Passion For Flavour
The Rub BBQ was born from founder Harp’s love of smoked BBQ meats. After struggling to find anything local that matched up to the flavours stateside, he took to creating his own! Testing out his creations on his friends and family, he was always asked what made them taste SO different. The secret: the smoking and the rub – hence, The Rub BBQ started.
Initially drafting in his mum and sister, Harp’s first event was StrEAT Food NN at Delapre Abbey in Northampton. Serving smoked pulled pork, baby back ribs, halloumi wraps and buffalo wings, The Rub BBQ sold out in 2 hours. After massive success at events, what once was a passion project very quickly became a full-time career, catering to a range of pop-up events in the local area and further afield.
Looks A Little Like This:
May 2017
Started designing the original logo
July 2017
Test runs for BBQs with friends and family
August 2017
First public-facing event at StrEAT Food NN
March 2018
First wedding catering booking
May 2018
First magazine feature
June 2018
First corporate event
March 2019
First radio feature on Nick Coffer’s Weekend Kitchen (fun fact: we did a total of 6 of these!)
July 2019
The horse box was officially launched
December 2019
Won all three awards in our category at the Circus Food Awards
May 2022
Selected out of thousands of businesses nationwide to feature in a Sky TV advert and national billboard campaign for VISA UK at the UEFA Women’s Euros
October 2022
Took on our very own commercial premises
February 2023
Takeaway was launched
July 2023
Paused takeaway and started planning our franchise opportunity
November 2023
Our new truck was launched with our refreshed branding
November 2023
Won Street Food Business of The Year award at MKFLA
April 2024
Franchise opportunity was launched – and the rest is history