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

04th Dec 2025

Craft Guild of Chefs opens entries to 2026 British Culinary Championships

By: Edward Waddell

The Salon, managed by Central Bedfordshire College in association with the Craft Guild of Chefs is fast becoming one of the top salons in the country. This popular event is growing in stature

02nd Dec 2025

Association of Pastry Chefs launches Dessert of the Year competition

By: Edward Waddell

Competitors will be allowed 60 minutes to prepare, cook and present two identical plates of an original dessert suitable for fine dining. Those competing must consider flavours, textures and the

01st Dec 2025

Craft Guild of Chefs starts search for National Chef Team of the Year winner

By: Edward Waddell

Teams of two will be required to produce eight portions of four distinct small bowl dishes. These dishes should be suitable for a stand-up reception for 20+ guests, with enough variety and substance

01st Dec 2025

Tilda opens entries to 2026 Chef Team of the Year competition

By: Edward Waddell

Tilda is inviting chef teams of two to rise to the challenge of creating a nutritionally balanced, high-protein, high-carb main course that reflects the theme ‘Food as Fuel’. The competition is about

More Competitions News

27th Jan 2014

Major Culinary Challenge 2014

The first heat takes place on February 7 at South Devon College in Paignton, and the second heat is scheduled to take place...

23rd Jan 2014

First Family Food Appreciation Workshops Hailed a Success

Blossomfield Infant and Nursery School in Solihull was the first of six UK schools to pilot the scheme from the fledgling...

23rd Jan 2014

First Sponsors for 2014 Workshops Announced

Welcoming back Uncle Ben’s and Dolmio, Premier, Marks and Spencer and Reynolds, which all supported last year’s scheme...

22nd Jan 2014

Brakes announces regional heats shortlist for Student Chef Team Challenge

These teams will now compete in a live cook-off at one of seven heats held across the UK, including Northern Ireland where...

04th Dec 2013

AWARD-WINNING CHEFS TO TAKE SPOTLIGHT AT HOTELYMPIA SKILLERY

2013 National Chef of the Year, Hayden Groves and Young National Chef of the Year, Ben Champkin are just two of the high...

26th Nov 2013

Budding young chef Hayley Cancea announced as winner of the FutureChef challenge

The 12 finalists earned their place in the national final of the charity’s annual cooking contest by working their way...

25th Nov 2013

Gluten-free Chef of the Year 2013 competition winners announced

His top prize is a week-long stage working with executive chef Andrew Fairlie at the two Michelin-starred Gleneagles. The...

22nd Nov 2013

COMBING THE WORLD OF HOSPITALITY FOR WESSEX 2014 COMPETITORS

We have now opened our annual search for chefs who are champing at the bit for the chance to test their skills on a big stage...

18th Nov 2013

Search for the 2014 North West Young Chef of the Year begins in January

The contest, sponsored by Cheshire-based Essential Cuisine, invites young people from across Greater Manchester, Lancashire...

11th Nov 2013

Search is on for competitors for the Wessex Salon Culinaire 2014

The event, organised by the Craft Guild, will take place from May 28-29 at Brockenhurst College in Brockenhurst, Hampshire...