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Craft Guild of Chefs celebrates industry excellence at 2026 Awards
The Craft Guild of Chefs welcomed chefs, hospitality professionals and industry leaders to the Westminster Park Plaza in London on 10 June for its annual Awards ceremony, recognising outstanding talent and achievement from across the UK's culinary sector.
The awards celebrate excellence across a broad range of disciplines, from restaurant, pastry and competition chefs to apprentices, educators and sustainability champions, highlighting the individuals and teams helping to shape the future of hospitality.
Among this year's winners were Lisa Goodwin-Allen, who received the prestigious Special Award, Tom Brassington of Restaurant Associates, Will Torrent of Waitrose & Partners and Scott John-Hodgson of Solstice by Kenny Atkinson.
Mark Reynolds, Chairman of the Craft Guild of Chefs, said: "Lisa is a truly worthy recipient of the Craft Guild of Chefs Special Award. Throughout her distinguished career, she has consistently demonstrated exceptional skill, creativity and dedication, while also giving so much back to the profession she loves.
"What makes Lisa especially deserving of this honour is the generosity with which she shares her knowledge and experience, helping to shape the future of our industry while continuing to set the highest standards herself. She is not only one of the UK's most respected chefs, but an inspiring ambassador for hospitality, and we are delighted to recognise her outstanding contribution to the profession."
HRC and International Salon Culinaire were proud sponsors of the Competition Chef Award, which was presented to Terry O'Riordan of the Craft Guild of Chefs.
Andrew Pantelli, Salon Culinaire Project Director, said: "Competitions play a vital role in challenging chefs to develop their skills, showcase their creativity and push the boundaries of what they can achieve. Terry's success reflects the dedication, craftsmanship and passion that continue to drive culinary excellence across our industry. Congratulations to all of this year's winners, whose achievements highlight the incredible talent within UK hospitality."
The full list of winners included:
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Accredited College Restaurant Award (sponsored by Hobart Warewashing): Scholars Restaurant, Blackburn College
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Apprentice Chef Award (sponsored by Compass Group – Foodbuy): Nikoletta Theofylaktidou, Restaurant Associates
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Banqueting & Event Chef Award (sponsored by CleanEvent Services): Miles Greenaway, Rocket Food
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Chef & Service Lecturer Award (sponsored by Hobart Cooking): Neil Rippington, Royal Academy of Culinary Arts
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Competition Chef Award (sponsored by HRC and International Salon Culinaire): Terry O'Riordan, Craft Guild of Chefs
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Contract Catering Chef Award (sponsored by PizzaSi): Darren Passmore, Eurest
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Culinary Hero Award (sponsored by Williams Refrigeration): Robert Kennedy, Compass Group
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Development Chef Award (sponsored by Essential Cuisine): Will Torrent, Waitrose & Partners
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New Restaurant of the Year Award (sponsored by Alliance NZ): Jöro Restaurant
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Pastry Chef Award (sponsored by Lakeland Dairies): Sam Leatherby, London Hilton on Park Lane
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Pub Restaurant Chef Award (sponsored by Bonemasters): Pete Jackson, Wildmoor Oak
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Public Sector Chef Award (sponsored by Tugo Food Systems): Rachyel Ainsworth, HM Forces
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Restaurant Chef Award (sponsored by Electrolux Professional): Scott John-Hodgson, Solstice by Kenny Atkinson
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Special Award (sponsored by Sodexo): Lisa Goodwin-Allen, Northcote Manor
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Street Food Chef Award (sponsored by Blue Tomato POP): Pankaj Krishnan, Keralan Karavan
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Sustainability Excellence Award (Small Operator, sponsored by McCormick Flavour Solutions): Ian Waller, Restaurant Pine
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Sustainability Excellence Award (Large Operator, sponsored by Rational): Eurest
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Young Chef Award (sponsored by Winterhalter): Tom Brassington, Restaurant Associates
Special Recognition Awards were also presented to David Mulcahy, Steve Munkley MBE, Paschal Tiernan, Tony Reynolds and Chris Burnham in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the industry.
The awards once again demonstrated the breadth of talent across the UK's hospitality sector and the importance of recognising the individuals helping to inspire the next generation of culinary professionals.
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