Two Lake District chefs have scooped prestigious national awards.
Kiera Carolan, a former Academy by Simon Rogan student now working at Henrock at Linthwaite House in Bowness, has been crowned the Craft Guild of Chefs’ Young National Chef of the Year 2026.
Fellow Umbel Restaurant Group chef Mitchell Collins from L’Enclume in Cartmel secured third place, with Oliver Redgewell-Welch of Entier Ltd taking the runner-up position.
The winners were announced at a VIP awards ceremony held at The Hippodrome Casino, Leicester Square, on October 8.
Representing Henrock at Linthwaite House, where she works alongside Head Chef and Great British Menu finalist Mark McCabe, Kiera impressed judges with a stunning three-course menu that showcased her creativity, precision, and respect for seasonal produce.
This year’s final was assessed by an inspiring panel of leading culinary experts, chaired once again by Russell Bateman.
The judges included Daniel Galmiche, Ben Murphy, Adam Smith, Paul Askew, Roberta Hall-McCarron, Graham Hornigold, Denis Drame, Orry Shand, Sarah Frankland, Paul Mannering, and Hayden Groves.
The finalists were challenged to create a three-course menu within two hours, responding to a brief that celebrated innovation, sustainability, and seasonality. Competing against 11 other talented young chefs at the University of West London, Kiera secured the title with an exceptional menu featuring:
- Starter: Monkfish, Mussels, Nasturtium, and Preserved Tomato
- Main Course: Chicken, Foraged Mushrooms, Kale, and Celeriac
- Dessert: Preserved Strawberry, Apple Marigold, Sheep’s Yoghurt, and Honey
No stranger to success, Kiera has already received several accolades, including the Craft Guild of Chefs Young Chef Award 2025, National Seafood Chef of the Year 2023, and Lancashire Life Young Chef of the Year 2023.
She also placed third in last year’s Young National Chef of the Year competition, where she won the Sustainability Prize.
Marcin Maryniak, head of human resources and Simon Rogan Academy Lead, said: “Keira’s journey began through the Academy by Simon Rogan program. Her rapid progression from academy graduate to award-winning chef showcases both exceptional talent and commitment to all that she undertakes.
“I’d also like to extend congratulations to Mitchell Collins, who, on his first showing in the competition, also wowed the judges, coming a close third.
“He is one to keep an eye on and will no doubt follow in Kiera’s footsteps in the next year or two. Congratulations to both Keira and Mitchell on their outstanding achievements, which everyone in the Umbel Group is proud of!”
Russell Bateman, culinary development chef for TheTasteLab at Classic Fine Foods UK, said: “Being Chair of Judges for Young National Chef of the Year has been one of the highlights of my career so far.
“Mentoring the future talent in hospitality is so important to me, and over the last two years, I’ve been blown away by the ideas and level of cooking I’ve seen from young chefs.
“Congratulations to Keira, who absolutely smashed it. She was consistent across all three courses, delivering three delicious plates of food whilst being technically brilliant.”
David Mulcahy, competition director, added: “We always ensure this competition pushes young chefs to go outside their comfort zones whilst allowing them to cook for some of the most respected names in the industry.
“It’s the toughest culinary challenge in the UK for this age group, but every single finalist has risen to it and created dishes they should be proud of.
“We’ve got an incredible winner in Keira, and the Craft Guild of Chefs will be following her career and supporting her every step of the way.”
As well as being crowned Young National Chef of the Year, Kiera will enjoy a series of exclusive culinary experiences and trips, alongside fellow finalists Oliver and Mitchell.
In addition, she will receive a bursary from the Worshipful Company of Cooks of London, dedicated to supporting her continued culinary development.
The Craft Guild of Chefs was established in 1885 under its former name of the Cookery and Food Association. It has developed into the leading Chefs’ association in the UK and has many members worldwide.
Craft Guild of Chefs members come from all aspects of the foodservice and hospitality sectors, working in a wide variety of positions, from students and trainees to top management.
