The awards are seen as the chefs’ Oscars recognising the exceptional talent across the whole of the UK's chef industry – from apprentice and young chefs just starting out to chefs who are established in their careers in hospitality, pubs and restaurants. Book your place at the 2026 awards ceremony to find out the winners.

In addition to the 14 categories listed below, the Craft Guild of Chefs will also present a Special Award (sponsored by Sodexo) to the chef who, above all others, has made an outstanding contribution to the industry. Previous winners include Clare Smyth, Asma Khan and Simon Rogan.

Other awards handed out on the night will include Accredited College Restaurant Award (sponsored by Hobart Warewash), the Sustainability Excellence Award – small operator (sponsored by McCormicks) and the Sustainability Excellence Award - large operator (sponsored by Rational).

The full list of shortlisted finalists includes:

Apprentice Chef Award (sponsored by Compass Group – Foodbuy):

• Grace Duggan - Culloden Estate & Spa
• Megan Jenkins - BaxterStorey
• Nikoletta Theofylaktidou - Compass Group

Banqueting & Event Chef Award (sponsored by CleanEvent Services):

• Miles Greenaway - Rocket Food
• Matt Hagan - Manchester Central Convention Complex
• Saurabh Prabhakar - Hilton Woking

Chef & Service Lecturer Award (sponsored by Hobart Cooking):

• Chris Basten - Westminster Kingsway College
• Andy Gabbitas - Sheffield College
• David Lyon - Blackburn College
• Neil Rippington - Royal Academy of Culinary Arts

Competition Chef Award (sponsored by HRC):

• Christopher Beavis - CSCAT Team
• Simon Coulter - ESS
• Anna Korziarska - Meallmore Ltd
• Terry O'Riordan - Team Manager, Craft Guild of Chefs

Contract Catering Chef Award (sponsored by PizzaSi):

• Adam Bateman - Aramark
• Chris Jarman - BaxterStorey
• Darren Passmore - Eurest
• Steven Snowdon - Lexington Catering

Culinary Hero Award (sponsored by Williams Refrigeration):

• Mark Belford - HIT Training
• Fraser Cameron - The Globe Inn
• Matt Davies - British Culinary Federation
• Paul Foster - Food Unfiltered
• Robert Kennedy - Compass Group
• Chloe Pattisson - Meallmore Ltd

Development Chef Award (sponsored by Essential Cuisine):

• Robert Craggs - Pladis
• Steve Groves - Restaurant Associates Venues
• Will Torrent - Waitrose
• Leanne Turk - Foodbuy Group

New Restaurant of the Year Award (sponsored by Alliance NZ):

• Nieves Barragan Mohacho - Legardo
• Luke French - Joro
• Merlin Labron-Johnson - Osip

Pastry Chef Award (sponsored by Lakeland Dairies):

• Amit Ayra - InterContinential London - The O2
• Sam Leatherby - London Hilton on Park Lane
• Rebecca Marshman Rondeau - RMR Consultancy
• Szilard Szentesi - Mar Hall Golf & Spa Resort

Pub Restaurant Chef Award (sponsored by Bonemasters):

• Martin Davies - Britannia Inn
• Pete Jackson - Wildmoor Oak
• Rick Owens - Bat & Ball Pub
• Herve Stouvenel - The Brisley Bell

Public Sector Chef Award (sponsored by Tugo Food Systems):

• Rachyel Ainsworth - HM Forces
• Tony Mulgrew - Ravenscliffe High School
• Darren Neal - White Oaks
• Nedko Rusev - Guy's & St Thomas NHS Trust

Restaurant Chef Award:

• Tom Heywood - Pignut and The Hare
• Scott Hodgson - Solstice by Kenny Atkinson
• Daniel Rogan - AO by Daniel Rogan
• David Smith - The Dipping Lugger

Street Food Chef Award:

• Liam Green - Chicken Skoop
• Pankaj Krishnan - Keralan Karavan

Young Chef Award:

• Tom Brassington - Restaurant Associates
• Mitch Collins - L'Enclume
• Phoebe Lawson - Restaurant Andrew Fairlie
• Fin MacDonald - The Dipping Lugger