British neighbourhood burger brand, Honest Burgers has been named winner at this year’s National Burger Awards, securing the title on its debut entry into the competition.
The award-winning burger, The Honest, was developed by co-founder Tom Barton and prepared live during the final. The burger is currently available at the brand’s Smash + Grab site in Liverpool Street and will roll out nationwide across the estate for a limited-time window in May and June.
Positioned as an evolution of Honest Burgers’ core menu staple, The Honest builds on the brand’s original signature burger, which is served across its 45-strong UK estate. The updated recipe features dry-aged British beef, thick-cut Wiltshire bacon, house-made beef and onion relish, XL burger cheese, pickles, and white onion. The limited-edition launch forms part of the brand’s wider 15-year anniversary programme, marking its origins in Brixton.
Commenting on the win, Tom Barton, co-founder of Honest Burgers said: “It’s an amazing accolade. We’ve never competed at the National Burger Awards before, so entering for the first time and taking the trophy means a lot to us. Thank you to everyone who’s been a customer to us over the last 15 years and made our Honest such a staple – this special is for them.”
The award comes amid a period of sustained growth for the group, as Honest Burgers accelerates its expansion strategy towards 2030. Recent openings in the South West, including Bristol’s Cabot Circus and Cribbs Causeway, have strengthened regional presence, while new London sites in East Dulwich, Kingston upon Thames, Wimbledon and Old Brompton Road continue to consolidate its position in the capital. A forthcoming launch at Westfield White City in April will take the total estate beyond 45 sites nationwide.
Growth has also been supported by the performance of the Smash + Grab format, first introduced in Liverpool Street in late 2024. Designed as a more agile, high-throughput model, the concept was recognised with the R200 Innovation Award in November 2025. Alongside this, the brand’s digital engagement continues to scale, with its Honest Insiders app exceeding 140,000 downloads since its launch in June 2025.
Honest Burgers has always championed doing things properly – from making its condiments and chips from scratch to sourcing high-quality British beef. In 2017, the brand opened its own butchery to continue to make great British burgers in-house. Every burger is served with its signature homemade rosemary salted chips (included in the price), made using fresh potatoes from West Sussex.
