NYC’s ‘Best Barbecue Restaurant’ to Collaborate With Shake Shack in London

A Brooklyn-based barbecue restaurant that Eater NY’s critic Ryan Sutton called the best in the city will be popping up in London for one night only. Hometown Bar-B-Que’s founder Billy Durney will collaborate with the international burger chain Shake Shack, which is celebrating its fifth anniversary in the U.K. next month.

The event will also fall on the eve of Shake Shack’s latest London opening — at Mansion House, in the City — on 5 July. Billy Durney, Hometown’s founder and pitmaster said he was “honoured and humbled to be partnering with Shake Shack to celebrate the 5th anniversary of Shake Shack arriving in the U.K.”

Shake Shack culinary director, Mark Rosati, said. ‘When I think about why I love this time of the year, I think about bringing people together over BBQ and amazing backyard-cooked burgers and hot dogs. We could not be more excited to be bringing out one of our good friends, Billy Durney, an absolute NYC legend, who couples classic BBQ tradition with all the flavours and diversity of Brooklyn, New York.”

Eater also understands that Black Axe Mangal’s Lee Tiernan is going to be involved and cooking behind the scenes. So expect fireworks.

The limited-edition menu will include:

• Hometown Shack burger: Shake Shack’s Aberdeen Angus beef patty topped with smoked and sliced dry-aged top loin, Oglesheild cheese, caramelised onions, and jus.
• Hometown fries: Crinkle-cut fries topped with cheddar cheese sauce and pastrami smoked bacon.
• Smoked caramel bourbon shake: Vanilla frozen custard with smoked caramel and bourbon, topped with whipped cream, smoked salt, and speculoos cookie crumbles.

About the menu, Durney added: “The burger, fries and shake that Mark and I teamed up on will bring a Brooklyn, New York BBQ vibe to the traditional Shake Shack food we’ve all come to know and love.”

Because Shake Shack is celebrating the fifth anniversary (and because this is also to generate a particular kind of hype) tickets are priced at £5. They can be purchased online here as well as from the Shake Shack UK Facebook page. 100% of all ticket sales will be donated to the #BakeForSyria campaign — an off-shoot of the #CookForSyria charity — which is curated by London baker Lily Vanilli. Proceeds from the campaign are donated to Unicef’s children of Syria appeal via Unicef Next Generation London.

Ticketed event, Wednesday 4 July, 5-9pm (two sessions, 1-hour 45-minute time slot each). Mansion House Shake Shack, 45 Cannon Street. 150 tickets will be sold as sessions: 5pm – 6:45pm and 7:15pm – 9pm (with a limited number on the door sold for cash only.) A £5 ticket will include a wristband with tokens for: 1 burger, 1 fries, and 1 shake (non-alcoholic version available). Plus a pint of ShackMeister ale or lager, brewed by Thornbridge Brewery.

Shake Shack Mansion House will open at midday on 5 July.