Ultimate Father's Day Takeover: Smash Burgers at Novell's Restaurant
Are you looking for the ultimate way to treat dad this Father's Day? Look no further than Novell's Restaurant at Polhill Garden Centre. This year, we are flipping the script on traditional Sunday options by bringing you an exclusive culinary event that promises to be the highlight of the weekend. On Sunday 21st June, between 12:00pm and 3:00pm, the renowned Polhill BBQ School is staging a kitchen takeover. We are locking away our standard burger menu and firing up the ultimate outdoor cooking machinery for a lunchtime experience like no other.
It is worth noting that our traditional Sunday menu remains fully available alongside this exclusive event. The Blackstone griddle takeover specifically replaces our standard burger options, meaning the rest of the family can still enjoy their usual Novell's favourites. Because Pete and Sam are operating the griddles live outside the main kitchen, please be aware that if your table orders a combination of smash burgers and standard kitchen dishes, the items may arrive at slightly different times. Our teams will be working hard to coordinate both stations so that every meal is served in peak condition.
The Ultimate Live Fire Collaboration
Great food is always born from passion, and this Father's Day event represents a true collaboration between two local culinary heavyweights. Behind the griddle, you will find Peter Oakley, widely recognised across social media and the local food scene as the bearded foodie. As our resident pitmaster and the driving force behind the Polhill BBQ School, Pete has spent years mastering live fire techniques, experimenting with smoke profiles, and teaching enthusiastic cooks how to get the absolute best out of their grills. His expertise in heat management and flavour profiling makes him the perfect lead for this high-speed kitchen takeover.
Working alongside Pete is Sam Coleman, the esteemed head of catering at Novell's Restaurant. Sam understands exactly what makes our diners tick, bringing his classical kitchen management, commitment to locally sourced ingredients, and deep culinary knowledge to the table. By combining Pete's innovative street food flair with Sam's rigorous standards of kitchen excellence, this partnership guarantees a dining experience that balances theatre with absolute premium quality. Watching these two experts work in tandem over the roaring heat is worth the visit alone.
The Power of the Blackstone Griddle
You might be wondering what makes these burgers so special compared to a standard grilled patty. The secret lies entirely in the equipment and the technique. For this takeover, Pete and Sam will be utilising heavy-duty Blackstone griddles. Unlike traditional open-flame barbecues where fat drips away and causes flare-ups, a solid steel griddle retains intense, uniform heat across its entire surface.
When a ball of premium British beef hits that scorching hot steel, it is immediately smashed flat with a heavy press. This action forces the meat into direct, maximum contact with the cooking surface, triggering the Maillard reaction. This chemical reaction creates a deeply caramelised, dark brown crust across the entire surface of the patty, locking in all the natural juices and fats. The result is a burger that is incredibly crispy on the outside while remaining remarkably juicy on the inside, a feat that is impossible to achieve on a standard kitchen stove or a traditional garden barbecue.
Explore the Exclusive Father's Day Menu
We believe in doing things flawlessly, which is why our regular burger range is stepping aside for these three hours to make way for three carefully curated smash burger options. Each burger features two perfectly smashed 3oz (approximately 85g) beef patties, ensuring the ideal meat-to-bun ratio and allowing the melted cheese to fuse the components together beautifully. Every single order is served fresh in a beautifully toasted, pillowy brioche bun, accompanied by a generous side of seasoned potato wedges and our signature homemade coleslaw.
The Plain Jane
Do not let the name fool you, because there is absolutely nothing ordinary about this burger. The Plain Jane is designed for the purists who want to appreciate the absolute quality of the ingredients and the precision of the smash technique. It features two of our signature 3oz (85g) beef patties, smashed to crispy perfection on the Blackstone griddle. As the meat cooks, it is topped with a generous slice of high-quality cheese that melts into every nook and cranny of the caramelised crust. The burger is finished with a layer of burger sauce, a recipe that offers the perfect balance of tanginess, creaminess, and subtle spice to cut through the richness of the beef.
The Dirty Streaker
If your dad likes his burger with an extra layer of savoury crunch, The Dirty Streaker is the ideal choice. This option takes the incredible foundation of the double smash patties, melted cheese, and burger sauce, and elevates it with the addition of premium smoked streaky bacon. The bacon is cooked directly on the griddle alongside the beef until it reaches ultimate crispiness, ensuring that every single bite delivers a smoky, salty punch that complements the rich caramelisation of the smashed beef perfectly. It is a timeless classic executed to an elite standard.
The Piggyback
For the dads who believe that more is always more when it comes to a barbecue, we present The Piggyback. This is the heavyweight champion of our Father's Day menu, designed for serious appetites and true meat lovers. On top of the double smash patties, melted cheese, and smoked streaky bacon, Sam and Pete are adding a mountain of succulent, slow-cooked BBQ pulled pork. The pulled pork is bathed in a rich, deeply smoky barbecue sauce that adds a beautiful sweetness and moisture to the stack. It is a multi-layered masterpiece that showcases the absolute best of BBQ school techniques and restaurant craft.
How to Order and What to Expect
Ordering your Father's Day feast is as simple and seamless as any regular visit to the restaurant. There is no need to queue at a separate station to sample these collaborative creations. You can place your order using any of our standard methods, whether that is scanning the QR code at your table to order via your mobile phone, utilising the convenient touch-screen kiosks, or speaking to our friendly team directly at the counter. We will handle the logistics while you sit back, relax, and soak up the brilliant atmosphere.
Please note that we operate entirely on a first-come, first-served basis for our main restaurant seating. Because this kitchen takeover is a strictly limited three-hour event running from 12:00pm until 3:00pm on Sunday 21st June, we highly recommend arriving early to secure your spot and ensure you do not miss out on these incredible griddle creations.
Whether your dad is a garden barbecue enthusiast looking to pick up some tips from a master pitmaster like Peter Oakley, or he simply loves a properly executed burger, this event ticks every single box. You will get to experience the wonderful aroma of sizzling beef, the rhythmic sound of griddle scrapers, and the vibrant atmosphere of a live culinary event, all while enjoying the comfortable surroundings and excellent hospitality that Sam Coleman and the Novell's team are famous for. Mark your calendar, invite the family, and join us for an unforgettable Father's Day feast.