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 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.
