GoKawiilLondon duo turn weekend BBQ side hustle into Black Cactus Barbecue business
Matt Kears and Josh Alcock, former construction worker and electrician, built Black Cactus Barbecue in London after Kears began smoking meat and selling it via WhatsApp during COVID lockdowns. The pair spent years running markets and food festivals on weekends while still working day jobs, using Kears' parents' bungalow as a prep kitchen before eventually quitting their trades to run the business full time. Their menu blends Texas barbecue smoking techniques with flavors drawn from different global cuisines.