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It’s simple yet ingenious. It’s messy yet so easy to eat. It’s a contradiction in a bun, a culinary miracle, and it deserves to be recognised as such.
The National Burger Awards (NBAs) happen once a year, and they do exactly what they say on the tin. Hopeful chefs and fryers send in their submissions, hoping that the judges will see the breakthroughs they’ve made in the world of patty-science. Maybe they added truffle, maybe they’re trying out brie instead of cheddar. Whatever it is, to earn a nomination you have to have created a damn good sandwich.
Although the winner won’t be chosen until February 11, the shortlist has just been released. Of the 16 finalists, six are based in London, and last year a joint in the capital claimed the gold, so it’s clearly a hub for greasy goodness as well as, well, everything else. Additionally, three restaurants with nominated dishes are national chains, meaning that you shouldn’t have to go far for a really great lunch.
Here is the complete shortlist of nominated burgers:
The finalists for the UK’s 2025 National Burger Awards
- 7bone, Southampton: Prince Charles is Overrated
- Albert’s Schloss, National: The Baron Burger
- Black Bear Burger, London: Miso Bacon Burger
- Bun & Sum, London: Big SMac
- Burger & Lobster, London: Beast Burger
- El Perro Negro, Glasgow: The Black Dog
- Fat Hippo, National: French Kiss
- Four Legs, 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
Each of these will compete for the coveted title of Britain’s best burger for 2025 in a day-long cook-off, where expert judges will taste-test every single one and, eventually, select a winner. This will be the eleventh year of the awards, so by this point they’ve pretty much got it down to a science, and you can trust that whoever takes home the trophy will be truly deserving.
Good luck to all the nominees. We look forward to seeing who’s got the magic spatula after all.
Eating in the UK
Although there are some stellar burgers in the UK – especially in the capital – you don’t need to love them to eat well here in the UK. We’ve uncovered some secret foodie locations that you might not have thought of, and we have lists of the best restaurants in the country, as well as our picks for the most romantic places to eat in Britain.
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