'Shropshire Lad' Adam Purnell cooks a sizzling steak at 2,000 feet

A celebrity Shropshire chef has risen to new heights by cooking a steak at 2,000 feet in the air on a hot air balloon.

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Adam Purnell - better known as Shropshire Lad and the head chef of Embers Café in Ironbridge, cooked the steak in the air to celebrate Britain's barbecue season.

The chef took to the air from the QEII Arena, Telford, at 6 am on Thursday, and cooked tomahawk, wagyu rump and sirloin steaks mid-flight on a hot air balloon burner at 2,000 feet.

After pilot Lindsay Muir launched the balloon, it drifted across Shropshire for around an hour, offering spectacular views of Ironbridge, including a bird’s-eye view of Adam’s café, Embers. The flight successfully landed at Apley Estate.

The chef took tot the skies to celebrate Britain’s BBQ season on a trip organised by Virgin Balloon Flights.

Adam Purnell, “Shropshire Lad”, said: “Like many people, I was a bit apprehensive before getting in the basket, but as soon as we were up in the air, I was loving it! It was so peaceful, and Lindsay, our pilot, was incredibly experienced and had a great laugh.

“Cooking steak at 2000 feet wasn't on my bingo card for 2026, but definitely one of the most fun and exciting things I've ever done. I can't wait to drop the video on my YouTube channel next Tuesday for everyone to see.”

Amy Jackson, Marketing Manager, said: “Virgin Balloon Flights is all about creating unforgettable experiences.

Taking Adam’s live-fire cooking 2,000 feet into the sky was the perfect way to celebrate the passion behind outdoor cooking and show that, when it comes to adventure, the sky really is the limit. Seeing a steak cooked above the stunning Shropshire landscape was a moment to remember and a fantastic example of how we can transform a balloon flight into something truly extraordinary.”