After a hiatus of five years, the Young North West Chef of the Year Competition is set to return to champion the next generation of chefs and highlight the incredible talent flourishing across the region’s kitchens.
THE competition will be revived under the stewardship of award-winning chef Brian Mellor, founder and chair of the competition and Caroline Wright, managing director of award-winning Taste Hospitality Recruitment.
The decision to revive the competition was based on requests from leading regional chefs.
Founded in 2001 the Young North West Chef of the Year contest has provided a valuable competition environment experience to hundreds of chefs, who were able to test themselves against their peers and receive feedback from leading chefs.
The entrants will also gain guidance in researching, creating, and costing menus, which are valuable skills and vital in aiding career progression.
The competition is open to all chefs who will be aged 25 or younger on 29th September 2026.
Budding chefs who are passionate about food, will be invited to apply from across Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside, Cheshire, and Cumbria.
The talented chefs will compete against each other to produce a three-course meal for two with an emphasis on regional and seasonal produce.
Alongside the prestige of being crowned the Young Northwest Chef of the Year, the winner may be able to qualify for the semi-finals of the Craft Guild of Chef’s, The Young National Chef of the Year Competition, where they will compete against some of the best young chefs in the country.
Six finalists will also attend a masterclass with an acclaimed chef prior to the final as an opportunity to hone particular skills with the industry’s best.
Former competition winners include: The National Chef of the Year 2026 winner Danny Young, formally of Northcote, Lancashire, and now head chef at The Torridon in the Scottish Highlands.
Previous winners and their employers at the time include: Edwin Kuk and Daniela Tucci, The Art School, Liverpool; Cyril Gabriel, Carden Park Hotel, Cheshire; Tom Reeves, L’Enclume, Cumbria; Arthur Quin, The Punchbowl, Cumbria; Danny Young; Daniel Akrigg, Rogan & Co, Cumbria; Lewis Gallagher, Grill on the Hill, Stanley House, Lancashire and Andrew Postlethwaite, Castle Green Hotel, Cumbria.
The Young North West Chef of the Year Competition was paused during COVID and the decision to discontinue followed the cost-of-living crisis.
Chef Brian Mellor said: “We had planned to go again in 2022, but because of the cost-of-living crisis, it was unfair to ask independents to commit to the competition at that time.”
Taste Hospitality Recruitment managing director Caroline Wright, who nurtures and recruits permanent hospitality staff across the UK, added: “Every conversation I’ve had tells me that this is the right thing to do.
“I think it’s important for young chefs to have that springboard. It’s an amazing thing to be able to put on your CV, and an amazing achievement for a burgeoning career.”
“We believe the timing is right to get the competition back up and running. Chefs are asking and we are responding.”
Caroline and Brian are reigniting previous partnerships and forming new ones to bring this renowned competition back to life.
Brian Mellor said: “The future of Northern cooking is soon to be revealed. This is more than just a comeback; it’s a platform for the chefs who will shape the region’s dining future.”
To find out more about the competition go to: https://tastehospitality.com/young-north-west-chef-of-the-year/
To become a sponsor or to be notified when entries are open contact: Caroline Wright, caroline@tastehospitality.com M: 07545 696601.