BBQ Guru's

[Swindon_Ed]

I was just looking at their site and i looks like they're adding brisket to it as well.

Looks like i'm gonna have a busy year of bbq to getready for that as well as pit masters

[Steve]

You should be able to get set up for cooking in the time frame allowed Ed. Like Adie says, a bit of practice and you'll be fine.

It's a shame Grillstock can't do camping, it's not my bag in the format it currently has. I like the camping out and socialising that goes on during the night. Anyway, we have three Pit Masters events to look forward to

[British BBQ Society]

The down side for us is that almost... in fact no, all BBQ events are southern based so we are taking a hit with fuel at every event, we usually need two cars, and to bring the family we need to have our own accommodation (Caravan) so I think after this year we'll be evaluating which events we want to do and just go for those.

Hopefully there will be a sanctioed competition in stockport in May which in turn could lead to another in Manchester later in the year. Times a ticking but I am hopeful.

As the Society doesnt have an income all costs are covered by myself, and the costs are just too high setting somthing up further a field. Hopefully now that we are in our third year competition organisers will start to see the benefit of being sanctioned by the British BBQ Society which will increase competitions with a standard fixed set of rules and constitant judging year on year.

All please remember if you would like to host a competition I am here to help.

Toby

[Steve]

It's a shame Grillstock can't do camping, it's not my bag in the format it currently has. I like the camping out and socialising that goes on during the night. Anyway, we have three Pit Masters events to look forward to

So are you saying you will not be competing at Grillstock because of the format?

I have no plans to do Grillstock and yes its' down to the format. I can only do a certain number of competitions per year and present me with the option doing of a Pit Masters format vs a Grillstock format comp then my decision will be simple every time. Nothing against the event itself, I nearly did it last year until I found out about having to be away from the cook site overnight.

[All Weather Griller]

It's a shame Grillstock can't do camping, it's not my bag in the format it currently has. I like the camping out and socialising that goes on during the night. Anyway, we have three Pit Masters events to look forward to

So are you saying you will not be competing at Grillstock because of the format?

Same here Al, it's the format, a long way for me to come to have to book into a hotel with two kids n the missus, lots of stuff to set up and not be around to secure. I know from the feedback it got last year it was a great event and I here the student turn out was amazing but alas not for us.

[Swindon_Ed]

It's a shame we are all so spread out and with the current economy it's tough all around to put on events and to travel. I would love to see more events down this direction no matter the overall size

I know what you mean with that Al. Part of me wishes i had a bigger garden / house as it would be good just to have a local social event to get together and Q.

I'm hoping to move in the summer, maybe then i'll be able to organise such a thing.

[All Weather Griller]

Like you say Al the facilities are the biggest problem.

I have access to a couple of fields up here just off the A1 and although we have plenty of space, the issue for most is the need for Electric, Toilets, Water and Drainage. I think it became more apparent at Rudgewick about how lucky (Spoilt) we have been at the Tongham events.

Personally I perhaps could be reasonably self sufficient, I have a Generator, Caravan or Trailer and so as long as I can get water I should be ok. But as we found at Rother Valley, once you fire up a Genny you do get some moaning about the noise. Granted Rudgewick were more lenient with Genny but then again every other pitch had one on the go.

The entry fee is likely to need to cover:

Toilet Hire
Refuse collection
Competition Meats
Generator hire???
Access to Water

In order to get those facilities the entry fee may become unaffordable, I know initially last year Toby was hiring the toilet facilities until he built the toilet and shower block. I suppose it's what people are prepare to a) pay for and b) do with out.

Another point is rubbish collection facilities, we were fortunate at Rudgewick in that there were rubbish collection services on hand. Toby usually accommodates this again at his expense. We would need to ensure that we take our own rubbish with us at some of these places unless we add skip shire to the entry fee.

It is probably worth a conversation with Toby on the in's and outs of the detail but just hosting looks an expensive deal if it's not covered by an entry fee.

All of this and still prizes and trophies to be sourced.

If we breakdown our current BBBQS entry fees, I'm guessing they would barely cover the engraving costs LOL

I'm not being negative or anything its just I have considered trying to set something up in the Midlands and these were all the things I had to consider on top of just being the organiser and not being able to compete because of the other peoples perception of the organiser competing.

I'm still looking for a caravan site that has most of the facilities that would be prepared to accommodate a bunch of BBQ'ers like ourselves.

[Swindon_Ed]

I've just had a quote from Speedy hire for renting a 30KVA Generator 415/3/50 which should give enough power for what would be needed, and it came in at £551.38 + VAT including delivery and collection.

No idea what toilet hire would cost, but looking at these numbers and meat prices and other bit's you'd end up needing 20 teams minimum.

[British BBQ Society]

I've just had a quote from Speedy hire for renting a 30KVA Generator 415/3/50 which should give enough power for what would be needed, and it came in at £551.38 + VAT including delivery and collection.

No idea what toilet hire would cost, but looking at these numbers and meat prices and other bit's you'd end up needing 20 teams minimum.

Dont forget refrigerated trailer!! you will need to store comp meat prior to handout, all in all you are looking at about £3k for the basics and dont expect to get your money back, the biggest BBQ competition to date (within the last 5 years) had 15 teams. You will also struggle to get sponsors because its in a field and would be difficult to attract enough ofthe "paying" general public

[All Weather Griller]

Dont forget refrigerated trailer!!

You know what... I completely forgot about fridge van!