Craft Guild of Chefs reveals shortlisted finalists for 2025 Awards

View details of the venue, timings and seating plan

The Craft Guild of Chefs Awards are seen as the chefs’ Oscars recognising the exceptional talent across the whole of our industry – from apprentice and young chefs just starting out to chefs who are established in their careers in hospitality, pubs and restaurants.

Mark Reynolds, chair of the Craft Guild of Chefs, said: “This year’s Craft Guild of awards dinner promises to be another huge celebration of worthy winners from across all sectors of our industry.

“We have another year of exciting awards to present this year at The Royal Lancaster in June, we are so proud to be able to award such worthy winners and it really is becoming the one industry awards dinner to be seen at.

“I wish all those nominated the best of luck on the night and even if you don’t win you should all feel immensely proud to be nominated and be part of the evening you are all winners.”

In addition to the 16 categories listed below, the Craft Guild of Chefs will also present a Special Award (sponsored by Sodexo) to the chef who, above all others, has made an outstanding contribution to the industry.

The 2025 shortlisted finalists include:

Accredited College Restaurant of the Year Award, sponsored by Wafflemeister

• The Silver Plate Restaurant at Sheffield College
• Scholars Restaurant at Blackburn College
• East Avenue Restaurant at Eastleigh College

Apprentice Chef Award, sponsored by Compass Group - Foodbuy

• Gabby Harrison, commis chef, Stormont Hotel
• Oliver Porter, apprentice chef, House of Commons
• Roselle Wu, apprentice chef, ESS Compass Group UK & Ireland

Banqueting & Event Chef Award, sponsored by CleanEvent Services

• Paul Hood, executive head chef, Heritage Portfolio/Sodexo Live!
• Peter Thompson, head chef, P&J Live - ASM Global
• Allen Townsend, banqueting & executive chef, Levy Goodwood

Chef Lecturer Award, sponsored by Panasonic 

• Mark Belford, Chef Academy principal, HIT Training
• Greg Cheeseman, chef lecturer, Eastleigh College
• Darren Creed, curriculum manager hospitality & travel, Loughborough College
• Andy Gabbitas, chef lecturer, Sheffield College

Competition Chef Award, sponsored by HRC 2026

• Gary Kilminster, business development manager, Essential Cuisine
• Terry O’Riordan, chef manager, Craft Guild of Chefs Culinary Team
• Tom Phillips, executive chef, Restaurant Story

Contract Catering Chef Award, sponsored by PizzaSi

• Darren Edwards, executive chef, Sodexo
• Stephen Humphries, head of hospitality - Culinary, Vacherin
• Malcolm Smith, development chef, Sodexo
• Adam Thomason, culinary director, Restaurant Associates

Culinary Hero Award, sponsored by Williams Refrigeration

• Rachyel Ainswroth, unit catering manager - chef, HM Forces
• Romy Gill MBE
• Brian Magill, Freezer Friends Initiative
• Mathew Shropshall, chef lecturer, UCB College of Food

Development Chef Award, sponsored by Essential Cuisine

• Gareth Bowen, senior culinary development director, Cunard
• Stuart Duff, corporate development chef, Hilton Hotels
• Gary Periti, executive development chef, Sodexo
• Will Torrent, senior brand development chef, Waitrose and Partners

New Restaurant of the Year Award, sponsored by Lumina

• Ruth Hansom, executive chef, Hansom Restaurant and Wine Bar
• Endo Kazutoshi, executive chef, Kioku
• Stuart Ralston, executive chef, Lyla Edinburgh

Pastry Chef Award, sponsored by Lakeland Dairies

• Amit Arya, executive pastry chef, InterContinental London - The O2
• Francesco Coratella, executive pastry chef, RB Holdings
• Luis Meza, executive pastry chef, Hilton London Metropole

Pub Restaurant Chef Award, sponsored by Bonemasters

• Richard Crouch, chef, The Angel at Watlington
• Luke Payne, chef owner, The Pack Horse, Hayfield
• Lionel Strub, chef/patron, The Clarendon County Pub with rooms

Public Sector Chef Award, sponsored by Tugo Food Systems

• Graeme Collie, executive chef, Kings College London
• Michael King, executive chef, Chartwells Universities
• Matt Lord, regional executive chef, ESS
• Martin Wright, executive development chef, Compass Group UK & Ireland

Restaurant Chef Award, sponsored by Unox

• Ajay Kumar, head chef and owner, Swadish by Ajay Kumar
• Thomas Law, executive chef, Prithvi
• Adam Smith, executive chef, Coworth Park
• Gary Townsend, chef owner, Elements

Street Food Chef Award, sponsored by Major 

• Liam Green, head chef/company owner, Chicken Scoop
• James Timmins, owner and head chef, Utter Waffle
• Alec Tomasso, chef, The Weeping Chef

Sustainability Excellence Award, sponsored by Rational

• Catering Team, Kings College London
• Tom and Laurissa Heywood, owners, Pignut Restaurant
• Mission Zero, Marriott International

Young Chef Award, sponsored by Henley Bridge

• Keira Carolan, demi chef de partie, Henrock by Simon Rogan
• Amber Rissman, commis chef, Restaurant Andrew Fairlie
• Alessio Sneider, sous chef, Soho House