How to Enter

Entries for this year’s National Chef of the Year competition officially opened on Tuesday 10th February. Over the next ten weeks, professional chefs across the UK are invited to craft a standout three‑course menu.
 

Take time to read the brief in detail as this is your opportunity to capture the attention of our world‑class judging panel and take the first step on your NCOTY journey.

We strongly recommend registering as early as possible. Once registered, you’ll receive important updates throughout the entry window, including expert advice, inspiration, and behind‑the‑scenes content to support your menu development.
 
 
Start your National Chef of the Year journey here

advice videos

Our advice section features a dedicated video series made to motivate, guide and inspire chefs as they work on their entry.

Watch the advice

Competition rules

Make sure you read through the competition rules carefully, as they explain the key guidelines and requirements you’ll need to follow when preparing your entry.

Check the rules

example entry

We’ve included a sample entry from the current winner, Danny Young, so you can see exactly how a successful submission is structured and what a winning entry looks like.

See Danny's Entry

Frequently asked questions

To make things easier, we’ve compiled a selection of frequently asked questions, giving you straightforward answers to the key points chefs want to know before entering.

Read our FAQs
“This competition continues to be a launchpad for culinary talent. The energy, passion and precision we saw at the 2025 final was inspiring for everyone involved”
David Mulcahy
David MulcahyCompetition director
"It felt 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 now I've joined an illustrious list of winners."
Orry Shand
Orry ShandNCOTY 2025
"It’s been an honour to Chair this competition for the last two years. The high number and standard of entries, dedication and level of cooking I’ve witnessed has been a joy to see and I look forward to following these finalists’ culinary careers."
Matt Abe
Matt AbeChair of Judges 2024 and 2025
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