Judges - Tim Kendall, Chris Cleghorn, Matt Mason, Michael Caines, Ian Webber, Elly Wentworth, Seth Ward and Scott Paton

Totnes Chef prepares to prepare big dinner

1st October 2025 Submitted-Content

Food lovers are invited to experience one of the most exciting dining events in the region, as the South West Chef of the Year Awards Dinner returns to Exeter this October.

Taking place at Exeter Golf and Country Club on Tuesday, October 28 and hosted by acclaimed chef Michael Caines MBE DL, the evening will feature a four-course menu with paired wines, crafted by some of the region’s most celebrated chefs, all of whom are judges and/or previous winners of the South West Chef of the Year contest.

Together, they will showcase the very best of seasonal south west produce, supported by students from the Michael Caines Academy, who will help deliver a dining experience of exceptional quality.

For one night only, diners can enjoy a welcome drinks reception, followed by a collaborative feast, prepared by:

Harrison Brockington, Head Chef, Gather, Totnes – South West Chef of the Year 2024
Tim Kendall, Chef Patron, The Rising Sun, Altarnun – South West Chef of the Year 2018
Elly Wentworth, Executive Chef, Fowlescombe Farm and The Millbrook Inn – South West Chef of the Year 2007
Matt Mason, Executive Chef, The View Restaurant, Exeter – South West Chef of the Year 2014

The evening culminates in the announcement of the winners of the South West Chef of the Year 2025, across professional, young professional, student/apprentice, home cook and junior chef categories. Finalists hail from across the region, representing outstanding talent and the future of food in the south west.

Michael Caines MBE DL, co-founder of the South West Chef of the Year competition, said: “This is a rare opportunity to taste dishes from some of the most exciting chefs in the country, all working together in one kitchen. It’s a true celebration of South West food and talent – both established and emerging.”

The finalists who will be competing for the region’s most prestigious chef awards are as follows:

Professional Chef category (final to be held on October 28 at Exeter College).

Lewis Brown, Sous Chef, Narla by Charlie Walters, Fowey, Cornwall
Niall Godsmark, Sous Chef, Lucknam Park, Bath
Ben Kittow, Sous Chef, Catch at The Old Fish Market, Weymouth, Dorset
James Nightingale, Head Chef, The Fox and Hounds, Eggesford, Devon

Young Professional Chef category (final to be held on October 28 at Exeter College).

Charlie Cutting, Chef de Partie, The Manor House Hotel, Castle Combe, Wiltshire
Harry Ford, Demi Chef de Partie, The Walled Garden, Lucknam Park, Bath
Ben Greenhalf, Chef de Partie, Gather, Totnes, Devon
Jack Smith, Junior Sous Chef, The Royal Crescent Hotel, Bath

Student/Apprentice Chef category (final to be held on October 28 at Exeter College).

Harry Earle, Bath College and Lucknam Park, Bath
Oscar Holgate, Exeter College and Glebe House, Southleigh, Devon
Oscar Mysiak, Combe Dean School and Àclèaf, Plympton, Devon
William Skidmore, Penwith College and Porthminster Beach Café, Carbis Bay, Cornwall
Rhianna Smith, Cornwall College, St Austell

Home Cook category (Final to be held on October 11 at Exeter College and winner announced at the awards night)

Tareq Assaf, Bath
Dave Morgan, Bristol
Louise Needham, Plympton, Devon
Karen Walker, Paignton, Devon

Junior Chef category (Final to be held on October 11 at Exeter College)

Finals were held in each of the six counties of the South West during June and July, and the winners in each county listed below, will now meet at the final.