The Craft Guild of Chefs has released the names of 11 finalists who will be competing for the prestigious Young National Chef of the Year title.
The chefs made it through a semi-final where they had to serve a three-course lunch in two hours, showcasing technical skill and creativity.
The brief required them to create a starter of monkfish tail and Scottish mussels; a main of Sutton Hoo chicken with classic garnishes; and a seasonal egg-based mousse dessert using Boiron fruit purée.
Russell Bateman, culinary development chef for TheTasteLab at Classic Fine Foods UK and chair of judges, said: “It’s fantastic to see some of last year’s finalists returning for another shot at the title, alongside new faces stepping up to the competition for the first time. Now, I want to see these finalists take on board all the feedback and insights shared during the mentor day and use the coming months to refine their skills and push themselves even further.”
David Mulcahy, competition director, added: “Some of the UK’s most successful chefs, including Luke Selby, Ruth Hansom-Rigby and Danny Young, have held this title, and I hope this year’s finalists are inspired by what’s possible. It’s a perfect platform for elevating careers, so I would encourage all 12 chefs to use their time wisely to ensure those dishes are as strong as they can be when they are plated in a few months’ time. We’ll be bringing some of the best chefs to judge them so an incredible experience and opportunity to learn awaits.”
The 11 finalists for Young National Chef of the Year are listed below. The 12th finalist will be the highest achiever in the kitchen category of the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts Annual Awards for Excellence.
The finalists
- Alessio Sneider, Soho House 76 Dean Street
- Annabelle Hughes, BaxterStorey
- Hannah Sloane, the Black Swan at Oldstead
- Harry Van Lierop, the Ledbury
- Jake Goddard, Coworth Park
- Keira Carolan, Henrock
- Methus Sawangseang, the Belfry Hotel & Resort
- Mitchell Collins, L’Enclume
- Oliver Redgwell-Welch, Entier
- Paolo Marinosci, Mauro Colagreco at Raffles London at the OWO
- Rosie Welch, From the Woods
Ben Howard from Solstice in the City of London and Keren Fry from Àclèaf in Plymouth have been confirmed as reserves.
The final will take place on 7 October 2025 at the University of West London. The winner will be crowned at the evening awards ceremony held at the Hippodrome Casino in London’s Leicester Square.
The Craft Guild of Chefs is the UK’s largest chefs’ association.
