BBQ Academy private events

Fire, food & a little friendly competition

Take over the BBQ Academy for the day. Your group learns to smoke, sear and grill like pros with one of our expert chefs, battles it out in the Smash Burger and Hot Wing challenges, then sits down to a feast you cooked yourselves.

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Packages: Affordable & flexible
Ideal for: Teams, parties & stags
Where: Hitchin, Hertfordshire
From London: Under an hour

Exclusive use of the BBQ Academy

Hosted by an expert BBQ chef

All food & activities included

Fully customisable packages

Under an hour from London

Watch

Not your average away day

No PowerPoints, no trust falls. Just live fire, great food and a room full of people cheering on the hottest-wing challenge.

Every event is hosted by one of our experienced BBQ chefs, who'll guide your group through four hands-on sessions, from low and slow smoking to blistering direct heat.

Plan your event

Who it's for

Built for groups who like their food fired up

Whether you're rewarding a team or sending off the groom, every private event is tailored to your group.

Team building
Corporate events

A team day people actually talk about. Hands-on cooking, team challenges and a long lunch together: ideal for team building, client entertaining and end-of-year celebrations.
Celebrations
Private hire

Birthdays, anniversaries, family get-togethers or just a group of friends who love food. The Academy is yours for the day, with a chef dedicated to your group.
The best man's secret weapon
Stag parties

Fire, meat and competition. Smash burger battles, a hot wing showdown and a feast to finish, an easy win for the best man and a great start to the night.

The day

Format & menu

Our most popular private event format: five sessions that take your group from smoke to feast, and everything you cook, you eat. Every part of the day can be swapped, shortened or extended, or you can choose one of our signature classes instead.

Low & slow
The Art of Smoking

We kick off with the fundamentals of smoking: fuel, wood, temperature control and patience. Then it's hands on, with volunteers preparing and seasoning the meats before they go into the smokers to cook through the day.
On the menu
Beef ribs in the Masterbuilt XT, and rolled pork belly on the rotisserie in the Kamado Joe
02
Team challenge
Smash Burger Challenge
Learn the secrets of the perfect smash burger: fat ratios, the sear, the crust and the sauces.
- Split into teams of 2 to 3
- 30 minutes to build your ultimate smash burger (x3) from a big selection of toppings
- Present to the chef for judging, with a prize for the winning team
On the menu
Smash burgers
Hands on + showdown
Hot Wing Challenge

Master crispy-skinned, seriously tasty chicken wings with a hands-on tutorial. Then the bravest volunteers go head to head to see who can handle the hottest wings.
On the menu
Chicken wings, from mild to wild
Team cook
Direct Heat

Back into teams to cook the final dishes for lunch, all over live, direct flame across a range of grills.
On the menu
Side of salmon on cedar planks (Weber kettle), charred leeks (kamado), coleslaw, and orange & whiskey cake (pellet smoker)
The feast
Lunch Together

Sit down as a group and enjoy the full spread of everything you've smoked, smashed, grilled and baked throughout the session.
On the menu
Everything you've cooked, served family style

Prefer a classic?

Or book one of our signature classes

Any of our standard BBQ Academy classes can be booked as a private event for your group, including Low 'n' Slow, Pizza Mastery, Kamado Core Skills and BBQ Foundations.

Signature class
BBQ Foundations

The perfect all-rounder: fire management, direct and indirect cooking, and the core skills every BBQ cook needs.
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Signature class
Low 'n' Slow: The Art of Smoking

A deep dive into smoking: fuel, wood, temperature control and patience, with low and slow cooks to enjoy together.
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Signature class
Pizza Mastery: Dough, Fire & Flavour

Make the dough, master the fire and fire up your own pizzas. A guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
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Signature class
Kamado Core Skills

Get to grips with the kamado: setting up, controlling temperature and cooking everything from searing to smoking.
View class

Tailored to you

What's included

Every private event is built around your group. Pricing depends on the number of people, the length of the session and the format you choose. Go for the format above, pick one of our signature classes, or let us tailor the menu and activities to suit.

Exclusive use
The whole BBQ Academy, just for your group.
Your own BBQ chef
Hosted from start to finish by an experienced instructor.
All food
Beef ribs, pork belly, smash burgers, wings, salmon, sides and dessert.
All activities
Four hands-on sessions, two challenges and a prize for the winners.
Soft drinks
Non-alcoholic drinks throughout the event.
All the kit
Smokers, kamados, kettles and pellet grills, all ready to go.