Local chef through to semi-finals of national culinary competition

A talented and ambitious local chef has reached the semi-finals of the National Chef of the Year competition after creating a stunning three course menu which impressed Michelin-starred chef, Kenny Atkinson, who leads the judging panel.

Carl Cleghorn, Executive Chef at Thornbury Castle Hotel & Restaurant, is one of 40 chefs still in the running to take the most sought-after title in the British culinary scene. 

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the competition and the judges are looking for the next person to follow in the footsteps of recent champions Thomas Swaby, Nick Smith and Steve Groves. National Chef of the Year was first run in 1972 and winners in the last fifty years have also included Gordon Ramsay, Simon Hulstone and Alyn Williams. 

Now in a bid to take one of the top ten spots, Carl Cleghorn must create a short video, to present an amuse bouche style signature dish that reflects his own favourite style of cooking or cuisine. The videos should explain what the dish is, why it is important to the chef and how it links to the theme.  

Chefs will also answer some questions posed by chair of judges, Kenny Atkinson who wants to know more about their original entry and what winning would mean to them. Once all the entries have been received a new panel of judges will whittle them down to ten finalists to compete in the cook-off at Le Cordon Bleu in September.

Carl Cleghorn said: “I’m over the moon to reach the semi-finals of the 50th Anniversary of National Chef of the Year 2022, and what a year to enter, to reach this stage is a great achievement and fingers crossed I reach the final to really show case myself and what I can do as a chef.”

The winner will not only receive the most sought-after chef title in the UK, but they will take home a host of impressive prizes including culinary experiences, equipment and trips of a lifetime.