Dorset is famed for its coastal beauty, rolling hills, and relaxed rural vibes — but there’s a smokier story unfolding. Hidden among farm shops, food trucks, and countryside pubs is a small but mighty brisket scene, where local pitmasters are turning British beef into low-and-slow masterpieces.
Whether you’re road-tripping through the Purbecks, spending a weekend in Weymouth, or catching sea air in Lyme Regis, you’re never too far from a brisket tray worth writing home about.
🐂 1. The Smoking Shack – Bournemouth & Surrounding Areas
This mobile smokehouse has become a firm favourite on the Dorset street food scene. The Smoking Shack brings big Southern flavour to the South Coast, with brisket smoked for 12–16 hours, served in soft buns, tacos, or straight-up BBQ boxes.
Expect serious smoke, sticky bark, and proper portion sizes.
📍 Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch – follow for pop-ups and events
🔥 Pro tip: Try the brisket dirty fries with chipotle cheese and pickled jalapeños. Total comfort food.
🍖 2. Hangry Street Food – Dorchester
A brisket-focused food truck that often appears at events in Dorchester, Bridport, and the Jurassic Coast, Hangry serves tender, juicy brisket in wraps, sliders, and loaded boxes. It’s bold, messy, and full of flavour.
They use locally sourced beef, smoked over oak and cherrywood for that deep, smoky finish.
📍 Dorchester-based, check events schedule online
🔥 Pro tip: Their brisket bao with chilli jam and slaw is an unexpected (but delicious) twist.
🍺 3. The Cow & Apple – Yeovil & Dorchester
While technically a burger bar, The Cow & Apple has made a name for itself with brisket burgers and loaded sides that rival any smokehouse. Their brisket is slow-cooked and layered with flavour — often paired with their massive selection of craft ciders.
This is BBQ with a West Country accent, and it’s delicious.
📍 Dorchester (and Yeovil if you’re nearby)
🔥 Pro tip: Order the brisket burger with onion rings and cider BBQ sauce — it’s messy in the best way.
🛻 4. Smokin’ Aces BBQ – West Dorset (Events & Weddings)
This artisan BBQ caterer specialises in smoked meats, and their brisket is the standout. Using local beef and American smoking methods, their brisket is buttery soft, deeply flavoured, and served in rustic trays with all the fixings.
Often found at weddings, country fairs, and food festivals, they’re one of Dorset’s best-kept BBQ secrets.
📍 Pop-ups across West Dorset – follow online for events
🔥 Pro tip: Look out for their brisket & cornbread combo with cider glaze — it’s pure magic.
🧡 Honourable Mention: Dorset’s Backyard BBQ Stars
With its farming roots and love of local food, Dorset is full of small-batch smokers and back-garden BBQers serving up brisket boxes, private catering, or popping up at:
- Dorset Farmers Markets (Shaftesbury, Bridport, Wimborne)
- Craft beer taprooms (like Eight Arch or Gyle 59)
- Village food festivals and pub beer gardens
Ask around — the best brisket might be coming from a converted trailer behind a field or vineyard.
🥩 Why Dorset Brisket Hits Different
Dorset’s best brisket is built on quality local beef, often reared just a few miles from the smoker. Add in skilled pitmasters, bold house rubs, and woodsmoke from apple, oak, or cherry, and you get brisket that’s rich, rustic, and deeply satisfying — whether served on a beach or in a barn.
✨ Final Thoughts: Smoke in the South West
Dorset may be known for fossils and sea views, but don’t overlook its rising BBQ scene. Whether you’re tucking into a tray on the coast, sipping cider with brisket in hand, or chasing a food truck through a market square, there’s brisket here worth seeking out.
So follow the smoke, bring your appetite, and discover why brisket is the next big bite in Dorset’s food story.
Know a hidden smoker in the hills of Dorset? A pop-up in a pub garden or brisket wizard in a field? Tell us—we’ll bring the napkins and a big appetite.