2021 competition
Promoting Hospitality as a career of choice, a profession and a vocation. Young Chef Young Waiter is a national competition open to all young professional waiters and chefs from any background.
This renowned competition turned 43 in 2021 and we celebrated with a revamped and revitalised format, fully endorsed by UK Hospitality and the Restaurant Association.
We worked with leading figures from the hospitality industry to find the best young chef and waiter the UK has to offer.
The quality of the entries and the standard of performance of every single finalist in the competition was exceptionally high which meant that selecting the winners was a truly tough decision for our esteemed judges.
Young chef young waiter 2021
10 young chefs and 10 young waiters were selected to take part in the Competition Finals based on their online entries that captivated our judges.
They participated in the live YCYW United Kingdom competition at the UK Pavilion at Expo 2021 in association with MAF hotel group and the Department of International trade.
All 20 Finalists took part in a range of tasks devised by our expert judging panel which included UK Head chef judge, Adam Handling, UK Head waiter judge, Simon King and assistant Head waiter judge, Andy Downton.
- 20 Finalists
- 10 & 10 Chefs & Waiters
- 3 Winners in each category Chef and Waiter
2021 COMPETITION
2021 FINALS
The exciting Young Chef Young Waiter 2021 Competition Finals took place in at the Aloft Dubai Creek on the 15 and 16 November 2021. 10 Chefs and 10 Waiters were accompanied by leading judges for the two day semi-final and final. 20 VIP guests were invited for lunch service to taste the final dishes prepared by our young Chefs and served by our young Waiters.
The best young Chef and best young Waiter winners were announced on 16th November at the Awards Ceremony on the UK Pavilion at Expo 2020.
The incredible 2021 prizes include:
Formula One Paddock Club™ Ticket Packages Chef and Waiter Winner and Guest
British Grand Prix – Silverstone
With privileged trackside viewing above the team garages, gourmet cuisine and open bars, the Formula One Paddock Club™ is the pinnacle of Formula 1 hospitality. Pull up a ringside seat for some of the most important on-track action across the weekend, including the race start and pit stops, as you are waited on by highly-trained staff. Paddock Club guests enjoy mid-morning tea and pastries, gourmet luncheons with Ferrari Trento sparkling wine and open champagne bars. Additional benefits include daily pit lane walks, driving tours of the track, live entertainment and appearances by F1 drivers.
Watch our YCYW 2021 wrap up video
2021 Competition
2021 winners
The 2021 winners were announced at the UK Pavilion at Expo in Dubai.
Head chef judge Adam Handling announced the successful Young Chefs
- Winner – Chef: Connor Blades, Ugly Butterfly, by Adam Handling
- Second Place – Chef: Ali Halbert, Ugly Butterfly, by Adam Handling
- Third Place – Chef: Liam Rogers, Restaurant Sat Bains
Head waiter judge Simon King announced the successful Young Waiters
- Winner – Waiter: Sophie Heyer, The Promenade at The Dorchester
- Second Place – Waiter: Max Daglish, Northcote Hotel
- Third Place – Waiter: George Smart, The Newt in Somerset
Connor Blades
2021 Winning Chef
Sophie Heyer
2021 Winning Waiter
History of
Young Chef
Young Waiter
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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