If you think BBQ in England is only about burgers, sausages and a few burnt bits from a garden grill, it is time to think again. The UK’s BBQ scene has changed a lot, with restaurants now taking inspiration from Texas, Afghanistan, Central America and other barbecue traditions. From slow-smoked brisket to ribs cooked over live fire, there are plenty of places where the cooking process is just as important as the food itself. I’ve picked 15 BBQ spots that stand out for different reasons, including traditional Texas-style barbecue, creative fusion cooking and relaxed smokehouse dining. Most are in London, which currently has one of England’s most varied BBQ scenes. Recent restaurant guides also highlight the cities growing range of Texan, Afghan, Jamaican, Korean and other fire-focused BBQ styles.
1. SMOKESTAK – Shoreditch, London
If you want serious smoked meat in London, Smokestak is one of the names worth knowing.
Located on Sclater Street in Shoreditch, Smokestak has built a strong reputation around open-fire cooking and slow-smoked meats. It is regularly included among London’s leading BBQ restaurants, and current restaurant guides continue to recommend it.
The menu is focused rather than overloaded, allowing the smoked meat to remain the star of the meal. Brisket and ribs are among the obvious choices for first-time visitors, while the restaurant also offers other smoked and grilled dishes.
- Strong focus on smoking and fire cooking
- Good choice for people who take BBQ seriously
- Located in Shoreditch, making it easy to combine with a day exploring East London
- Suitable for a proper sit-down BBQ meal rather than a quick takeaway
- Best for: Traditional smokehouse fans and first-time visitors looking for a well-known London BBQ destination.
- Location: 35 Sclater Street, London E1 6LB.
- Website: SMOKESTAK official website
2. Cue Point – Notting Hill, London
Cue Point offers something a little different.
Rather than simply copying American barbecue, Cue Point combines Afghan influences with Texan smoking techniques. The result is a style of BBQ that feels distinctly its own.
Its current Notting Hill location at Garden Bar & Grill & Smokehouse features Afghan-Texan BBQ, with indoor and outdoor seating. The restaurant’s official website describes the concept as Afghan-Texan BBQ and lists lunch and dinner service Tuesday through Saturday, with Sunday BBQ roast platters.
The menu includes smoked brisket and lamb alongside Afghan-inspired ingredients and dishes. Cue Point also states that its food is halal and that it caters for vegan and gluten-free requirements, although diners with allergies should contact the restaurant directly for current information.
The restaurant has also attracted considerable attention from London’s food scene, with Time Out naming Cue Point its top BBQ in the capital in 2026.
- Interesting Afghan-Texan combination
- A good option if you want something beyond standard American BBQ
- Outdoor dining is available
- Several dietary requirements are considered
- Best for: Food lovers who enjoy trying new combinations of flavours.
- Location: 41 Bramley Road, London W10 6SZ.
- Website: Cue Point official website
3. Texas Joe's Slow Smoked Meats – London Bridge
For anyone searching for a more traditional Texas-style BBQ experience, Texas Joe’s is an easy place to put on the list.
Based in Snowsfields near London Bridge, the restaurant specialises in slow-smoked meats. Its menu has included beef brisket, pork ribs, beef short rib, pork shoulder, mutton shoulder and chicken.
The restaurant’s approach is deliberately straightforward: smoke the meat slowly, use a relatively simple seasoning approach and let the quality of the meat and smoke do much of the work.
One useful thing for visitors is the location. You can combine a meal here with sightseeing around London Bridge, Borough Market and the South Bank, making it a convenient choice for travellers.
The official site recommends checking its current opening times and booking information before visiting, as service hours can change.
If it is your first visit, brisket is the obvious starting point. Ribs and mutton shoulder are also worth considering if you are sharing a platter.
- Best for: Fans of classic American/Texas-style smoked meats.
- Location: 8–9 Snowsfields, London SE1 3SU.
- Website: Texas Joe’s official website
4. Burnt Smokehouse – Leyton, London
For a more casual smokehouse experience, Burnt Smokehouse in Leyton is another interesting option.
The restaurant focuses on slow-smoked BBQ and bold flavours, and its East London location makes it a useful stop if you are exploring the Leyton and Walthamstow area.
It is also a good reminder that London’s BBQ scene isn’t limited to the big, established names. Smaller smokehouses have helped make BBQ more accessible, with independent operators experimenting with smoking techniques and different cuts of meat.
Burnt Smokehouse is currently listed at 161a Midland Road, London E10 6JT, with service focused around the latter part of the week and weekends.
- Best for: A relaxed East London BBQ meal.
- Location: 161a Midland Road, London E10 6JT.
