Street Food Championships 2025 - How Our Burger Took the Spotlight
The Leslie Nielsen Burger
The Best Burger In Walthamstow?
On 18th November 2025, our team stepped into the buzz and heat of The Big Penny Social in London for this year’s British Street Food Championships. Chefs from across the country gathered with their signature dishes, each hoping to make an impression on the judges and the crowds. For us at The Tavern On The Hill, it was a chance to show exactly what our kitchen has been building since reopening: honest cooking, serious flavour, and a food offering that stands up on a national stage.
This was no small moment. It marked the first time our pub entered the Championships under its own name - but for our head chef and co-owner Jamie Tack, it was a return.
The Chef Who’s Been Here Before
Jamie isn’t a stranger to this competition. Last year, representing our sister pub The Leytonstone Tavern, he took second place with the now-famous Griselda Blanco, a burger that built a loyal following and helped cement Leytonstone Tavern as one of East London’s most respected burger spots.
Coming back this year meant more than defending a reputation. With The Tavern On The Hill now finding its voice under Jamie’s leadership, this was a chance to step forward as a new contender - and to show what our kitchen in Walthamstow has to offer.
A New Pub on a National Stage
Since reopening, The Tavern On The Hill has been quietly developing a name for itself in E17. Regulars have noticed the shift: a tighter menu, bolder food, and a focus on doing things properly. Entering the Street Food Championships felt like the right moment to plant a flag.
Same chef. New home. Bigger expectations.
So Jamie brought a burger that speaks exactly to what we’re about.
Meet the 2025 Contender: The Leslie Nielsen
Our entry this year was The Leslie Nielsen, named after the legendary Canadian actor known for films like Airplane! - a nod to something a bit playful, bold, and impossible to ignore.
The burger itself is built around a hot fried chicken theme:
Deep-fried buttermilk chicken: crisp, juicy, and seasoned for heat
Chicken dipped in a Nashville-style oil: a punchy mix of beef fat, cayenne pepper, and brown sugar
Hot honey drizzled over the top for sweetness and sting
Mango slaw: mango, herbs, yogurt, lemon juice, and mayo - cooling, bright, and designed to cut through the spice
Finished with a crown of crushed Hot Cheetos for crunch and heat
It’s the kind of burger that turns heads - sweet, spicy, messy, confident. The reaction from regulars at the pub has been the same every time: one bite, a short pause, then a look that says, “Alright… that’s something else.”
So that’s what Jamie took to The Big Penny Social.
Inside the Championships
The venue was alive from the moment the doors opened. Steam rising, grills clattering, chefs working in tight spaces with absolute focus.
When The Leslie Nielsen hit the grill, the smell alone started pulling people in. A few early spectators hovered close, then called their friends over. People paused longer than expected over the slaw. Another watched the hot honey glaze run slowly down the chicken. It’s the small moments that tell you you’ve brought the right dish.
Jamie cooked with a calm intensity. No fuss, no theatrics - just good cooking, done properly. The crowd response was strong, and the energy only grew as the rounds continued. We were thrilled to see this signature burger make it all the way to the finals, and deservedly so.
What It Means for E17
For us, these Championships aren’t just about competition. They’re about putting Walthamstow food culture firmly on the map. Proper cooking doesn’t only belong to central London kitchens, slick chains, or established heavy hitters. It’s happening right here, in a neighbourhood pub, surrounded by regulars who’ve supported us from day one. And bringing that energy to a national stage feels like a win in itself.
Try the Championship Burger Yourself
The Leslie Nielsen is now on the menu - and to mark the Championships, we’re running a Burger Happy Hour from Monday 24th November to Thursday 27th November.
That means that between 5pm and 6pm you can grab the championship burger with any pint for £14.
It’s served exactly as it was on competition day.
Book a table, walk in, bring your mates - just don’t miss it.
Closing Notes
A huge thank you to everyone who sent messages, popped down for the event, or cheered us on from afar. This is only the beginning for the kitchen at The Tavern On The Hill. We’ll keep pushing, keep experimenting, and yes - we’ll be back at the Championships next year with something new.
Until then, we’ll see you at the pub.