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

11th Nov 2013

College chef wins Major Cambridge University Culinary Cup

Now in its fourth year, the all day event sponsored by Major International was held at Cambridge Regional College on October...

08th Nov 2013

Jersey culinary team wins Inter Island Challenge

The competition, organised by the Craft Guild of Chefs and attended by vice president Steve Scuffell, was held in the Academy...

18th Oct 2013

Inter Island Challenge 2013

Last year Guernsey’s team lifted the Peter Queree trophy, named after well-known former head of catering at the Highlands...

16th Oct 2013

Winnie Myers Afternoon Tea Challenge

Now in its third year, the competition created as a tribute to the late Winnie Myers, a well respected member of the Craft...

10th Oct 2013

Extra time for Tabasco’s ‘hottest chef’ competition for student chefs

Tabasco, owned by the US based McIlhenny Company, in association with the Craft Guild of Chefs is holding the Student Street...

10th Oct 2013

South Asian Chef Competition 2013 winners crowned

Judges from the Craft Guild of Chefs, the catering industry and the catering education sector, represented by chair of judges...

10th Oct 2013

Brakes Student Chef Team Challenge 2013/14 open for entries

The annual competition, which for the first time welcomes new sponsors BD Foods and ABP Food Group for this year’s challenge...

09th Oct 2013

BaxterStorey executive chef wins National Chef of the Year 2013

Groves, executive chef at BaxterStorey, won the crown after producing outstanding dishes at the final at the Restaurant Show...

09th Oct 2013

Young National Chef of the Year 2013 revealed

He impressed the judging panel, which included the competition’s chef ambassador Mark Sargeant, a former National Chef of the...

04th Oct 2013

Finalists named for South Asian Chef Competition 2013

The finalists are: Saurav Nath head chef at the Colony Bar & Grill in London Kevin Hughes head chef at Leeds College’s...