Spring 2022

Welcome to the Spring issue

Welcome to issue seven of BBQ magazine as we head into the spring and the live-fire world gears up for a sensational season. We, of course advocate BBQ 365, but, as the late great comedian Robin Williams said: ‘Spring is nature’s way of saying let’s party!’

Well, here is the perfect accompaniment to any great party. Our recipes section will once again have your mouths watering and fires lit with plenty of inspiring food to feed family and friends over the coming months.

We talk to TV presenter Jules Hudson about his very own Escape to the Country, not to mention his illuminating views on making the best use of your outdoor space as he talks architecture, archaeology and history.

Mike Tomkins got all the way to the final of MasterChef and then we discovered that barbecue is his passion and his driver, with dreams of opening a fire food restaurant in the future. And England rugby player Raffi Quirke charts his pitch-to-plate journey.

In a What’s New for 22 feature we dip into some of the great products and trends emerging this year, while the Oyster Lady Katy Davidson is cooking shellfish on the beach.

If you want a break from cooking at home, our editor Rupert Bates nobly agreed to visit the remarkable Pythouse Kitchen Garden in Wiltshire and also feasted on Hickory’s Smokehouse fare while watching the Super Bowl. He then headed to Yorkshire and the Swinton Estate, home to a hotel, cookery school, glamping site and much more.

Two new contributors, Luke Vandore-Mackay and Liz Evans, tell us their food stories from Devon and Kent respectively. Pete Lawrence produces TV cookery shows for a living but is now embarking on the project of a lifetime, building a home with fire, food and outdoor living its signatures.

Our drinks correspondent, Roger Jones, picks the finest of Greek wines to pair with BBQ food as we start dreaming again of Mediterranean holidays. We profile the Team GB butchers who will represent us at the World Butchers’ Challenge in Sacramento in September and there is plenty to digest in our regular Property section, including a raft of great companies and products curating the ultimate outdoor space.

If that’s not enough, we preview some of the very best BBQ-themed festivals coming your way this year.

Let’s party!

Yours in live-fire cooking

Team BBQ Magazine