Dan Mayo-Evans, one of the founders of The Beefy Boys, at the new Nottingham restaurant

First look inside Nottingham's new The Beefy Boys restaurant where burgers are 'absolutely insane'

28 May 2026, 05:00 by Lynette Pinchess · NottinghamshireLive

Some burgers even come with a warning

'Don't order it. You won't like it' is an odd warning to appear on a restaurant menu. But there's a good reason for it.

The Hell Boy 2:0 burger is described as a 24-hour rollercoaster ride of pain, served with Hotter than Hell Ghost Chilli Pepper Sauce and fresh habanero chilli... and a pair of latex gloves.

Anyone who braves it can't say they weren't warned. It's not one for the faint-hearted at The Beefy Boys' new restaurant in Nottingham.

One of the four founders Dan Mayo-Evans said: "If someone orders the Hell Boy we get the staff to say, 'don't order this. Do not have this'. They double check and if the customer says yes, then they get to have a terrible experience for a few hours and an even worse one the next day."

With 23 classic, dirty, specialty, chicken, veggie and vegan burgers on the menu, there are 22 that won't ruin your innards.

The Beefy Boys have built a reputation for 'amazing' burgers since they first burst onto the scene. They opened in Hereford in 2015 and the demand was so big they soon expanded into the building next door.

Restaurants in Shrewsbury, Cheltenham, Bath and Oxford followed and again burger fans lavished praise.

According to one: "The burgers were absolutely insane, proper flavour, juicy, cooked right. Easily some of the best burgers around."

Now it's Nottingham's time as the founders have headed north with their premium Hereford beef patties.

The new restaurant hasn't officially opened — that's happening on June 19 — but eager beavers are able to get their hands on a burger with 25% off in return for honest feedback.

The Beefy Boys have taken over one of the city's biggest restaurants, a grand high-ceilinged building in Queen Street that was previously home to George's Great British Kitchen.

What sets it apart from other burger joints is that there's not just one type of beef patty, there's four: the universal smash burger, one incorporating onions, another cooked with mustard and the fourth is a 6oz patty cooked medium-rare in the middle under stringent safety controls.

Dan said: "We're only one of three or four places in the UK certified to cook medium rare burgers. It's really good, it's a lot juicier than a smash burger.

"We have to have a LTTC (less than thoroughly cooked) licence and get the meat from a proper certified butcher that has regular checks and we have to go through strict standards as well. There's certain procedures to cook these burgers differently. There's a lovely sear on top and it's nice medium-rare in the middle."

The menu kicks off with the OG Boy topped with American cheese, Swiss cheese, onion, gherkin and dirty mayo. Taking it up a notch PBJ Boy has the addition of bacon jam and chipotle butter and Blue Boy comes with tangy blue cheese and pickled jalapenos.

The Oklahoma Onion Boy Cali Style burger, which won Best Burger at the 2023 National Burger Awards, is another favourite.

You can go filthy with Dirty Boy, laden with beef dripping onions, or keep it simple with Super Lonely Boy, just meat and a bun.

Although beef dominates the menu, Dirty Clucker and Buffalo Chicken Boy nail it for the white meat eaters, while Beanie Boy (a patty made from peppers, turtle beans, chipotle, feta and cashew nuts) and Leafy Boy, a mushroom cooked with truffle oil, have it covered for vegetarians. A dirty vegan patty is also available.

The burgers are served in demi brioche buns but soon a new potato bun will be introduced. There's even a keto friendly option — a cheeseburger salad minus the bun.

As for sides, take your pick when it comes to fries. The offering includes plain, pastrami, poutine (with cheese curd), chilli cheese and millionaire with an indulgent topping of truffle oil, parmesan and chives.

Diners can wash their burgers down with draught beer and cider, wines, spirits, cocktails, mocktails, soft drinks and loaded shakes.

The 115-seater restaurant is split over two levels, with those sitting on the mezzanine able to look down on the action below. The walls and columns have been painted grey but the decor is uplifted by colourful quirky artwork, neons and photographs of The Beefy Boys' defining moments, such as their time representing the UK at the World Food Championships in Las Vegas.

General manager Sandra Andrulyte said the soft launch had got off to a good start. She said: "So far everyone's been really happy and we've had really positive feedback that it's a great venue opening in Nottingham city centre."

Local burger lovers have welcomed The Beefy Boys' arrival. One said: "Almost 10 years ago I had Beefy Boys in Hereford. I still talk about Beefy Boys to this day... I am beyond excited."

Those who have already visited said: "Absolutely amazing" and "was phenomenal."

The Beefy Boys in Queen Street, Nottingham