Black Bear cooks up UK’s best burger
A burger brand with multiple sites across the capital scooped the top prize at this year’s National Burger Awards, winning National Burger of the Year at the 11th annual competition.
Stewart Down of Black Bear Burger – which has sites in Exmouth Market, Brixton, Victoria, Canary Wharf, Shoreditch and Camden – wowed a panel of industry judges with his signature creation, seeing off competition from 15 other finalists.
Down’s Miso Bacon Burger featured two 45-day aged beef patties, cheese, smoked bacon, miso butter mayo and onion, sandwiched between a bespoke sesame seed bun.
The win follows the chef-owner’s success at the 10-year anniversary Champion of Champions event last September, where he was presented with the Bloggers’ Choice Award.
“I was pretty surprised,” says Down. “We’ve competed two times before – came third last year and won the Bloggers’ Choice Award after that, but this was the one we wanted.
“We’ve been going for over seven years and this is recognition, as we’ve been so focused on doing burgers the best we possibly can. To come here and get something like this is pretty special. This changes things. We’ve seen the past winners, and they are big, impressive names. To be up there with the likes of them is amazing.”
Roddy Burger and Smiths of Bourton came second and third in the Signature category, respectively.
The competition also saw finalists participate in a Technical round, requiring them to make the ultimate burger from a selection of sponsor ingredients in a bid to be named National Chef of the Year.
This year’s Technical winner was Nick Watkins of El Perro Negro, who impressed judges with a creation called the Bacon and Cheese Picante. Watkins is no stranger to the event, having claimed National Burger of the Year in 2019 and again in 2021.
Fat Hippo stole the show in the Plant-Based category, with chef Rob Macdonald’s Sloppy Faux creation – featuring a plant-based sloppy faux mix, pickleback chipotle slaw and BBQ sauce – taking home the crown.
Another big win went to Dan Gover of Mollie’s, whose signature burger, The New Yorker, received the Bloggers’ Choice Award, hand-picked by @kate.ovens, @BigEatsGlobal and @thefatfoodie.
This year also saw the return of the Freakshake Challenge, with Leo Ferenc of Leonati Street Food winning Freakshake of the Year. His Shake My Sweet Burger incorporated milk, sugar, cream, fruit juice, chocolate, syrups, cake and various sweets and savoury snacks for decoration.
The National Burger Awards 2025 took place at Big Penny Social in London on Tuesday, 11 February. Organised by Dine Out magazine and hosted by burger legend Christian Stephenson, aka DJ BBQ, the competition was headline sponsored by Brooklyn Brewery and sponsored by Americana, Aubrey Allen, Conglom, Fleet Street, Four Roses Bourbon, Vitamix, Kerrymaid, Kühne, Oliehoorn, Pepsi, Redefine Meat, Synergy Grill Technology and Tabasco.
