Meat market: the rise of premium burger joints in Britain

With an increasing number of fancy fast food restaurants opening across the UK, we look at the businesses that are spoiling diners for choice

Britain's taste for burgers - especially its love of gourmet versions - continues to grow.

Once the choice was limited to McDonalds and Burger King. But now, British burger lovers are presented with a multitude of "premium" burgers from the likes of Byron, Honest Burger, Five Guys and Shake Shack.

The growth in 'better burger' concepts in particular is largely reflective of higher consumer expectations, with ongoing demands for fresh, 'real' food. The success of this can be seen in the rise of established 'better burger' players such as Gourmet Burger Kitchen and Byron Burgers over recent years. The emergence of new US players such as Smashburger and Five Guys is arguably leveraging this proven demand for 'better burgers' in the UK whilst further tapping into consumers' ongoing demand for fast service concepts.