About us

Like many young boys, I developed a fascination with fire at an early age, fuelled by our family’s love of camping and the outdoors. By my teenage years I had started experimenting with cooking myself, driven by a permanent teenage appetite.

At 18 I was given the opportunity to spend six months in South Africa playing cricket in Johannesburg. There I discovered the culture of the braai, where barbecue is a way of life, and learned from true masters of live-fire cooking. I went on to spend many happy years in South Africa, developing my skills and passion along the way.

My cricket career then took me around the world, allowing me to experience a wide variety of cuisines and food cultures. Through these travels I realised how much I loved experimenting with food and different ways of cooking.

When I retired from cricket in 2013, I was left searching for a new direction. While my passion for cricket remained strong, I struggled to find my place within the game for the future.

And so Hoggy’s Grill was born.

Based on the beautiful banks of Rutland Water, Hoggy’s Grill combines a cookery school and event space offering barbecues to suit every taste, fuel type and budget. I aim to provide a personalised service to help customers find the perfect grill and teach them how to get the very best from it. The cookery school hosts regular classes, events and collaborations with exciting brands and personalities.

Al fresco, live-fire cooking is a way of life in so many countries and I am passionate about constantly expanding and developing grill skills across the UK. Isn't it time we all learned to love this incredible way of cooking? We look forward to welcoming you to Hoggy's Grill.