Nomad’s BBQ celebrated the launch of its new restaurant in Midsomer Norton’s newly developed town square with a private event attended by friends, family, and supporters of the business.

The launch party, held on Saturday, March 1, at the site of the former Crazy Greek restaurant at 6 Market Square, featured live music by violinist Nik Jovcic-Sas and singer song-writer Jon Parry.

Guests enjoyed a selection of sandwiches stuffed with smoky BBQ meats, offering a tasty preview of the restaurant’s menu, along with wine and Jamaican-style rum and ginger beer cocktails.

Jake Hillier, the owner of Nomad’s BBQ, said: “I would say that last night and the whole build in general was a testament to the community we’ve built over the last five years. Everywhere I look in there, I can see contributions and collaborations from people and other local businesses that just want us to do well. Right from the vibrant vinyls on the walls down to the most amazing countertops you’ll ever see — from a tree I saw drop years ago in a storm.

“This doesn’t even feel like my project anymore; it feels like a community project designed to prove that community spirit is not dead. I’ve received so much help that I’m so grateful for, and now it’s my turn to give back in the form of smokey, meaty goodness.

“I’m very much looking forward to hanging up the dusty builder clothes and putting back on my cooking clothes. It looks better than I ever could have imagined in there, and Ruby and I can’t wait to share the space with everybody. We want it to be a space where everybody feels welcome walking in, where we’ll always be armed with quality local food and good conversation.”

The restaurant will be operating as a deli from 10am to 2pm and as a takeaway from 4pm to 9:30pm daily. Customers can look forward to enjoying Nomad’s signature slow-smoked meats, such as brisket and pulled pork, accompanied by a variety of freshly made sides.

The venue, originally scheduled to open on Thursday, March 6, is now set to welcome guests on Monday, March 10. Some unforeseen delays have caused the opening to be pushed back, but the team is excited to finally open the doors and share the new space with the community.

The business, which currently operates from a trading estate near the White Post Pub in Stratton-on-the-Fosse, began five years ago as a small-scale operation. Initially run from a home kitchen and catering for friends and family, Nomad’s BBQ quickly grew in popularity.

Within six months, the business moved into its first commercial kitchen, selling pre-ordered meals to the public and focusing on locally sourced, high-quality meat prepared in a traditional American barbecue style.

The business offers a menu centred on slow-smoked meats like brisket and pulled pork. Three years ago, it expanded by acquiring a food truck to cater for weddings and weekend takeaways.

For more information on the launch, menu previews, and behind-the-scenes updates, follow Nomad’s BBQ on Facebook (@Nomadsbarbeque) and Instagram (@nomads_bbq).