Popular food festival dubbed ‘world’s best BBQ’ coming to Glasgow

A popular London food festival dubbed the “world’s best BBQ” is coming to Scotland for the first time ever.

Meatopia, taking place at SWG3 in Glasgow from June 6 to 8 in 2025, will showcase chefs from around the world, along with local culinary talents, crafting unique dishes over open flames, as well as drinks and live music.

The festival was brought to life in 2013, and has since featured some of the “biggest names in cooking” – from Yotam Ottolenghi, Fergus Henderson, and Scotland’s youngest Michelin-starred chef, Sam Yorke, at Tobacco Dock in London.

Using nothing but sustainable wood, charcoal, and responsibly sourced, quality meat, fish, and vegetables, the food is taste tested throughout the year, with each dish refined before its unveiling at the festival.

Last year’s event was the 10th anniversary, and welcomed over 100 renowned chefs and 16,000 visitors.

The concept was brought to the UK in 2013 by Mat Kemp, Richard Turner and James George.

Creative director Mat Kemp believes Glasgow is the “perfect next step” for the festival of food and fire cooking.

He said: “Our festival is all about world class chefs creating one dish each, with knowledge and influence from global fire-cooking culture, but using the best locally-sourced ingredients – and Scotland’s larder is a dream come true for any cook. The cooks will have so much to play with.

“The success of Meatopia has been overwhelming. It sells out every year because it really is a one-of-a-kind experience, founded to champion the use of naturally raised and produced , ethically sourced meat and fish and vegetables, cooked using only fire or smoke. It really is the world’s best BBQ.

“Since taking Meatopia to Dublin in 2017, 18 and 19 we’ve been looking up and down the UK for a place to take it next, and Glasgow was the perfect fit.

“This is about heroing hands-on cooks, age-old techniques and natural food, and Glasgow has that in abundance. It has such an incredible food scene. As much as anything else, I wanted Meatopia to be in Glasgow to give me an excuse to explore it more.”

A limited run of early bird tickets (starting at £10) are now available for Meatopia, with the full line-up of chefs set to be announced in the coming months.

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