Welcome to Competitions

The Craft Guild of Chefs is proud to celebrate with them.

Here you will find everything you need to know about the various culinary competitions that take place throughout the year - everything from the flagship National Chef of the Year contest through to the specialist Tilda Chef of the Year Competition.

This section will reveal where each is taking place, how you can get involved and those all important winners and runners up.

Current competitions:

Previous competitions:

Latest Competition News

31st Jul 2025

10 chefs in running for National Chef of the Year culinary title

By: Edward Waddell

With an exceptionally high standard of entries this year, the competition has once again proven why it remains the title every ambitious chef aspires to win. From creativity and technical skill to

21st Jul 2025

Sixteen young chefs lined up for Le Cordon Bleu London Scholarship final

By: Edward Waddell

A spokesman said that following ‘incredibly competitive semi-finals’, 32 candidates were whittled down to just 16 finalists. “The level of passion for the culinary arts demonstrated by the semi

11th Jul 2025

Rebecca Britton claims Best in Show accolade at 2025 Finishing Touches

By: Edward Waddell

Finishing Touches, which is sponsored by McDougalls, is a competition organised by LACA in association with the Craft Guild of Chefs. The competition is aimed at staff employed in any aspect of

10th Jul 2025

Kraft Heinz launches its first-ever culinary competition with James Cochran

By: Edward Waddell

The competition will give five chefs the chance to receive one-on-one mentorship from Cochran, developing their business acumen and culinary skill before competing in a two-round cook-off. The overall

More Competitions News

17th Aug 2022

Finalists revealed for prestigious Young National Chef of the Year final

Throughout the day, the finalists have been receiving their official and exclusive YNCOTY branded jacket from Continental...

12th Aug 2022

Ten chefs going for gold in National Chef of the Year 50th Anniversary final

After being whittled down to 40 semi-finalists, the chefs have been creating an amuse bouche style signature dish that...

11th Aug 2022

Major Culinary Challenge Competition opens for entry

Wayne Harris, chairman of judges for the Craft Guild of Chefs, said: “It gives me great pleasure to be part of this...

05th Aug 2022

Riso Gallo 2023 Young Risotto Chef of the Year opens for entry

Entrants have been asked to produce, photograph and explain why they selected their risotto dish. Entries are open until 1...

02nd Aug 2022

Wales to host World Young Chef Young Waiter competition

Established in 1979, the World Young Chef Young Waiter competition aims to promote careers in hospitality and is open to all...

26th Jul 2022

Final chance to enter British Student Culinary Championships 2022

The BSCC has categories including live hot, live cold, restaurant, display, bakery and food photography open for entries...

20th Jul 2022

Young Chef Young Waiter England 2022 Winners Announced

The YCYW winning chef is Miltan Masha from The Monarch Theatre and the YCYW winning waiter is Elisa Doisneau from Kitchen...

12th Jul 2022

Robert Sorbie wins Lakeland Dairies’ Reimagine Colcannon chef competition

A reimagined colcannon is made by gently folding potato and cabbage with salmon and Lakeland Dairies Pure Irish Butter and...

11th Jul 2022

LACA unveils 2022 Finishing Touches winners

Finishing Touches is a competition organised by LACA in association with the Craft Guild of Chefs. The competition is aimed...

07th Jul 2022

Craft Guild names 40 chefs advancing to National Chef of the Year semi-final

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the competition and the judges are looking for the next person to follow in the...