“It felt like a good time in my career to test myself at the highest level and enter National Chef of the Year. I’m delighted I managed to win on my first attempt, especially with such amazing feedback, and I’ve now joined an illustrious list of winners. You get out what you put in and from entry to the final stage, I invested a lot of time into the competition, but it was 100% worth it.”

“I’m extremely honoured to have won the NCOTY title and earnestly grateful to share the accolade with such prestigious former winners. Taking the prize home validates years of hard work, and the recognition fuels the future. I am looking forward to all the opportunities that the title will bring my way in 2024 and proud to be an NCOTY ambassador.”

“Winning National Chef of the Year was crazy. The standard of dishes cooked in the final and level of chefs in the competition was unbelievable and so sometimes I still can’t believe I achieved it. This title was always something I wanted, and it just felt like the right time for me to go for it. Winning the competition in the 50th anniversary year just made it extra special and even more so that it was ten years since I won the young chef title. It’s a fantastic competition to be part of and I’m looking forward to seeing what opportunities it brings.”  

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• "Winning National Chef of the Year has been an incredible and humbling journey, I'm still honoured and surprised to be announced as the winner to join such a prestigious list of past winners it's something that I’ll be forever proud of! "

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• "National chef of the year has been an incredible journey for me. It has tested all my abilities, emotions & character as a chef & been vital in my development. I am so proud to be part of this unique competition, honoured & humbled to join such a prestigious list of chefs. It truly is a once in a lifetime opportunity."

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• "Winning National Chef Of The Year is an incredible honour and one of my proudest moments, for me it's the UK's top chefs competition and the chefs associated with the competition are the shining lights of our industry. The connections made throughout and since the competition are invaluable and a real boost to my career."

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• "I’m honoured, I never expected to win or to come this far. Today went well for me. I kept calm and was pleased with the way all my dishes came out. Each dish was something I’d happily eat or serve up. Right now."

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• "Winning The National Chef of the Year, it is the pinnacle of my career to date, to now be included in the hall of fame alongside such industry heavyweights is a dream come true."

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• "Winning National Chef of the Year was a great personal triumph for me. Chef of the Year gave me a name in my own right, I am very proud to stand alongside the judges to help find the next talent to come from this competition."

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• "It was a fantastic experience! From pulling together my entry and practicing the recipes I was submitting, through to the cook-offs and the fina. I’ve met some great contacts through the competition both on a personal and business level. It’s amazing what doors are suddenly opened for you once your profile is raised."

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• "I am very humbled but also extremely proud to now be amongst so many great names in the industry that have won the title over the years."

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• "It is a huge honour to win NCOTY and amazing to think my name is now added to that list of wonderful past winners. To be recognised by the fantastic line up of judges was also a massive boost for me personally. I’m incredibly proud to have been recognised by such an esteemed judging panel. I gained more from the NCOTY that I could have believed possible at the beginning of my journey. I will take my experience back to the kitchen at Colette’s and use it to continue to grow as a Chef. I look forward to seeing the competition go from strength to strength."

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• "I never thought I was good enough, the standard (of the competition) is so high. The First year I reached the final, I thought, OK, the second year, I thought, OK, but the third year I really had to push the boundaries. It’s not just about winning. It’s about your career and what the title can do for it."

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• "Winning National Chef of the Year 2019 title was a dream come true. I had watched the competition closely since 2014 and I was gearing up for it and gaining the confidence. It is such a proud moment when all the afford and hard work put in over the years pays off and your name is listed alongside people you admire. It is an honour to become NCOTY ambassador to carry the legacy into the 2020."

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• "I feel honoured to have taken the title of NCOTY this year, I put a lot of work into it and it all seems to have paid off! It has always been an ambition of mine to go for the senior title ever since winning the YNCOTY back in 2014 and this year I felt ready for it. To have my name alongside the past winners, all of whom are chefs I have always looked up-to is something that I will always be hugely proud of. I am sure that winning the NCOTY will open many doors but for now I am looking forward to getting my head back down in a kitchen!"