Heroes everywhere at Solex
BBQ magazine hosted its celebrated BBQ Hero event at the Summer Outdoor Living Exhibition (SOLEX) in Birmingham this week.
The event drew a big crowd of industry leaders from the top outdoor brands, as well as buyers and special guests, as SOLEX, organised by the Leisure & Outdoor Furniture Association (LOFA), showcased luxury outdoor cooking and furniture brands at Birmingham’s NEC.
The highlight of the three-day show was the SOLEX Fire, Food & Outdoor Living evening, with Matt Tebbutt of BBC’s Saturday Kitchen and Jules Hudson, presenter of the BBC’s Escape to the Country, judging the best steak sandwiches in the BBQ Hero competition, hosted by food & drinks expert Andy Clarke and Ian Jones from BBQ magazine.
Four top BBQ brands – Kamado Joe, Grillstream, Char-Broil and Charlie Oven – took part in the competition, with teams made up of live-fire chefs and guests from companies such as Redrow Homes, John Lewis and Hex Living, with Charlie Oven emerging victorious, as the TV stars tucked into four mouth-watering steaks, decided on taste, appearance and innovation in a 20-minute contest.
Sponsors of the evening included Powder Monkey Brewing, Tidal Rum, Beefsteak Club wines, LumberjAxe, Tramontina. The event was also supported by Surrey Hills Butchers, Kingfisher Farm Shop and Loaf.
“Huge thank you to the team at SOLEX for having myself, Matt Tebbutt and Andy Clarke to host the BBQ magazine BBQ Hero competition. The world of outdoor living and barbecue has come a long way in the last few years,” said Jules Hudson.
Andy Clarke added: “What a great day: Fire, food, cocktails and a lot of fun.”
SOLEX event director Gina Hinde said: “What a night. It was such a slick production, with great pace and atmosphere.”
David Taylor, partnerships director at BBQ magazine, said: “We were delighted with the event. The format of our unique BBQ Hero competition is proving so popular with the outdoor cooking world – the perfect opportunity to inspire, educate and above all entertain, bringing the outdoor living community together to celebrate all that is great about the sector.”
BBQ Hero Winners- Charlie Oven