These British burgers triumphed at the National Burger Awards 2024

Stop everything you’re doing. If you get joy out of sinking your teeth into a juicy patty and getting a gooey mix of cheese and ketchup literally everywhere, you’ll want to listen up. The BAFTAs of the burger world have just been announced.

Every year, British chefs battle it out for their burger to be crowned the best in the country at the National Burger Awards. In Great British Bake-Off style, shortlisted chefs have to cook their own signature burger in front of the judges before creating a technical burger made up of a specific selection of ingredients. 

This year, the ‘bacon double’ burger from New York-inspired London chain Bleeckers was crowned the greatest of them all. Apparently, the bun left judges ‘unanimously floored’ – you can read more about Bleeckers’ triumph on Time Out London here. 

Runners up were the double cheeseburger at Mollies Motel & Diner, based in Bristol and Oxfordshire, and the house Black Bear Burger from London’s Black Bear Burger. 

There were four other categories in the awards. Burger chef of the year went to Farbez Uddin of Bun & Sum (another London one) for his ‘George Motz Oklahoma Smash’. The ‘Mi-so Hungry’ by Hamish Macdonald at Bristol’s Fattso was awarded best plant-based burger while the ‘Aged Cheese Burger’ by Sam Bryant at Whole Beast (London, again) won blogger’s choice. 

And what’s a burger without an intensely indulgent milkshake to go with it? Freakshake of the year went to the apple-crumble inspired Forbidden Fruit shake by Francesca Hudspeth of MeatCastles in East Retford, Nottinghamshire.

Has all that made you want to give into gluttony? We support it. Take your pick from our list of London’s very best burgers. And if you want to gorge on more award winning delights, these are the UK’s best gastropubs, the best artisan bakeries, and the top fish and chip shops for 2024. And if you’re after something a bit more upmarket, check out the latest restaurants to be awarded Michelin stars.