Restaurant chefs recognised in national awards

Chefs and caterers working in hospitality, healthcare and education are among those to have been recognised in the Craft Guild of Chefs Awards 2022.

Leading hospitality names such as Gary Jones and Alistair Birt were honoured at the ceremony, which was held on Thursday 9 June at Magazine London and marked a return to its original format after a two-year break due to the pandemic.

Gary Jones, executive head chef at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, Oxfordshire, was selected for the night’s Special Award in recognition of going above and beyond in a career which has a major influence on the British chef scene.

Head chef Luke Selby was awarded New Restaurant of the Year Award for Evelyn’s Table, the intimate Michelin-starred counter dining experience in London’s Rupert Street.

The prestigious Restaurant Chef Award was given to Dan McGeorge of Rothay Manor in Ambleside, while steak specialist Miller & Carter was awarded the title of Chef's Favourite Branded Restaurant Group.

The Culinary Hero Award (formerly the People’s Choice Award) went to NHS Chefs Academy, while Jake Barwood of Totteridge Academy took home the Public Sector Catering Chef Award.

Mark Fletcher of Churche’s Mansion won the Banqueting and Event Chef Award, with Grace Hawksley from Gravetye Manor picking up the Apprentice Chef Award.

Craft Guild of Chefs' vice president Steve Munkley comments: “This has been a year of exceptional challenges and I am so proud to see that we have so many worthy winners. This year we made a special award to recognise someone who went above and beyond during the pandemic. I believe that we have identified such a worthy winner in Gary Jones, he is a real role model in the industry, he looks to encourage and develop young talent, while still being mindful of their own wellbeing.”

The evening included a raffle to raise funds for the Craft Guild of Chefs' joint initiative with UK Curry Connect, Chefs Support Ukraine. The campaign asks the hospitality industry to help raise funds for Ukraine. All donations from the JustGiving page will go directly to UNHCR.

Matt Owens, chair of the Craft Guild of Chefs, said: “This is a scheme which has brought together two great organisations who, with their combined membership, can really make a difference.”

The full list of winners

Apprentice Chef Award

Grace Hawksley – Gravetye Manor

Armed Forces Chef Award

WO Jonathan Smith – Royal Air Force

Banqueting and Event Chef Award

Mark Fletcher – Churche's Mansion

Chef Lecturer Award

Jose Souto – Westminster Kingsway College

Chef’s Favourite Branded Restaurant Group

Miller & Carter

Competition Chef Award

Graham Singer – Compass Group UK & Ireland

Contract Catering Chef Award

Karl Griffiths – Sodexo

Culinary Hero Award

NHS Chefs Academy

Development Chef Award

Vicky Endersen – MSK Ingredients

Innovation in Sustainability Award

Hana Group

New Restaurant of the Year Award

Luke Selby – Evelyn’s Table

Pastry Chef Award

Alistair Birt – Harrods

Pub Restaurant Chef Award

Nina Matsunaga – The Black Bull, Sedbergh

Public Sector Catering Chef

Jake Barwood – Totteridge Academy

Restaurant Chef Award

Dan McGeorge – Rothay Manor

Young Chef Award

AS Shaun Downs – Navy

Special Award

Gary Jones – Le Manoir aux Quat’Saison

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