National Burger Awards finalists go head-to-head!

Sixteen of the best burgers from across the UK have been selected as the finalists for this year’s highly anticipated National Burger Awards! The event will host a live cook-off in the day on 22nd February, followed by an evening awards ceremony with free food and drink. 

Now in its ninth year, the 16 chefs from across the hospitality sector – including restaurants, pubs and street food traders – will face-off in a live cooking competition to see whose signature burger recipe will be named best in the UK.

This year’s impressive line-up includes former two-time champion Nick Watkins from El Perro Negro, who claimed the National Burger of the Year title in 2019 and again in 2021. Also in the running is American casual dining chain and former finalist Fridays, who will go head-to-head with national pub groups such as Revolution Bars and Liberation Group.

A number of outstanding independents from across the UK have also made it to the final, including new, West Yorkshire-based entrant Lou & Joe’s Burger Company and Plymouth’s Zephyr Burgers, whose owner Oz Harborth was crowned National Burger Chef of the Year in 2022. The full list of finalists can be found below.

The event, lead sponsored by Brooklyn Brewery, will take place on 22nd February 2023 at Islington Electrowerkz in London. In addition to the signature round, chefs will take part in a technical show-down that will see them create a burger from a specific selection of ingredients supplied by event sponsors, in a bid to be crowned Burger Chef of the Year. They will also participate in a meat-free burger round sponsored by The Vegetarian Butcher.

Winners will be chosen by a hand-picked panel of esteemed industry judges, including former winners of the competition.  

“Fluffy buns, succulent patties and condiments galore – what’s not to love about the beloved burger?” said Genna Ash-Brown, editor of Dine Out Magazine, which organises and runs the event.

“With so many stellar entries flying in for this year’s National Burger Awards, narrowing it down to just 16 finalists really was a painstaking (and hunger inducing!) task. But we got there in the end – and what an exceptional line-up it is, packed with former winners, past competitors and feisty new entrants looking to leave their mark on a revered national stage. We can’t wait to get stuck in!”

The National Burger Awards 2023 is sponsored by Americana, Brooklyn Brewery, Danish Crown, Farm Frites, Fleet Street Communications, Hellmann’s, Kerrymaid, Khune, Santa Maria, Suntory and The Vegetarian Butcher.

For more info, go to www.nationalburgerawards.co.uk.

The 2023 Finalists

Bleecker, Double Cheeseburger

Eat the Bird, Dirty Ronald

El Perro Negro, The Big D

Fattso, Royal with Extra Cheese

Flying Cows, The Shiitake

Fridays, Wagyu Talkin’ ‘bout Burger

Haché, Paris Smashburger

Leytonstone Tavern, The Bone Daddy

Liberation Group, The Butcombe Burger

Lou & Joe’s Burger Company, The Holme Boy

Please Sir!, The Limitless

Revolution Bars Group, Blue Cheese & Truffle

Squeezed, Beetlejuice

The Flavour Trailer, Classic Flavour

The Forge Kitchen, Bertram’s Brisket Burger

Zephyr Burgers, Ribwich Cheeseburger

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