt have plenty of wins under their belt and competed at the World Food Championships. Social by name and nature, these boys are here for the contest, camaraderie and to spread the good word of barbecue.

Friends Simon, Greg and Dan along with others have been barbecuing together in various combinations for over a decade. But their history with burnt sausages goes back even further. Simon and Dan first came across competition barbecue more than 10 years ago but now feel the time is right to dive in to their first contest.

 Joe and Matt have been friends for over 20 years, and like so many had their interest in barbecue sparked by the since departed Bristol based barbecue festival, Grillstock. They have previously competed at another since departed event PenGrillie, and now return seven years later to competition barbecue.