Northern barbecue beasts Red’s True BBQ (below) is turning up the heat in Shoreditch today, opening its first London restaurant (it has four in Headingley, Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham) on Great Eastern Street. Expect nothing short of carnivore heaven (vegetarians avert your eyes now) where meat is treated to long dry rubs or a low, slow smoking, with endless regional variations and cuts. This strikes us as a wise business move, seeing as in England barbecues tend to have a happier ending indoors. This weekend’s weather looks set to provide a deluge or two, so here’s our guide to enjoying meat in a pleasant, climate-controlled environment.
But if you’re a bit of a pyromaniac, own a strong umbrella and just have to be the one wielding the tongs, scroll down for a selection of London parks that allow barbecuing activities (and recommendations for good pubs nearby when it all goes tits up).
Barbecoa, City (above)
Jamie Oliver’s buzzy Barbecoa is a temple to meat consumption, from starters of crispy pig’s cheeks to the £26 Wagyu burger and smoky short-ribs – this place has undeniable swagger.
Berber and Q, Dalston
Set in a Haggerston railway arch, this is North African barbecue mixed with Berlin nightclub for a smoking hot good time. The smoked short-rib in a date syrup glaze arrives black, glistening and falling off the bone… that sentence alone is worth the queue, surely?
Blue’s Kitchen, Camden and Shoreditch (above)
There’s no need to feel blue at this spirited soul shack, where food from America’s deep south, live music and a bumper crop of bourbon combine to make a lively New Orleans-style night out.
Hotbox, Shoreditch
Try the Hotbox Smoked Selection to get a taste of almost all the meats on the menu, but we love the sticky pork ribs and succulent, fall-off-the-bone beef.
The Joint, Brixton and Marylebone
Hefty dishes of sauce-splattered pork, chicken or beef, lubricated by cocktails including the chilli-hot Scotch Tommy (Scotch Bonnet and Tequila).
Q Grill, Camden
Des (Vintage Salt) McDonald’s ode to meat serves up sumptuously moist pit-roast half-chicken, as well as bourbon-infused pecan pie – we’re already in the Q for this one.
Red Dog, Clapham and Hoxton (above)
The restaurants are crammed full of meat lovers, fervently worshipping at the altar of US barbecue. Expect a winning blend of pit cooked meats (including brisket treated to 20 hours in a wood-fired smoker).
Pitt Cue Co, Soho
It’s famously cramped and you can’t book, but you’ll be happy to squeeze in (and wait for an hour or more) to sample the unbelievably flavoursome slow-cooked ribs – trust us on this one.
Shotgun, Soho
From the same team as The Lockhart in Marylebone, this upcoming Kingly Street American barbecue specialist should deliver the required barbie fix in style, washed down with bourbon and rye-based cocktails.
More of a DIY griller? As always, we’ve got all bases covered with a guide on where to barbecue in London:
Burgess Park, Camberwell
Southwark Council are a friendly bunch, designating two spots in Burgess Park just for barbecues. Head to the lake, where there are areas populated with purpose-built barbies and concrete plinths for disposables. We recently read that Burgess Park is one of the worst-connected parts of central London. That might not sound particularly appealing on the face of it, but think again: you’ll get your hotdog without the hordes. If you are a sociable type, however, we recommend The Stormbird pub on Camberwell Church Street, where you can sample a huge range of beers with your new friends.
All parks and open spaces in Camden (apart from Regent’s Park – it’s royal you know)
Camden council, we salute you. The council doesn’t allow disposable barbecues so you’ll have to strap your garden beast to a skateboard, but once you make it to Hampstead Heath (above) you’ll be glad you went to the effort. West of the heath, The Freemasons Arms on Downshire Hill has a huge outdoor space to keep the alfresco vibes flowing.
Every single park in Islington
Grab your tongs, jump on the Northern line and rejoice: Islington council allow barbecues anywhere in the borough. They’ve even installed steel bins in Highbury Fields to assist with disposal, but they would like to politely remind you to put your barbecue on a stand. Oh, and put said stand in the bin along with your burnt out barbecue please. Tut. Once you’ve finished tidying, stroll south to quirk-fest The Public House on Islington Park Street: a mix of English Victoriana and historically themed cocktails.
London Fields, Hackney (above)
?The south end of these Hackney pleasure gardens has two designated barbecue areas, one of which accounts for about a fifth of the entire ‘Fields and is packed with people sizzling their sausages as well as their skin (wear sun cream kids). It’s right by London legend The Cat & Mutton pub too (established in 1729), which is a post-barbie bonus.
Meatopia, Wapping (above)
How about a barbecue festival? Don’t be alarmed, this man (Richard Turner of Hawksmoor) just loves a barbie, not murder. If you’re brave enough to discover the extent of his meaty madness, head to Tobacco Dock on 19 and 20 September, where over 40 chefs (from Duck & Waffle, Blacklock and Kurobuta, to name but a few) will be smoking and scorching anything and everything. You’d better watch out. Tickets are £38.50 for one day, or £53 for both.
This article was published 24 July 2015