Description
Highlights
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Learn from a true master of the art, not an influencer.
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Years of experience, blood, sweat and tears. Passed on to you in this class.
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This class will have tasters throughout, and a huge BBQ banquet where you sit and exchange stories and tips with your class buddies.
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Welcome drinks on the house, and a fully stocked bar all day.
Description
The Ultimate Texas BBQ Masterclass
Step into the world of true American barbecue and spend the day around real fire with professional pitmaster Richie Rye.
This is not a quick demo or a recipe class. It is an immersive, hands-on experience built around the cut that defines Texas barbecue… brisket. Smoke in the air, music in the background, fire already burning when you arrive. You will work, taste, learn and feast together, exactly as barbecue should be.
You are not learning from an influencer or someone who built their reputation online. Richie has earned his standing the old-fashioned way… by producing some of the best barbecue in the UK, day after day, in real kitchens, restaurants and residencies. He has not chased internet adoration and he has not needed to. His reputation comes from consistency, craft and results, not reels.
Richie brings over 25 years of live-fire cooking and hospitality experience, shaped by years spent studying smokehouses and regional barbecue cultures across the United States. His approach blends authentic US technique with British produce, discipline with personality, and serious craft with a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere.
Whether you are lighting your first smoker or refining years of experience, this session is tailored to you.
What the day feels like
When you arrive, the pit is already running. One brisket will be resting, ready to slice and taste. Another goes on live so you can follow the full process from trim to wrap to finish.
From there, the day unfolds naturally.
You will move between the pit, prep tables and tasting plates. You will adjust seasoning, manage heat, build flavour and ask questions as they arise. Nothing rushed. Nothing over-technical. Just proper barbecue done properly.
Alongside brisket, you will work with ribs, chicken, sausages and classic sides, learning how to balance flavours across a full Texas-style spread.
You will learn
- How to control fire rather than chase temperature
- Proper brisket trimming, seasoning and cooking methods
- Heat management across different zones of the pit
- Smoke quality and flavour balance
- When to intervene and when to leave the meat alone
- Wrapping techniques and timing decisions
- Resting, slicing and serving for maximum tenderness
- How to build a complete barbecue feast
This is not about memorising steps. It is about understanding what is happening inside the pit so you can cook with confidence at home.
The food
Over the course of the session you will prepare and cook a full selection of classic barbecue meats and sides, including:
- Texas-style brisket
- Pork ribs
- Smoked chicken
- Sausage links
- House sides and sauces
- Extras depending on the day
At the end, everything comes together for a proper sit-down feast. No tiny tasting portions. No standing around with paper plates. Just a generous spread built by the group and shared together.
Who this experience is for
This masterclass is designed for anyone who wants to cook barbecue with real confidence.
- Backyard grillers ready to level up
- Hosts who want to own summer entertaining
- Food lovers who care about flavour and detail
- Experienced cooks wanting real fire knowledge
- Complete beginners curious to learn properly
Barbecue is personal. There is no single correct style. You will be encouraged to taste, tweak and develop your own approach.
Your pitmaster
Richie Rye is a professional pitmaster, executive bourbon steward and hospitality operator with more than two decades of experience building chef-led American barbecue concepts in the UK.
His philosophy is simple:
Master the fundamentals.
Respect the fire.
Bring your own voice.
The setting
This experience takes place primarily outdoors, surrounded by countryside, fire and smoke. If the British weather has other ideas, we can move under cover or indoors so the day continues comfortably.
Small group sizes ensure everyone gets hands-on time at the pit and personal guidance throughout.
Duration & details
- Approx. 5 hours (allow up to 6… great barbecue cannot be rushed)
- Hands-on cooking throughout
- All ingredients and equipment included
- Full barbecue feast included
- Small group experience
- £150 per person
Arrive hungry.
Leave smelling of smoke.
Cook differently from that day forward.
If you want, I can also produce a slightly sharper version that leans even harder into the “serious craft, no gimmicks” positioning, or one that softens it for broader gift buyers while keeping the credibility.
