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

22nd Jun 2021

International Salon Culinaire announces winners of Bidfood Lamb Challenge

The Lamb Challenge, sponsored by Bidfood, asked chefs to create and cook a main course lamb dish using any cut of lamb with...

14th Jun 2021

Compass Group wins Tilda Chef Team of the Year competition

The winning team from 14forty- the facilities management multiservice specialist at Compass Group UK & Ireland- included...

08th Jun 2021

Young Pastry Chef of the Year 2020/21 crowns winner

She created a white chocolate bavarois with lemon puree, crisp lemon sponge, dill, pickled cucumber served in a decorated...

07th Jun 2021

Tilda Chef Team of the Year 2021 competition reveals finalists

The finalists will have 45 minutes to prepare four portions of a main course and dessert using rice at the heart of both...

04th Jun 2021

Craft Guild of Chefs names 33 young chefs advancing to Graduate Awards semi-finals

The Graduate Awards offer chefs aged under 25 the chance to improve their culinary skills, build confidence and the...

03rd Jun 2021

Inspiring Culinary Generations crowns winners of student chef competition

Seventeen shortlisted finalists, across the three age groups, attended Bournemouth & Poole College to cook their signature...

26th May 2021

North West chef crowned ‘champion of champions’ on Great British Menu

Lake District based head chef McGeorge won the last course at the banquet with his dessert. ‘Give A Dog A Bone’ celebrates...

25th May 2021

Inspiring Culinary Generations announces winner of home cook competition

On 21 May 2021 Lynch cooked her signature two-course dinner party menu of Vietnamese chicken & sweetcorn curry and yoozoo...

24th May 2021

Deadline extended for National Chef of the Year competition

This allows competitors more time to work on their menus. The Guild wanted to relieve some of the pressure chefs are feeling...

21st May 2021

Essential Cuisine launches ‘turn up the heat’ campaign

Until 31 May, the foodservice brand will be accepting entries giving chefs the chance to win a commercial kitchen appliance...