Thrill of the grill - Enter our PubChef BBQ competition

Brits love a good BBQ and alfresco dining is big business for pubs.

BBQs give chefs a chance to use culinary flair that extends beyond the constraints of the kitchen.

With the smoking ban just around the corner, alfresco dining is on the up. Our competition - in association with Heinz www.heinzfoodservice.co.uk​ aims to celebrate the creativity and passion shown by chefs at pubs around the UK and find the best pub barbecuers in Britain.

The winner of this exciting competition, which will see three finalists battling it out over the coals in a cook-off final, will win a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be part of the Best of Britain BBQ team and compete in the World BBQ Championships in America, experiencing the barbecue culture of the Deep South in Tennessee.

This year, Heinz Foodservice - which has recently launched a BBQ sauce that can be used for dipping, marinating, basting and grilling - is sponsoring the competition. Heinz head development chef and Best of Britain BBQ team member Gary Barnshaw says: "Alfresco dining in pubs will be a key business-building opportunity in 2007. Pubs with outdoor-eating facilities will be in huge demand after the smoking ban kicks in, so pubs that are prepared with a high quality outdoor environment and fresh menu will be attracting all the crowds."

Marston's Pub Company catering development manager "BBQ Ben" Bartlett will lead the team in the international competition.

The prize sounds like a holiday but the winner will not be learning how to simply flip burgers​Marston's Pub Company catering development manager "BBQ Ben" Bartlett.

He says: "The prize sounds like a holiday but the winner will not be learning how to simply flip burgers. They will learn how to marinade and cook a range of meat cuts, such as brisket, belly and ribs, as well as chickens and whole hogs. They will use a range of slow cooking methods, which can take up to 16 hours, plus aromatic woods to enhance the flavour.

"Back home, they won't think of a BBQ in the same way. They will realise the true potential of a BBQ menu and be able to create a bespoke range of dishes, unique to their outlet."

Finalists will be judged on execution, presentation and taste of their dish by the judges. They will also be tasked with creating a BBQ dish at the cook-off from a mystery box of ingredients.

If you have any questions about how to enter the competition contact Sue Selby on 01293 610238.

Win a trip to barbecue in the US​The chef winning the competition will earn a coveted place on the Best of Britain BBQ team, which competes in the Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue in Lynchburg, Tennessee, on 26 and 27 October 2007.

Our three finalists will also win a 15kw Mirage commercial patio heater powered by Calor. Finalists will also win a BBQ Ben box set, including a BBQ With Ben DVD, ther-mometer, marinade bags, and grilling implements.

The cook-off will take place on 30 May at the Royal Oak in King's Bromley, Staffordshire, and the closing date for entries is 12 April.

Chefs must submit a meat, seafood or poultry main course barbecue dish. If you are marinating your entered dish, this may be done prior to the event.

Finalists will have 30 minutes cooking time and the dish entered should be something that can be cooked within this period.

Entry form here pdf/bbq-comp.pdf

Terms and conditions​1. The organiser of the Battle of The BBQs 2007 Competition ("competition") is William Reed Publishing, Broadfield Park, Crawley RH11 9RT.2. By entering the competition the entrant will be deemed to have read and understood these rules and to be bound by them. These rules include any instructions set out with the entry form and competition details.3. The competition is open to chefs cooking at pubs in Great Britain. Entrants must be cooking at the pub named on the entry form and the entry must be supported by the licensee or manager of the pub. Entries must be signed by the person responsible for submitting the entry and to whom all correspondence concerning the competition should be addressed.4. Entry forms must be sent by prepaid post to arrive no later than 12 April 2007. Proof of posting will not be deemed to be proof of delivery.5. Entries will only be accepted if they are submitted on the entry form and completed in full and in ink and accompanied by the appropriate supporting documents. Supporting documents will be retained by the organiser and will not be returned.6. Responsibility cannot be accepted for any lost, late or mislaid entry and any entry that is damaged, defaced, illegible or incomplete, or that otherwise does not comply with these terms and conditions may be deemed invalid at the sole discretion of the organiser.7. Three finalists will be selected from all of the entries on 14 April against the criteria - which is set out with the entry instructions - by a panel of judges selected by the organiser. The finalists will be notified by post and their details published in the May issue of PubChef.8. Each finalist will be required to cook and serve to the judges the recipe submitted with the entry form at a cook-off at the Royal Oak, King's Bromley, Staffordshire, on Wednesday 30 May 2007 at a time to be specified by the organiser. The finalists will be responsible for supplying their own ingredients.9. The overall winner of the competition will be selected from the finalists at the cook-off and the result published in the Morning Advertiser on 7 June 2007 and in the July issue of PubChef.10. Each of the three finalists will receive a 15kw Mirage commercial patio heater powered by Calor and a BBQ Ben box set consisting of a BBQ With Ben DVD, thermometer, marinade bags and grilling implements. The overall winner will win flights and accommodation to join the Best of Britain BBQ team participating in the Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue in Lynchburg, Tennessee, on 26-27 October 2007, further details of which can be found by visiting the Jack Daniels website at 11.' target='_blank'>www.lynchburgtenn.com/jack_daniels_bar-b-q.html 11. The organiser reserves the right to change the judging panel without prior notice to entrants.12. The decision of the chairman of the judges on all matters affecting this competition is final and legally binding.13. No correspondence will be entered into.14. Finalists may be required to take part in some post-event publicity and consent to their name, photographs, and competition entries being used for such purposes.