The Smokin’ Elk isn’t a normal restaurant - it’s more like a “learn-to-BBQ, drink-beer, eat-steak” playground for anyone who thinks fire + meat = happiness. Run by “Elky”, a self-declared fire-cooking fanatic who turned full-time BBQ teacher, it’s a place where you get hands-on with real fire cooking instead of just ordering a burger.
Over the years he’s mastered everything - gas grills, charcoal pits, ceramic kamado grills, live-fire cooking techniques, dry rubs, marinades and more. Now he invites you (yes, you) to join his classes - where you fire up the grill, cook dishes over flame, learn temperature control, and walk away with actual grill-skills, not just a plate of food.
These sessions don't try to be fancy or pretentious. There’s a relaxed “beer in hand, fire on the coals” vibe. You learn, you cook, you laugh, you eat. The goal: anyone - whether you’re a BBQ virgin or a charcoal veteran - leaves feeling like they could throw down in a backyard grill fight with confidence.
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You join a group, fire up a proper outdoor grill (ceramic kamado or similar), learn how to manage charcoal and smoke, cook meats/other dishes with guidance, and get hands-on with BBQ techniques — direct heat, rubs, temperature control, all of it.
It’s run by “Elky” (aka The Smokin’ Elk), a guy with decades of BBQ passion. The classes take place just outside Portsmouth, in Cowplain, Hampshire.
Definitely beginner-friendly. Elky explains from the basics (how to light a grill, manage airflow, use temperature probes). But even if you know your way around a BBQ, you’ll pick up pro tips and maybe try techniques you haven’t done before.
A bit of both. There’s serious cooking - proper techniques, real fire, real food - but also a laid-back, social, slightly cheeky vibe (beer, laughs, chatting with other BBQ fans). Great mix of “learn something useful” and “have a laugh.”
Yes - they offer private events, group classes, pop-ups, even catering for occasions like birthdays, stag/hen parties, or corporate team-builds. It’s flexible and ideal if you want a memorable (and smoky) group outing.
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