Previous Winners
The National Chef of the Year has a long and distinguished history of celebrating exceptional culinary talent. Over the last five decades, the competition has recognised chefs whose creativity, knowledge and technical skill have shaped the future of British gastronomy. Below, you’ll find a complete list of our previous winners which is an inspiring showcase of the chefs who have set the benchmark for excellence and helped define what it means to be the National Chef of the Year.
Our most recent winners
Danny Young
National Chef of the Year 2026
The winning menu from Danny included a starter of Native Lobster, Yuzu Beurre Blanc, N25 Caviar, a main course of Dry Aged Beef Fillet, Glazed Tongue, Beef Fat Onion, Potato, Truffle with a Valrhona Fruit & Nut “Tart”, Mascarpone, Pedro Ximénez for dessert. These dishes were served up on a Super Vitrified Isla wide rim bowl, Super Vitrified walled plate and Alchemy Ambience wide rimmed plate from Churchill in a bid to create not only delicious but beautifully presented plates of food.
orry Shand
National Chef of the Year 2025
Orry took the top spot with his delicious menu of Turbot from the North Sea with smoky Orkney scallop for starter, lamb with the Scottish autumn for main course and a celebration of Manjari Valrhona with influences from Asia for dessert.
alex angeliogianis
National Chef of the Year 2024
To take the title, Alex served up a starter of Line caught mackerel, guts and all. His main course was a best end of lamb, rib, Coppa and offal dolma, followed by a dessert of Valrhona chocolate & beetroot, lovage and brambles.
Ben Murphy
National Chef of the Year 2023
He served up an impressive menu of Butter Poached Pollock, Radish and Oscietra followed by Lake District Young Fallow, Watercress, Onion, Batek Pepper with a dessert of Clementine, Honey, Tahitensis Vanilla and Yoghurt.
Thomas Swaby
National Chef of the Year 2022
Thomas’ starter was roasted maitake chawanmushi, mushroom ketchup, roasted maitake, nasturtiums, pickled enoki and mushroom tea. British suckling pig with Orkney scallop, burnt apple puree, spinach, Chardonnay vinegar mash, apple, shallot and pig sauce was the main course he served up with a dessert of sticky toffee pudding
Nick Smith
National Chef of the Year 2021
Nick served up a starter of Gilthead ‘gazpacho’ Heirloom tomato & cucumber, a main course of Romney Marsh lamb, roe ravigote, fennel, samphire and aster and for dessert Sweet Eve strawberry split, clotted cream, lemon and mint
Steve Groves
National Chef of the Year 2020
Steve served a menu of red mullet, shellfish mousse and bouillabaisse sauce, followed by a main course of suckling pig, Jerusalem artichokes, quince, hazelnut and trompettes with Calvados Baba, honey poached pears and creme fraiche Chantilly for dessert.
Kuba winkowsi
National Chef of the Year 2019
Kuba served a menu of Native Lobster, Oyster Emulsion, Celery, Sea Herbs Buttermilk followed by Yorkshire Grouse, Cabbage, Foie Gras, Quince, Celeriac, Seeds and Sticky Toffee, Lemon, Clotted Cream and Walnuts for dessert.
luke Selby
National Chef of the Year 2018
His menu included a starter of sea vegetable minestrone, mussels and farfalle pasta served with a poached scallop, British caviar and a lemongrass scented buttermilk sauce; a main course of roasted fallow deer, blackberry, celeriac, sprouts and bacon served with a venison sauce finished with chocolate; and a dessert of warm walnut almondine, ginger infused bramley purée, caramelised cox apple filled with an apple compote with cinnamon and ginger ice cream.
Previous Winngers
The winners over the past five decades have included:
- 2017 James Devine
- 2016 Larry Jayasekara
- 2014 Russell Bateman
- 2013 Hayden Groves
- 2012 Alyn Williams
- 2011 Frederick Forster
- 2010 Hrishikesh Desai
- 2008 Simon Hulstone
- 2006 Eyck Zimmer.
- 2004 Steve Love
- 2002 Mark Sargeant
- 2000 Bruce Sangster
- 1998 Kevin Viner
- 1996 David Everitt-Matthias
- 1994 Lou Jones
- 1992 Gordon Ramsay
- 1990 Roger Narbett
- 1988 Mark Gregory
- 1986 David Pitchford
- 1984 Robert Mabey
- 1982 William Stafford
- 1980 Ken Whibley
- 1978 Paul Brady
- 1976 Eddie van Meille
- 1974 Brian Price
- 1972 Pierre Jacquemin