Taste Hospitality Recruitment is proud to launch the 2026 Young North West Chef of the Year, in partnership with founder Brian Mellor. First established in 2001, the competition has long been a catalyst for young culinary talent, opening doors and accelerating careers for chefs across the North West.
Young North West Chef of the Year
The knives are out. The pans are hot. The stage is yours.
The competition is back — and this could be your moment.
After a pause following the challenges of Covid, Young North West Chef of the Year returns with a renewed purpose: to discover, nurture and celebrate the next generation of chefs shaping the region’s vibrant food scene.
Entries are now open, with applications closing on 4th March 2026.
If you’re aged 25 or under, and working, training, or living within Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire or Merseyside, this is your chance to step forward. Entrants will be invited to create a three-course menu that champions seasonal, regional produce, before cooking for a panel of some of the most respected chefs in the industry.
Successful competitors will progress to the Semi-Finals on 15th April, with the Final taking place on 20th May, where one chef will be crowned Young North West Chef of the Year 2026.
And it doesn’t stop there.
The winner of the competition will automatically progress to the Semi-Final of the Young National Chef of the Year, held on 24th June, run by the Craft Guild of Chefs. For many, this marks the first step onto a national stage and a proven pathway towards some of the UK’s most celebrated kitchens.
With industry recognition, invaluable feedback, career-changing exposure and mentorship opportunities on offer, Young North West Chef of the Year is more than just a competition. It’s a springboard — a place where ambition meets opportunity, and where the region’s future culinary stars begin their journey.
