Meatopia Announces Full Line-Up For 2025

A staple in the calendar for lovers of live-fire cooking, Meatopia returns this August for the ultimate four-day BBQ party. The full line-up for 2025 has just been revealed, featuring a sizzling selection of chefs from across the UK and beyond, who will be grilling up one-of-a-kind dishes at London’s Tobacco Dock. Vegetarians, look away; carnivores prepare to get your teeth stuck into some smoky, meaty goodness. Here’s what to look out for this year.

Meatopia 2025: History, Line-Up & How To Book

What Is Meatopia?

Meatopia is one of the UK’s best-loved food festivals – but it was actually founded by accident. Over a decade ago, the late food writer Josh Ozersky threw a big birthday party in New York, which grew to become a ticketed event, centred around all things meat and cooking over flames. In 2013, the concept was brought to the UK and the first Meatopia took place.

The concept? A group of top BBQ chefs from around the world cook bespoke dishes over hot, sustainably sourced wood and charcoal. Naturally, there’s lots of meat, but there’s also seafood and vegetables, alongside an array of cocktails and spirits. 

Ethical sourcing is key throughout the event. Meatopia’s manifesto reads: ‘The meat we serve comes from animals that have been raised naturally, lived good lives, and been treated with respect. We honour these ingredients by handing them over to the best chefs in the business – masters of open-fire cooking who understand that every cut deserves care and attention.’ Nose-to-tail eating is encouraged, with a focus on lesser-known cuts. 

While food takes centre stage, music is a big part too: guests can expect live musicians, roaming brass bands and DJs, keeping the vibes high throughout the day and evening. Festival goers can also get involved with butchery masterclasses and cooking workshops at The Cutting Room, learning techniques from the best in the business.

The festival attracts an impressive calibre of chefs: everyone from Yotam Ottolenghi to St John founder Fergus Henderson and Swedish chef Niklas Ekstedt has cooked there over the years, and the 2025 line-up looks suitably exciting.

When Is Meatopia?

The festival returns to London from 28 – 31 August 2025.

Which Chefs Are Cooking?

A handful of London’s top live-fire restaurants are being represented at Meatopia 2025. Highlights include Andrew Clarke, who has over 25 years of experience as a chef and restauranteur, and founded one of Hackney’s best-loved spots, Acme Fire Cult, which is all about veg-centric BBQ fare. Drew Snaith, who opened buzzy East London newbie SESTA last year, will also be cooking up a storm. 

They’ll be joined by Robbie Jameson from Mayfair’s Michelin-starred eatery HUMO, which is all about elevated wood-fired dining with a Japanese influence. Another London name to look out for is Josh Dalloway, head chef of Tasca, a year-long residency spotlighting the food of Portugal and Spain, which Dalloway runs with his partner Sinead Murdoch. 

From elsewhere in the UK, Manchester chef Jamie Pickles – co-owner of new open fire restaurant Stow – will be making his Meatopia debut. 

A number of chefs will also be coming over from the US. Don’t miss Rasheed Philipps, who hails from Georgia and rose to fame on Netflix’s The American Barbeque Showdown. He’s a big name in the American food world, but Meatopia will be the first time he’s cooked in the UK. Isabel Coss of Washington DC’s Pascual, meanwhile, will be collaborating with Valerie Chang of Miami’s Maty’s to create a dish which combines their Mexican and Peruvian heritages.

It’s not all about savoury fare, either: pastry chef Anna Hingham of Quince Bakery will be delivering the sweet treats, alongside Fred Casterton of Fred’s Bakes – think seasonal tarts, chocolate chip cookies and meringue pies. 

How To Book

Tickets are available now via the Meatopia website. During the festival, you can eat as much as you like using ‘Meatbucks’ credits – bought ahead of the festival with ticket bundles, or on the day using the roaming ‘MeatBucaneers’.