There are 16 young chef and 16 young waiters who have advanced to the live final. The YCYW competitions are celebrating 40 years in the UK and the judging panel includes head chef judge Theo Randall, head waiter judge simon King, Jason Atherton, Tom Kerridge, Emily Roux and Tom Aikens.

The finalists all submitted a video entry and questionnaire, which was assessed anonymously by the panel of judges. The competition aims to promote the hospitality industry as a potential career choice for young people.

Atherton from the Social Company, said: “I am so pleased to be involved in this year’s Young Chef Young Waiter and to help promote the hospitality industry to young people. It’s fast-paced and hectic but a rewarding exciting industry to be a part of and this competition is a great way for young people to start out.”

Founder of the Nth Degree Club, Robert Walton MBE wanted to update this national competition (which was last held in 2012). Entry was open to those who were 26-years-old or younger on 29 October 2019.

Roux added: “Without the passion and determination of young chefs and young waiters there would be no future for our industry. There’s nothing quite like working in hospitality and to succeed you have to have a certain level of grit and ambition.

“The competition gives young talent the opportunity to stand out amongst the others and prove what an exciting and special industry ours is to work in.”

Young Chef finalists:

• Alexandra Henderson from The Lansdowne Club, Mayfair, London 
• Alexander Parker from The Hand and Flowers 
• Ben Wright from Rudding Park Hotel, Clocktower Restaurant 
• Connor Twomey from Julie’s Restaurant 
• Jordan Radford from Hogan Lovells – Bartlett Mitchell 
• Lewis Glaister from Bluebird Restaurant, Chelsea 
• Luke Simmons from Hide Above 
• Marco Loriggiola from Cantina del Ponte 
• Natasha Ohene-Nyako from 100 Wardour Street 
• Nathaniel Mortley from Freshfields - Bartlett and Mitchell 
• Nicholas Reina from The Fat Duck 
• Richard Henderson from Restaurant Hywel Jones, Lucknam Park 
• Richard Horsford from the Avenue Cookery School 
• Ryan Baker from Northall Restaurant, Corinthia Hotel 
• Tony Leung from Biltmore Mayfair 
• Vittorio Pali from SohoHouse UK

Young Waiter finalists:

• Alessandro Calzavacca from Jean-Georges at the Connaught 
• Alessia Rivano from Angle 
• Andrea La Cognata from the Fat Duck 
• Antoine Paon from Hide Ground Floor 85 Piccadilly Circus 
• Asia Raele from HIDE Above London 
• Cristina Sabater-Hayes from the Hand and Flowers Marlow 
• Davide Santeramo from the Stafford London 
• Declan Wilkins from The Hand and Flowers Marlow 
• Hannah Sloan from Rockliffe Hall Golf & Spa Hotel 
• Georgia Wheatley from The Ivy Temple Row 
• Joanna Gaslowska from Orrery 
• Joseph Barker from the Rothay Manor Hotel 
• Katie Lyons from the Crafthouse 
• Salvatore Delle Donne from the Fat Duck 
• Mattia Leonardi from The Ritz London 
• Mattia Launech from the Stafford London