Newcastle Welcomes the 10th Anniversary of Battle of the Burger

The 10^th annual Battle of the Burger competition occurred at Wylam Brewery on April 18^th and 19^th. The competition hosted by 44events saw local and independent burger joints go head-to-head for the title of best burger. Battle of the Burger was a hub for culinary innovation with culturally authentic adaptations of a traditional burger and a plethora of burger options to meet a variety of dietary requirements.

The venue consisted of indoor eating areas with a dining hall and outdoor eating areas such as a beer garden. Food trucks extended around the perimeter of Wylam Brewery, ensuring that no matter where someone looks, they would be able to find the burger for them. This food forum was jam-packed with hungry individuals queuing up for delicious burgers and others dotted around the area happily munching away on their meal. Inside, the dining hall was bustling with families, friends and dog walkers filling every available seat as they consumed their hearty burgers with the DJ playing music to enhance the uplifting atmosphere.

One burger cost one token, which was £5. This price ensured the food was affordable and good value for money. When at the event I knew I needed to try the signature burger of the previous two-time winner, Scranners Arms, to see if they were truly deserving of their title. Upon taking my first bite of their Radgie Chicken Burger, that answer was certainly yes. Between the succulent brioche buns, the burger consisted of a salt and pepper fried chicken patty doused in sriracha mayo and sweet hoisin sauce, accompanied with fried onions, peppers and lettuce. Every single bite was better than the last as the flavour began to build up in my mouth, culminating in a symphony of delectable taste. If you didn’t attend Battle of the Burger, this year it is worth going next year solely to try this burger.

To accompany the countless burger vans there was also a dynamic grouping of other foods available, including ice cream, churros and fries. To compliment my choice of an appetising burger I decided to go with Loaded Fries’ tandoori seasoned fries. These fries were tossed in tandoori masala, coriander and mint yoghurt, and seasoned with chilli and paprika. As I took the first bite, I knew I had once again made a correct decision, the fries were the perfect combination of spicy while not overpowering the strong flavour. Together with the Scranners Arms Radgie Chicken Burger I was heavily satisfied with what had been one of the best lunches I have had in a while.

To the surprise of no-one who ate the Radgie Chicken Burger and Radgie Frickin Burger, Scranners Arms were the winners of 10^th annual Newcastle Battle of the Burger contest. In second place was Meatstack, an independent burger chain offering real American cheeseburgers, following their triumphant return to the competition. Taking home bronze was 40ounce, a 90’s inspired hip hop burger joint and a previous winner of North East Restaurant of the Year 2024. Battle of the Burger also took place in Manchester at Track Brewing Company and in Leeds at Northern Monk Refectory. Make sure to keep an eye out for plenty of food events to come to each venue throughout the year, such as Slice Wars, Mexican Standoff, and Lord of the Wings.