Pub burgers chosen for National Burger Awards final

A selection of mouthwatering pub burgers have been chosen as finalists for the 2025 National Burger Awards.

The revered cook-off returns for an 11th year next month, with 16 of the UK’s finest burgers making it to the live final of the competition.

What's more, three operators from the pub and bar industry have made it into the last 16, with chefs from Albert's Schloss, The Plimsoll in Finsbury Park and Tom Kerridge's Butcher's Tap and Grill all set to compete on 11 February. 

This year’s line-up also features an exciting mix of up-and-coming indies and beloved burger brands, with the likes of Patty & Bun, Mollie’s and Fat Hippo going head-to-head with 7bone, Lagom and Cheltenham’s Smiths of Bourton. The full list of finalists can be seen below.

The competition, headline sponsored by Brooklyn Brewery, will take place at Big Penny Social in Walthamstow. On top of the signature round, which will see the chefs cook up the very same burger that earned them their spot at the final, finalists will take part in a technical challenge where they must create the ultimate burger from a selection of sponsor ingredients. They will also participate in a plant-based burger round, sponsored by Redefine Meat.

Alongside the burgers, this year will see the return of the Freakshake Challenge, in which another cohort of leading operators will battle it out to see whose creation will be named best in the UK.

Winners will be chosen by a hand-picked panel of expert industry judges, with the event culminating in a bustling awards ceremony later that same night.

A compelling line-up

“What’s not to love about a day spent celebrating the very best of British burgers?” says Genna Ash-Brown, editor of Dine Out magazine, which organises and runs the awards.

“Hot on the heels of last year’s 10th anniversary Champion of Champions event, we’re back and on a mission to find the purveyor of the UK’s ultimate burger.

“This line-up could well be the most compelling yet, and we can’t wait for our judges to be floored by the flavourful innovation that’s sure to be demonstrated by these talented chefs.”

The National Burger Awards 2025 is headline sponsored by Brooklyn Brewery, and sponsored by Americana, Aubrey Allen, Conglom, Fleet Street, Kerrymaid, Kühne, Oliehoorn, Redefine Meat and Tabasco.

The 2025 Finalists

7bone, Southampton
Prince Charles is Overrated

Albert’s Schloss, National
The Baron Burger

Black Bear Burger, London
Miso Bacon Burger

Bun & Sum
Big SMac

Burger & Lobster, London
Beast Burger

El Perro Negro, Glasgow
The Black Dog

Fat Hippo, National
French Kiss

Four Legs, The Plimsoll, London
Cheeseburger

Lagom, London
The Gothenburger

Loungers, National
Diablo Smash Burger

Mollie’s, Oxford
New Yorker

Patty & Bun, London
Patty Luger

Roddy Burger, Tunbridge Wells
The Gazza

Smiths of Bourton, Cheltenham
Mr P

The Boring Burger, Guildford
The Boring Burger

The Butcher’s Tap and Grill, Marlow
Joe Marler

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