• Paul Ainsworth

    Chef-patron, Paul Ainsworth at No. 6 and current Chairman

    “I am absolutely committed to this role and believe it’s important to lead from the top so my judging will be honest, firm and honourable. As head judge, I’ll be watching semi-finalists and finalists closely during the cook-offs and making sure the team of judges are working hard throughout the two hours to find the right winner. Whilst it’s important this competition remains current, it’s a cooking competition at the end of the day and I want the competitors to produce food that appeals to all five senses. As judges we just want to taste food that makes us say ‘wow’.”

    Hear from our Chairman

  • Hrishikesh Desai

    YNCOTY Chair of judges, executive chef at The Gilpin Hotel and Lake House in Windermere

    “It is an absolute honour for me to chair the Young National Chef of the Year, these finalists are the upcoming stars of our industry and we want them to be the catalyst for change and inspire their colleagues and peers. Ensuring that this competition could still go ahead in 2020 was an important project for me over the last few months as I know giving positivity, hope and focus to chefs is more important than ever. We had to tweak how we selected the finalists, but we invited a strong group of chefs who have already had success in other competitions; this led to an incredible final.”

    Hear from our Chair of judges 

  • Gary Jones

    Executive Head Chef at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, Chairman 2018 and 2019

    “I am privileged to be the Chair of judges for NCOTY. It’s a competition that has been won by so many talented chefs, has an incredible panel of judges, and receives fantastic support from media, sponsors and partners. I’ll be working with the Craft Guild of Chefs to find new and exciting ways to drive this event forward, whilst ensuring that culinary skills continue to be at the heart of every stage of the competition. It’s this skills focus which make the NCOTY title so credible, and one that so many chefs across the UK aspire to win.”

  • Clare Smyth MBE

    Chairman of judges and chef patron at three Michelin-starred Restaurant Gordon Ramsay

    “It’s great to have so many fantastic chefs entering and whilst we’ve had some fantastic finals, 2015 was exceptionally high in standard and I think this really was the best ever. I want to encourage chefs from all sectors to take part as it is a great platform to get your name out there”

  • Philip Howard

    Proprietor of the two Michelin-starred The Square Restaurant

    “The Craft Guild has put together an exemplary competition, which progresses with the times and requires truly talented chefs to enter in order to do it justice. For those who do, the rewards are immense.”

Judges

Judging panels over the past few years have included:

  • Adam Handling

    Chef/Owner
    Adam Handling Restaurant Group

  • Aktar Islam

    Chef Director/Owner
    Opheem

  • Anthony Demetre

    Chef Patron
    Wild Honey St James

  • Damien Wager

    Edible Art Patisserie

  • Gary Hunter

    Deputy Executive Principal
    Westminster College

  • George Blogg

    Head Chef
    Gravetye Manor

  • James Knappett

    Owner/Chef, Kitchen Table
    Bubbledogs

  • Jonny Bone

    Head Chef
    Core by Clare Smyth

  • Lisa Goodwin Allen

    Executive Head Chef
    Northcote Manor

  • Matt Owens

    Chairman, Craft Guild of Chefs
    Development Chef for Alliance Group

  • Paul Askew

    Chef/owner
    The Art School restaurant and Art school Cellars Author

  • Paul Foster

    Chef Patron
    Salt

  • Paul Walsh

    Executive Chef
    City Social

  • Peter Joyner

    Food Development Director
    Elior

  • Sophie Mitchell

    Chef & Caterer
    TV Presenter and Food writer

  • Stephen Scuffell

    Vice President of the Craft Guild of Chefs
    Chef Ambassador Gourmet Classic

  • Steve Munkley

    Vice President Craft Guild of Chefs

  • Willie Pike

    Masterchef

  • David Mulcahy

    Food Innovation and Sustainability Director
    Schools and Universities, Sodexo UK & Ireland

  • Sat Bains

    Chef Patron
    Restaurant Sat Bains

  • Simon Hulstone

    Chef Patron
    The Elephant Restaurant

  • Frederick Forster

    Head Chef
    SOW Restaurants

  • William Curley

    Pâtissier-Chocolatier
    William Curley Ltd

  • Stephen Terry

    Restaurateur
    The Hardwick Arms

  • Clare Smyth

    Chef/Owner
    Core by Clare Smyth

  • Claude Bosi

    Bibendum restaurant in Chelsea

  • Jonny Lake

    Chef Patron
    Trivet Restaurant

  • Mark Birchall

    Chef Director
    Moor Hall Restaurant with Rooms

  • James 'Jocky' Petrie

    Group Executive Development Chef
    Gordon Ramsay Group

  • Philip Howard

    Chef Patron
    Elystan Street

  • Ollie Dabbous

    Chef & Founder
    Hide

  • Graham Hornigold

    Director
    Smart Patisserie

  • Daniel Galmiche

    Chef Patron
    Pot Kiln

  • Alyn Williams

    Head Chef
    Alyn Williams at The Westbury, London

  • Julie Walsh

    Head Pastry Chef Lecturer
    Le Cordon Bleu

  • Russell Bateman

    Head Chef for Petrus
    Former winner of National Chef of the Year

  • Lee Westcott

    Chef-Owner
    Pensons

  • Daniel Galmiche

    Chef Patron
    Pot Kiln

  • Luke Selby

    Former Young National Chef of the Year
    and National Chef of the Year winner

  • Hayden Groves

    Executive Chef at BaxterStorey
    Former National Chef of the Year winner

  • Chantelle Nicholson

    Chef Patron
    Tredwells

  • Kuba Winkowski

    Former National Chef of the Year winner