Craft Guild reveals its 2026 award winners

The Craft Guild of Chefs has revealed the winners of its annual awards, following a ceremony at Westminster Park Plaza in London.

The evening’s highest honour, the Special Award, was presented to Lisa Goodwin-Allen in recognition of her contribution to the culinary profession.

Having led the kitchen brigade at Michelin-starred Northcote since the age of 23, Goodwin-Allen was praised for continuing to shape the industry as chef patron-director since 2025.

"Emotions are running quite high," she said on the night. "I didn’t expect it. It’s a big privilege and an honour. To be stood up there with such an amazing bunch of people, and not only the people on the stage, but the people in the room too."

She continues. “The Craft Guild of Chefs is massively important. It nurtures the next generation. It brings us together as a community.” 

Goodwin-Allen joins the list of previous recipients of the Craft Guild of Chefs Special Award, including Clare Smyth MBE, Asma Khan, Simon Rogan, Angela Hartnett MBE, Michel Roux OBE and Albert Roux OBE, Marco Pierre White, and Raymond Blanc OBE.

Other standout winners on the night include Scott John-Hodgson, Solstice by Kenny Atkinson for Restaurant Chef Award; Sam Leatherby, London Hilton on Park Lane for Pastry Chef Award; and Jöro Restaurant for New Restaurant of the Year Award. 

Five Special Recognition Awards were also presented, including honours for Craft Guild of Chefs vice presidents Steve Munkley MBE and David Mulcahy, acknowledging their outstanding service to the industry and the Guild. 

The full list of Craft Guild of Chefs 2026 winners

Accredited College Restaurant Award 
Scholars Restaurant
Blackburn College

Apprentice Chef Award
Nikoletta Theofylaktidou
Restaurant Associates

Banqueting & Event Chef Award
Miles Greenaway
Rocket Food

Chef & Service Lecturer Award
Neil Rippington
Royal Academy of Culinary Arts

Competition Chef Award
Terry O'Riordan
Craft Guild of Chefs

Contract Catering Chef Award
Darren Passmore 
Eurest

Culinary Hero Award
Robert Kennedy
Compass Group

Development Chef Award
Will Torrent
Waitrose & Partners

New Restaurant of the Year Award
Jöro Restaurant

Pastry Chef Award
Sam Leatherby
London Hilton on Park Lane

Pub Restaurant Chef Award
Pete Jackson
Wildmoor Oak

Public Sector Chef Award 
Rachyel Ainsworth
HM Forces

Restaurant Chef Award
Scott John-Hodgson
Solstice by Kenny Atkinson

Special Award
Lisa Goodwin-Allen
Northcote Manor

Special Recognition Award
Steve Munkley MBE
Craft Guild of Chefs

Special Recognition Award
David Mulcahy
Craft Guild of Chefs

Special Recognition Award
Paschal Tiernan
James Knight of Mayfair

Street Food Chef Award 
Pankaj Krishnan
Keralan Karavan

Sustainability Excellence Award (Small Operator) 
Ian Waller
Restaurant Pine

Sustainability Excellence Award (Large Operator)
Eurest

Young Chef Award 
Tom Brassington
Restaurant Associates

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