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

26th Mar 2026

Graduate Awards extend entry deadline to increase opportunity for young chefs

By: Edward Waddell

Entries will now close on Tuesday 7th April 2026, giving kitchens across the UK an extra week to encourage younger members of their teams to take part. Further information and entry details can be

24th Mar 2026

National Chef of the Year extends entry deadline following demand from chefs

By: Edward Waddell

The extension until midnight on Monday 20th April 2026 not only supports chefs who have already begun working on their menus but also opens the door for those who have not yet started an entry, giving

17th Mar 2026

Nestlé Professional reveals 12 finalists for 2026 Toque d’Or competition

By: Edward Waddell

The competition is supported by industry partners including Russums and Savoy Educational Trust, who help champion the development of emerging talent across the hospitality sector. Led by chef Kate

17th Mar 2026

UK Young Restaurant Team of the Year reveals 5 finalists

By: Edward Waddell

The road to restaurant excellence reached a ‘thrilling milestone’ at Lainston House in Winchester, where the semi-final of the UK Young Restaurant Team of the Year 2026 unfolded in ‘spectacular

More Competitions News

27th Jan 2020

Last call for entries for International Salon Culinaire

The International Salon Culinaire takes place at the Hotel, Restaurant & Catering Show at ExCeL London from 3-5 March 2020...

24th Jan 2020

Paul Ainsworth announced as chair of judges for The National Chef of the Year

Ainsworth takes over from Gary Jones, executive head chef at Le Manoir, who has led the team of judges for the last three...

Kate Mudge and Ieuan Davies

17th Jan 2020

Craft Guild of Chefs reveals new age limit as it launches Graduate Awards 2020

The Guild recognises many chefs are beginning their culinary careers later due to national changes to the school leaving age...

16th Jan 2020

Heat 2020 announces finalists

Colleges in the UK have competed to win the opportunity to reach the final of the prestigious culinary competition in Jersey...

15th Jan 2020

Craft Guild of Chefs announces name and venue change for Wessex Salon Culinaire

This year’s renamed competition will also have a new venue at Central Bedfordshire College, Kingsway Campus, Dunstable. The...

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...