How One Peak District Kitchen Is Redefining the Smash Burger

Smash burgers have become one of the UK’s fastest-growing food trends, with online searches more than doubling in recent years and premium burger sales continuing to rise across the country. Yet in the heart of the Peak District, authentic smash burgers remain surprisingly hard to find.

Until now.

At The Cupola Kitchen and Apartments in Stoney Middleton, head chef Jamie Parker is quietly perfecting his own take on the cult classic, revealing why the smash burger is about far more than simply flattening a patty.

“A smash burger isn’t just a squashed burger,” Jamie explains. “It’s about seasoning, timing and that flash way of cooking it. You press it once onto a really hot surface so you get that caramelised crust, but you keep the moisture in.”

Unlike traditional pub burgers, smash burgers are pressed firmly onto a hot plancha at the start of cooking. The pressure creates maximum contact with the heat, forming crispy, lacy edges while sealing in flavour.

“It’s almost like tenderising it as you press,” he says. “You get more depth. The crust, the seasoning, the layers of sauce and garnish. It tastes completely different. It doesn’t go dry.”

At The Cupola, every sauce, slaw and garnish is made by hand, and the smash burger changes weekly. The result is a rotating ‘Smash Burger of the Day’ that has quickly developed a loyal following.

For Burns Night, diners were treated to a double smashed beef burger stacked with haggis, a golden potato and spring onion patty and drenched in peppercorn sauce, served with crispy fries and a whisky gravy dip on the side. Another recent favourite featured two smashed patties layered with cheese, bacon, Parmesan and cream sauce, honey roast chorizo, a black pudding wedge and chilli jam, all served in a griddled brioche bun with fries and coleslaw.

“It’s indulgent,” Jamie says. “People ask for the best or their favourite burger. This takes it up a level. You can build layers of flavour. There’s pride in that.”

The dish has quickly become one of the venue’s most talked-about menu items, pairing perfectly with a local craft beer such as Alpach Lypse or even a bold Malbec for those leaning into full-bodied richness.

The setting makes the story even more fitting. The Cupola is housed on the historic site of the Lords Cupola smelting mill, where intense flame once powered the 18th-century lead industry. Today, fire remains central to the venue’s identity. Flame-cooked food, wood-fired pizzas and griddle-seared dishes form the backbone of the menu, reflecting a commitment to simple ingredients elevated by heat and technique.

Since opening in early 2024, The Cupola has established itself as a destination where history, hospitality and community meet, complete with a visitor exhibition, heritage walking trails and luxury dog-friendly apartments. The venue has already been recognised as a Visit Peak District & Derbyshire Tourism Silver Award winner for Best New Tourism Business 2025.

Jamie’s calm dedication and innovative spirit have also earned him personal recognition. He has been shortlisted in the Unsung Hero category at the 2026 Peak District, Derbyshire & Derby Tourism Awards, with winners to be unveiled in March 2026.

A former landscape gardener with no prior restaurant experience, Jamie joined The Cupola on instinct and trained intensively from scratch, even travelling to Naples to study traditional pizza-making. Under his leadership, the venue has achieved 10% annual sales growth and a 30% increase in sales per head, alongside hundreds of five-star reviews.

When a car crashed into the venue and damaged the storeroom, Jamie calmly led the team to rescue stock and reopen service the next day, just one example of the understated leadership that earned him his award nomination.

“We just want to do things properly,” he says. “If we’re going to serve a smash burger, it has to be done right.”

In a region known for hearty pub classics, The Cupola’s smash burger is bringing a modern food movement to the countryside, rooted in heritage, flame and a quiet determination to elevate something familiar into something exceptional.

For more information, visit thecupola.uk.

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