A BURGER connoisseur was definitely Lovin' It when a major fast food restaurant invited him to exclusively test their new promotional menu.

Simon Dukes, from Barbourne, Worcester, was given a special invite by McDonald's to test out their new Great Tastes of America menu.

The influential video blogger who runs the popular website Burger Lad regularly posts reviews and YouTube channel of him taste testing burgers from big chain companies to small independents.

From what started out as a bit of fun for friends and colleagues, the blog has become a huge success with brands looking for Mr Dukes' opinions on their dishes.

On his recent visit to McDonald's UK head office, he and girlfriend Roxy Williams, from Cheltenham, tested six burgers in total and was allowed to directly review from headquarters.

The 36-year-old said: "At head office they have a restaurant and kitchen set up which is their test development kitchen.

"At the My Burger final, I had actually been in the kitchen and saw how everything is cooked and assembled and my own website entry was made-up.

"We had our own room and in there was all the new promotional material and we got to sample each of the new burgers.

"We reviewed the upcoming Miami Special and tried the new McShaker Fries which is a first for the UK."

Despite being giving the exclusive invitation to McDonald's, Mr Dukes said he still gives the burgers a fair review.

Burger King has also invited Mr Dukes to test taste their burgers while other companies such as Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Handmade Burger Co, Byron, TGI Friday, Frankie and Benny's and KFC have also done similar with vouchers and invites.

"Just because we go to McDonald's head office doesn't make for a good review.

"In fact, despite being accused of being a shill in some online communities I get no income from McDonalds and they much prefer an honest review.

"Before our website, you would literally only know about a new promotion at McDonald's when it was launched. "Because of us they have changed.

"First they announced in December the McRib would be coming out in January after we reported on it being tested in Sheffield in June.

"We then went to a sneak peak preview.

"Fast forward to now and they actually tweeted our story to announce Great Tastes of America coming.

"So a real turnaround. "

More than likely we’ll be returning again in the near future.

After we made the long trip to Exeter to attend the Food Festival there and had another burger lunch at independent Ruby who pride themselves on sourcing tracable, local ingredients. In total drove 430+ miles in 36 hours to do all this.

Worcester-wise we have reviewed Burger Works, Firefly, Dragon Inn, The Pheasant (they made the Burger Lad® burger in my honour) and Sampson’s.