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

12th Jan 2018

Country Range announces 2017/18 Student Chef Challenge semi-finalists

Loughborough College City of Liverpool College City College Norwich Ayrshire College Newcastle College City of Glasgow...

17th Aug 2017

Graduate Awards finalists announced in anniversary year

Out of the 36 participants, only 15 will be chosen for the kitchen final and 12 for the pastry, which will be announced...

26th May 2017

Craft Guild of Chefs reveals Semi-Finalists for Kitchen and Pastry Graduate Awards

The heats will take place on Thursday 15th June at the University of West London and Sheffield College. During this stage...

19th Oct 2015

Craft Guild Student Challenge 2015 seeks 'freestyling' teams

The competition targets teams of three full time student chefs studying hospitality or catering college courses and requires...

08th Oct 2015

Craft Guild Student Challenge 2015 seeks 'freestyling' teams

The competition targets teams of three full time student chefs studying hospitality or catering college courses and requires...

08th Aug 2014

Tabasco Student Street Food Brunch Challenge for chefs

This year it is called the Student Street Food Brunch Challenge 2014, giving competitors the task of creating a dish using...

11th Feb 2014

South West Chef of the Year 2014 launches at Source Taste of the West

Cornwell, who is chef de partie at Michelin-starred Lucknam Park near Bath, presented roast loin of venison, squash purée...

27th Jan 2014

National Chef of the Year 2014 open for entries

National Chef of the Year was launched in 1972 and has seen the cream of the UK culinary world take the title. Previous...

27th Jan 2014

Who will become the next Craft Guild of Chefs Graduate Award winners?

Successful candidates will have to pass a number of culinary challenges in a high-pressured environment. Those that reach the...

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...