'Crazy our burgers are part of Hereford's history'

The Beefy Boys never imagined their competition success would lead to a museum display

A burger restaurateur who placed fourth in an international food competition described it as "crazy" his team's belongings had been requested for a museum exhibit.

The Beefy Boys, from Hereford, competed at the World Food Championships in Indianapolis last year, having placed second in their category a decade earlier.

Now a spatula and chef's hat from their earlier appearance and the fourth-place medal are to go on display at Hereford Museum & Art Gallery.

Restaurant co-founder Anthony Murphy said it was a huge honour to have been approached by the museum service and asked for an "important artefact".

"When we first started cooking burgers in our back gardens, we never imagined we'd be part of a museum exhibit," he said.

"To be considered part of Hereford's history is absolutely crazy."

The team of childhood friends, also comprising Daniel Mayo-Evans, Christian Williams and Lee Symonds, started out by flipping burgers at home and now have restaurants in Hereford, Cheltenham, Shrewsbury and Bath.

Their items will be included in a new exhibit about the region's contemporary culture, featuring local success stories.

Herefordshire Council said they had built a loyal fan base and were "now firmly embedded in the county's culinary history".

Head of culture, museums, libraries and archives Damian Etheraads described their journey to the world stage as "bold, brilliant, and full of personality".

"It's exactly the kind of story we want to celebrate in our new museum. These objects will sit proudly alongside others that capture the spirit, humour, and creativity of life in the county today and in the past," he added.

The exhibit will open once a major redevelopment of the museum has finished.