Join Shaun & Alia Branson, owners of Black Label Barbecue and winners of Season 1 of TVNZ+’s Cooks on Fire, for a hands-on 6-hour Fundamentals BBQ Class designed to build your confidence cooking over charcoal.

Learn barbecue selection, charcoal setup, fire management, temperature control, direct & indirect cooking, reverse searing, and how to make condiments to complement your barbecue. Throughout the day you’ll cook & eat multiple proteins, enjoy dessert, and learn the why & how behind great barbecue—not just the recipes. Every ticket also includes a one-off limited-edition Black Label Barbecue × YETI engraved Rambler, thanks to our mates at YETI New Zealand. Numbers are strictly limited to ensure everyone gets plenty of one-on-one time throughout the day.

In July 2026, we opened the doors to Black Label Barbecue for our very first Wedding Open Day.

This wasn’t a traditional wedding expo. It was a relaxed Sunday morning designed to give couples the chance to explore our venue, taste some genuine low-and-slow barbecue and have honest, helpful conversations with a few of our favourite local wedding suppliers—all accompanied by live music from Lance Sepherd.

We were joined by Sealed with a Kiss, Tironui Wedding Venue, Kanuka Boutique, Longfords Estate and Captured by Tahlia, who generously shared their experience and answered plenty of wedding-planning questions.

It was a fantastic opportunity to meet couples at the beginning of their planning journey and show how Black Label Barbecue can be part of a wedding—from a relaxed celebration at our Rotorua barbecue joint to full-service catering at venues throughout Rotorua and the Central North Island.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make our first Wedding Open Day such an enjoyable event—and to Tahlia for capturing the day so beautifully. Check them out by clicking below.

Planning your own wedding? We’d love to talk about creating a relaxed, memorable celebration filled with seriously good barbecue. Get in touch with our catering and experiences team to start the conversation.

Looking for something different for your team, mates, clients, or special event?

Black Label Barbecue now offers private BBQ cooking classes and custom food experiences tailored to your group. From low-and-slow brisket sessions to hands-on barbecue masterclasses, we can create an experience to suit your crew.

Perfect for corporate events, birthdays, team building, stag dos, or anyone wanting to level up their barbecue game.

Get in touch with the team to build your own Black Label experience.