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

15th Jan 2020

Chef Mark Sargeant to head up 2020 UK Young Seafood Chef of the Year

The annual competition, sponsored by Seafish the public body that supports the £10 Billion UK seafood industry, attracts a...

09th Jan 2020

Zest Quest Asia names six college finalists

The six colleges include Loughborough College, New City College, North Hertfordshire College, Sheffield College, University...

08th Jan 2020

Wessex Salon Culinaire replaced by The British Student Cookery & Service

The British Student Cookery & Service Championships will have the same excellent classes of both live and static competitions...

08th Jan 2020

Young Pastry Chef of the Year winner to receive David Lyell Scholarship

The competition is open to pastry chefs aged 23 and under on 1 March 2020. The candidate should be working in a hotel...

06th Jan 2020

Semi-finalists revealed for County Range Student Chef Challenge 2019/20

Run in partnership with the Craft Guild of Chefs the competition enables young chefs to develop their culinary skills. The...

03rd Jan 2020

Pidy names finalists for Student Catering Challenge

This year the challenge is encouraging students to reinvent the classic tradition of afternoon tea, using a selection of...

09th Dec 2019

Deadline extended for Country Range Student Chef Challenge

The Country Range Student Chef Challenge, run in conjunction with the Craft Guild of Chefs, enables students to showcase...

19th Nov 2019

Tilda Chef Team of the Year winners to go on Italian trip

In association with the Craft Guild of Chefs as part of the HRC’s Salon Culinaire, the winning chef team will enjoy a two-day...

15th Nov 2019

Final call for Country Range Student Chef Challenge entries

The competition requires teams of three students to plan, prepare and cook a three-course, four-cover menu in 90 minutes. The...

11th Nov 2019

The ‘Heat’ is on as the competition returns for a fourth year

The week-long event is supported by Samphire a relaxed yet polished, casual dining restaurant in Jersey. Heat will see some...