Taste Hospitality Recruitment is proud to launch the 2026 Young North West Chef of the Year in partnership with Founder Brian Mellor. The competition first went live in 2001 and has opened many doors for the Young Chefs across the North West Region.

The competition is back – and this could be your moment!

The competition has long been recognised as a launchpad for exceptional young culinary talent in the region. After a break due to Covid, the competition is returning with a renewed mission: to discover, nurture and celebrate the next generation of chefs shaping the North West’s vibrant food scene.

If you’re aged 25 and under and working or training, or have a fixed abode in Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire or Merseyside, it’s time to show what you’re made of. Cook a three-course menu that champions seasonal, regional local produce, wow a panel of acclaimed chefs, and you could be crowned Young North West Young Chef of the Year.

Where will that lead to next? The world is your perfectly prepared oyster. From local kitchens to the big stage — this is where careers take off.

For ambitious chefs, this competition isn’t just an award: it’s an entry point to the prestigious Young National Young Chef of the Year in London ran by the Craft Guild of Chefs and a proven stepping-stone towards bigger stages and brighter opportunities. Previous winners and finalists have gone on to Michelin Star kitchens, leading independent and luxury hotels, building careers that began with this very challenge.

With industry recognition, career-changing exposure and mentorship opportunities on offer, the Young North West Chef of the Year gives talented young cooks the chance to stand out, get noticed and take the next step on their culinary journey.