5. BLACK CACTUS BBQ – Walthamstow, London
Black Cactus BBQ is a good choice for anyone interested in modern Texas-style barbecue.
The restaurant has moved to Burnt Faith Brandy House in Walthamstow and says it uses traditional Texas techniques alongside live-fire cooking and offset smokers.
What makes it interesting is the balance between traditional BBQ methods and a willingness to experiment with flavours. The restaurant describes its food as a fresh take on classic BBQ rather than simply reproducing the same menu you might find at a typical American-style restaurant.
Its current address is 57 Sutherland Road, Waltham Forest, E17 6BH. Because its service schedule is more limited than some larger restaurants, checking the current opening days before travelling is particularly sensible.
- Texas-inspired cooking
- Live-fire and offset-smoker techniques
- Independent BBQ atmosphere
- Interesting choice for exploring Walthamstow’s food scene
- Best for: BBQ enthusiasts who enjoy independent smokehouses and modern interpretations of Texas BBQ.
- Location: Burnt Faith Brandy House, 57 Sutherland Road, Waltham Forest, London E17 6BH.
- Website: Black Cactus BBQ official website
6. The Smoke Craft – Northampton
If you are looking for a BBQ destination outside London, The Smoke Craft in Northampton is worth considering. The restaurant focuses on barbecue and smokehouse-style cooking and has become a popular choice for people looking for a relaxed meal built around smoked meat.
The setting at Midsummer Meadow also gives it a different feel from many city-centre BBQ restaurants. It can be a good stop for visitors exploring Northampton and the surrounding area.
- Dedicated BBQ restaurant
- Good option outside London
- Relaxed atmosphere
- Suitable for groups and food lovers
- Best for: People who want to explore England’s BBQ scene beyond the capital.
- Location: Midsummer Meadow, Bedford Road, Northampton NN1 5FY.
7. Beef Smokehouse – Manchester
Manchester has a strong food scene, and Beef Smokehouse is an interesting option for BBQ fans visiting the city.
Located on Barlow Moor Road, the restaurant focuses on meat and smokehouse-style dishes. Its current listing shows a broad evening service through much of the week, making it convenient for visitors planning a dinner around their Manchester trip.
The restaurant is particularly worth considering if you want to experience a BBQ-focused restaurant rather than a standard burger restaurant.
- BBQ-focused menu
- Convenient South Manchester location
- Good choice for an evening meal
- Suitable for meat lovers
- Best for: Visitors exploring Manchester who want a dedicated smokehouse experience.
- Location: 285 Barlow Moor Road, Manchester M21 7GH.
8. Holy Smokes BBQ – Birmingham
Birmingham is another English city where food lovers can find plenty of grilled and BBQ-style dishes. Holy Smokes BBQ on Ladypool Road is one option to consider.
The restaurant offers a casual setting and a menu centred around BBQ and grilled food. Its location in the Balsall Heath area also makes it an easy choice for people exploring Birmingham’s diverse food scene.
Current listings show service across several days, including weekends.
- BBQ-focused restaurant
- Located in a lively Birmingham food area
- Casual dining atmosphere
- Good option for groups
- Best for: Food lovers visiting Birmingham who want a relaxed BBQ meal.
- Location: 369 Ladypool Road, Balsall Heath, Birmingham B12 8LA.
9. Redwood Smokehouse – Market Drayton
For something away from England’s major cities, Redwood Smokehouse in Market Drayton is an interesting addition to the list.
Located at Redwood on Rose Hill Road, this smokehouse offers a more countryside-style destination for people who enjoy BBQ and smoked food.
The restaurant currently operates several days during the week, with longer service on Saturdays. Because independent smokehouses can change their schedules, it is worth checking the latest information before making the journey.
- Rural setting
- Smokehouse-style dining
- Good option for a food-focused day trip
- Less city-centred than many BBQ restaurants
- Best for: Travellers who want to combine BBQ with a countryside visit.
- Location: Redwood, Rose Hill Road, Rosehill, Market Drayton TF9 2JG.
10. Just Meat Smoke and BBQ – Waltham Cross
Just Meat Smoke and BBQ is another option for visitors looking for BBQ around Greater London without going into central London.
Based on Eleanor Cross Road in Waltham Cross, the restaurant has a casual American-style focus and offers a convenient option for diners in Hertfordshire and the surrounding area.
Its current listing shows service throughout the week, which can make it useful for both weekday meals and weekend food trips.
- BBQ and smoked-meat focus
- Outside central London
- Convenient for visitors around Waltham Cross
- Casual dining option
- Best for: Local diners and travellers staying around Waltham Cross.
- Location: 192 Eleanor Cross Road, Waltham Cross EN8 7PW.
