Young Chef Young Waiter, which promotes hospitality as a career of choice, a profession, and a vocation, returns for 2022. Established in 1979, the competition was relaunched in 2019 by The Nth Degree Global in partnership with UKHospitality and the Restaurant Association.
Entry for Young Chef Young Waiter 2022 is open.
We are thrilled to announce that the competition is now in the UK and beyond and takes Young Chef Young Waiter to a global audience this year, making it more exciting than ever for our competitors.
Each country's semi-finalists selected by our expert judges will compete at the World Young Chef Young Waiter finals. The World Young Chef Young Waiter final will be held in November 2022.
The competition is open to young chefs and waiters under the age of 26 with a minimum of 3 years of hospitality experience. Each country will have their own specific criteria and this should be viewed under the country's website.
*Important note for entrants: It is essential that at the point of entering YCYW online, you ensure that you will be available to take part in the World Young Chef Young Waiter Final Competition in each designated country, including outbound travel to that country in November 2022. Further specific dates will be available in the near future.
They participated in the live YCYW United Kingdom competition at the UK Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai in November 2021 in association with MAF hotel group and Department of International Trade
All 20 Finalists took part in a range of tasks devised by our expert judging panel which includes UK Head chef judge, Adam Handling, UK Head waiter judge, Simon King, and assistant waiter judge, Andy Downton.
2020 FINALS
The exciting Young Chef Young Waiter 2020 Competition Finals took place in London in 4 locations over 3 days in May 2021. The events had been rescheduled from late 2020 due to the series of UK lockdowns and were run in line with government guidelines.
The Finals: Dates and Venues:
Tuesday 25 May:
Wednesday 26 May:
Thursday 27 May:
Adam Handling
Head Judge - Chef
Simon King
Head Judge - Waiter
Our inspirational judging panel for 2022 is made up of Claude Bosi, Emily Roux, Jeff Galvin, Clare Smyth MBE, Andy Downton, Johanna Wimmer and other big names in hospitality
See all judges
Finding the World's Best
Across the Globe
The fabulous festivities provided the perfect opportunity for our prestigious guests from the world of hospitality to commend the finalists and congratulate the winners. An unforgettable night of celebration, recognition and fun!
Mercedes-Benz
The vehicle of choice for hospitality
Winners and judges have included some the industry’s great recognisable names– Theo Randall, Mark Sargeant, Marcus Wareing, Simon King, John Torode, Anne and Jamain Swarb, Jeremy King, Raymond Blanc OBE, Heston Blumenthal OBE, The Earl of Bradford and Lord Forte.
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