This week we have been talking with international cricket star turned barbeque expert, Matthew Hoggard about his transition from professional cricket to barbeque connoisseur and how he is enjoying life in Rutland.

Matthew was born and bred in Pudsey near Leeds and began his professional cricket career playing for Yorkshire when he was only 19. Soon after in 2000, Matthew stepped up to play cricket for England, playing both One Day Internationals and Test cricket.

He captained the team the following year and went on to play on the England cricket team until 2008.

It was only when he began playing cricket for Leicester in 2009 that Matthew became familiar with Rutland Water. He said: "There really is something special about Rutland. The family feel in the area is amazing."

It is unsurprising then that after Matthew's final professional match for Leicester in 2013, he decided to stay in the local area.

At first, Matthew was unsure what to do: "I messed about with insurance, foreign currency, that sort of thing. I tried coaching and commentating. In my young life I wanted to be a vet. It was that or cricket. Then my wife told me that I needed to find something that I was passionate about – which is eating and drinking!

"So we opened Hoggy's Grill in 2020. It was one month before we shut again because of Covid. We then opened and closed and then opened with restrictions, so really we've only been open for half a year but business is booming and we're getting great feedback, which is always nice."

Like many local businesses, Hoggy's suffered at the hands of the pandemic, but one Oakham resident who attended a course at Hoggy's Grill, Josh Tooley, said: "The course was great. You wouldn't know that they'd only been open for a handful of months. The food was tasty and Matthew was a great teacher, a really nice guy."

At the course, attendees can cook a variety of food, from steak, chicken and pork to seafood such as whole fish and scallops. There are even vegan and vegetarian alternatives.

Matthew said: "When you think English barbeque, you think burned sausages, a few burger patties, and either under or over cooked chicken. We want to give people the confidence to tackle a wider variety of great food, cooked well.

"You can cook anything in the BBQ that you could cook in the oven, whether it be gas, wood, or charcoal. You could do a whole Sunday lunch on the BBQ! It tastes so much better."

It seems that Matthew has tried almost everything on the barbeque, from cake to 24 hour brisket, whole fish, prawns, and even octopus.

He even regularly cooks the classic Yorkshire Pudding on the barbeque too – getting back to his Yorkshire roots, with a twist.

One of his personal favourites is Ostrich, which Matthew described as: "Meaty. It's a red meat, not what you'd expect. It tastes steak like and is really low fat so has virtually no impact on your cholesterol."

Matthew isn't just passionate about the food though. He could also chat for hours about different kinds of grill, fuel, and cooking methods available when barbequing food: "There are so many different kinds of barbeque and grill. People can come and play and learn about cooking, but also to see what is available. We love getting people out, using their outside space."

On the website Matthew offers a range of grills, pizza ovens, cooking implements and grill accessories for those who have caught the barbeque bug.

His course helps people choose which grill set up might be right for them and, while Matthew favours real fire, gives people the confidence to choose. More than this though, the course gives visitors the confidence to cook.

He said: "When you're on TV playing front of thousands of people, it's obviously a great moment, but when someone says that this is the best bit of meat I've ever eaten... that's something special." In true, humble Yorkshire style, he laughed: "I can say, you've cooked it yourself. It's got nowt to do with me!"

What Matthew can take credit for though is his family: "I am very proud of my 14-year-old who I think is a very nice human being. Ernie loves cooking too. He's studying Home Tech at school – what used to be cooking! He's getting really good. His burgers won a prize in class actually.

"And my wife, Sarah, she's great. She does everything and I get to do the cooking and eating – the good bits!"

On whether he regretted not becoming a vet, Matthew laughed: "I'd still love to be a vet, but 8 years training is quite a lot. I'd never change what I've done though, no. It's amazing to be lucky enough to play on an international level chasing a little bit of leather.

"Before that I played cricket in South Africa for a 6 months. This is where I learned about grilling, in Johannesburg, cooking over open wood on real fires. I loved the lifestyle, cooking under the starts, a beer in hand. I feel in love with that life, but this also ignited my passion for cricket. I am lucky that it has led me to this."

With all that he offers and the nifty sales pitch, 'Bowl everyone over with our smashing courses', it's unsurprising that Hoggy's Grill School has become so popular in Rutland and beyond.

To book on to one of Matthew's 2 or 4 hour courses yourself, visit the website and choose from the range on offer, from burger making to the ultimate 3 Course Gourmet experience. The Courses can be booked for work outings, hen and stag dos, and by individuals as a great way to meet new, likeminded, food-passionate people.

Alternatively buy that special someone a gift voucher so that they, like Matthew, can unleash a new fire for all things barbequed!

Matthew concluded: "Everyone goes away with a skill, not just having had a good experience. Not to mention that we're in such a beautiful place. Rutland Water Garden Nurseries, where we are based, have been wonderful. Rutland is amazing and the society is great. Multum in Parvo is true. We're lucky to be able to call Rutland ours."

Find out about Oakham's other amazing local people or keep up to date with the latest on our website.

You can let us know about the amazing person in your life by clicking the 'Nub It' button at the top of our site or emailing [email protected].

We look forward to hearing from you!