Experiencing Meatopia 2024: A London Food Festival

Last week, we had the incredible opportunity to attend Meatopia 2024—one of the UK’s most anticipated food festivals for meat lovers. As first-time attendees and newcomers to the BBQ world, we weren’t entirely sure what to expect, but with all thing’s meat and fire on the agenda, our expectations were high. Little did we know just how fantastic the event would be—the atmosphere, the food, the people—it was all top-notch.

What really stood out at Meatopia was the sense of community. The moment we walked through the gates, we were greeted with a buzz of excitement, packed with people who, like us, were eager to dive into the incredible food on offer. Everywhere we turned, there were grills, smokers, and open flames, each station manned by chefs at the top of their game. The variety of dishes on offer was nothing short of impressive—it’s safe to say every plate we tasted was a culinary masterpiece.

Masters of Meat

Meatopia brings together a mix of grilling legends and rising stars, and watching these chefs at work was nothing short of inspiring. Whether they were expertly grilling a perfectly seasoned tomahawk or slow-cooking a whole pig's head over an open flame, their dedication and creativity were on full display. Instead of detailing how brilliant every single dish we tried was, we’ve curated our top three favourites (trust us, narrowing it down was no easy task!). Here’s what stood out from our Friday visit:

Johan Fritzell & Johan Akerberg – Holy Smoke BBQ

• ‘Double dip’ Lamb with CC dry rub, sweet mustard dip and churro-dill crumble

Mikel Lopez De Vinaspre – Sangardi

• Basque txuleton (matured beef) with seasonal peppers—this dish was all about letting the quality of the ingredients shine.

Jim Thomlinson – Nip & Cluck

• Spiced chicken kofta, studded with chopped lobster and pickled white crab, served in a lettuce leaf wrap with scorched peppers and smoked prawn head ketchup.

• An inventive twist on the classic kofta, elevated by the richness of lobster and crab.

The Community

For us at Flamery, Meatopia was more than just an opportunity to enjoy incredible food—it was a chance to immerse ourselves in a community that truly appreciates the art of fire cooking. The camaraderie among the attendees was palpable—a gathering of like-minded enthusiasts who share a love for grilling. Wearing our Flamery T-shirts, we engaged in conversations with food enthusiasts, home chefs, and BBQ aficionados, all of who were as passionate about grilling as we are.

Final Thank You

We want to extend a huge thank you to everyone at Meatopia for putting on such a fantastic event. The festival exceeded our expectations in every way, and we’re already counting down the days until next year. If you’re a fan of BBQ, fire cooking, or just incredible food in general, Meatopia is an experience you won’t want to miss.