The boss

Darren Turnbull, co-founder of BBQ Kitchens and Fired Up BBQ Supply Co.

Originally from New Zealand, now based in London, my background is business transformation, but I could see the growing interest in food and fire and outdoor entertaining in the UK. Cooking outdoors has always been a passion for me and it is great to see it becoming so popular in the UK, where traditionally the outdoor space has been underutilised.

The business

BBQ Kitchens is a leading luxury outdoor kitchen retailer, working with design professionals and clients to create the ultimate outdoor cooking and entertaining area. Off the back of this successful brand, we realised there was also a need to fill a gap in the market for people in the Greater London and Home Counties areas who don’t want to go to garden centres.

Enter Fired-Up BBQ Supply Co. as the London’s first grill supply store, offering an old school in-store shopping experience and expert advice for BBQ enthusiasts and aficionados.

The influence

Growing up in New Zealand and the great outdoors, there was always a barbecue at family and friends’ parties. Back then, we were cooking sausages and chops on fairly basic equipment, but it was the start of a journey testing all kinds of BBQ and smokers. The American BBQ scene has also had a massive influence on me.

The equipment

I absolutely love my Kamado Joe Classic 3 and Traeger Timberline; these are generally smoking all weekend.

The meal

Big beef ribs, low and slow on the Kamado Joe, using classic Texas-style rubs and spices.

The next big thing

The food and fire movement is going to become even more exciting in the UK and Europe, as people graduate from basic barbecue to wanting to try better equipment and more adventurous recipes.

I don’t think the equipment itself needs any further innovation. The current grills, pizza ovens and smokers are the perfect balance between old school grilling and ease of use. Because we are across high-end kitchens, we are finding grilling enthusiasts who want something more than a trolley grill, but may not have the space or budget for a full outdoor kitchen. Fired Up is creating a range of cabinets that fills this gap.

BBQ Kitchens and Fired Up BBQ Supply Co.