11. The Smoke Room – Willerby, East Yorkshire
The Smoke Room is a good option for BBQ fans visiting the Hull and East Yorkshire area. Located in Willerby, it offers a relaxed smokehouse-style setting away from the major city centres.
Its location makes it particularly interesting for travellers who want to explore local food outside London’s busy restaurant scene. The current listing shows service throughout the week, with longer evening hours toward the weekend.
- Smokehouse-style dining
- Good option near Hull
- Relaxed atmosphere
- Suitable for a casual BBQ meal
- Best for: Visitors exploring East Yorkshire who want a BBQ-focused restaurant.
- Location: 7 The Square, Willerby, Hull HU10 7UA.
12. Smokes – Texas BBQ Smokehouse, Ilford
Smokes – Texas BBQ Smokehouse is an appealing choice for readers looking for Texas-style BBQ around Greater London.
The restaurant is located in Gants Hill, Ilford, making it a convenient alternative for people who don’t want to travel into central London. Its focus is on American-style smokehouse food, with the kind of hearty portions BBQ lovers usually expect.
- Texas BBQ focus
- Convenient East London location
- Casual restaurant atmosphere
- Good choice for smoked-meat fans
- Best for: People staying in East London or around Essex who want Texas-style BBQ.
- Location: 9 Woodford Avenue, Gants Hill, Ilford IG2 6UF.
13. Billy's SmokeHouse – Shepherd's Bush, London
Billy’s SmokeHouse brings another smokehouse option to West London.
Located on Goldhawk Road, this restaurant is well placed for visitors exploring Shepherd’s Bush and the surrounding area. It is a useful addition to the list because London’s BBQ scene isn’t limited to Shoreditch and central London.
The current listing shows afternoon and evening service on several days, with later hours on Friday and Saturday.
- West London BBQ option
- Smokehouse-focused menu
- Convenient location for visitors
- Casual setting
- Best for: Travellers exploring West London who want a BBQ dinner.
- Location: 100 Goldhawk Road, London W12 8HD.
14. Oak & Smoke – Central London
Oak & Smoke is another London option for readers who enjoy BBQ and fire-cooked food.
Its Charlotte Street location places it close to some of central London’s best-known attractions and neighbourhoods, making it convenient for visitors who want to combine sightseeing with a BBQ meal.
The restaurant currently has lunch and dinner service on most days, with later hours on Friday and Saturday.
- Central London location
- Convenient for tourists
- BBQ and smokehouse-style cooking
- Good choice for lunch or dinner
- Best for: Tourists who want to add BBQ to a central London food itinerary.
- Location: 4 Charlotte Street, London W1T 2LP.
15. Smokinly Good BBQ – Tewkesbury
Smokinly Good BBQ gives your list another option outside England’s biggest cities.
Based in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, the restaurant offers American-style food and BBQ in a more regional setting. It can be a useful stop for travellers exploring Gloucestershire and the surrounding Cotswolds area.
Its current listing shows service from Wednesday through Saturday, so checking the latest opening information before travelling is a good idea.
- American-style BBQ
- Located in Gloucestershire
- Good option for a countryside food trip
- Less city-focused than many London BBQ restaurants
- Best for: Road trippers exploring Gloucestershire and nearby countryside.
- Location: Unit 64, Basepoint, Oakfield Close, Tewkesbury GL20 8SD.
Final Thoughts
England’s BBQ scene has plenty to offer, from slow-smoked Texas-style meats to creative fire-cooked dishes. Whether you are exploring London, Manchester, Birmingham or the countryside, these BBQ spots are worth considering for your next food adventure. Check the latest opening hours and menus before visiting, and enjoy discovering England one smoky bite at a time.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the best BBQ spot in England?
- There is no single best choice. Smokestak, Texas Joe’s, Cue Point and other smokehouses each offer a different BBQ experience.
Where can I find Texas-style BBQ in England?
- London has several popular options, including Texas Joe’s and Black Cactus BBQ.
Should I book a BBQ restaurant in advance?
- Yes, booking is recommended for popular restaurants, especially at weekends.
What should I order at a BBQ restaurant?
- Brisket, ribs, pulled pork and smoked chicken are popular choices, depending on the restaurant’s menu.
Are BBQ restaurants expensive in England?
- Prices vary. Casual smokehouses can be relatively affordable, while premium BBQ restaurants may cost more.
I am Sabiq Hasan Rasel. Coffee with Travel, Recipes & Reviews is a cozy and engaging content space that blends a love of coffee with exciting travel experiences, delicious recipes, and honest reviews. It offers inspiration for coffee lovers who enjoy exploring new places, trying unique flavors, and discovering lifestyle tips along the way.
