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

25th Apr 2022

Major Chef’s Culinary Challenge crowns winner

Formally known as the Major Series, the Chef’s Culinary Challenge is one of the industry’s longest standing, most prestigious...

25th Apr 2022

The Sheffield College secures Tilda Special Award at Zest Quest Asia

Student chefs Jack Hayes, Max Heath and Rhiannon Siddall won an exclusive trip to Italy with Tilda, along with being named...

25th Apr 2022

CH&CO crowns Ricky Matonti its Chef of the Year 2022

He impressed the judges with his menu of fermented barley & whey risotto, wild garlic ricotta, slow cooked duck egg, wild...

22nd Apr 2022

S.Pellegrino research reveals challenges facing hospitality industry

The S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy, a global initiative which is currently searching for the best chefs under 30, surveyed...

14th Apr 2022

The Sheffield College wins Zest Quest Asia 2022 competition

Culinary students Jack Hayes, Max Heath and Rhiannon Siddal along with their tutor Andrew Gabbitas have won an ‘educational...

12th Apr 2022

Young Risotto Chef of the Year 2022 reveals winner

The Riso Gallo UK & Ireland Young Risotto Chef of the Year 2022 is now in its fifth year and is aimed at budding chefs aged...

07th Apr 2022

Toque d’Or unveils nine finalists for 2022 competition

In total 38 competitors took part in the National Heats stage of the competition putting into practice everything they had...

06th Apr 2022

UK Young Restaurant Team of the Year unveils finalists

The competition will welcome special guest judges at the final including Pierre Koffman who held 3 Michelin Stars for over 15...

31st Mar 2022

Michelin-starred chef Kenny Atkinson reveals National Chef of the Year brief to celebrate 50th anniversary

For this major anniversary year, Kenny Atkinson is asking competitors to produce a three-course celebration menu. The starter...

30th Mar 2022

Compass celebrates successful medal haul at Salon Culinaire

Competing against hundreds of chefs, over 30 Compass chefs from across the business took part in the UK’s ‘largest and most...