The prestigious Young Chef Young Waiter England competition is back, and it’s set to make a statement in 2024 as it returns to the iconic Ascot Racecourse on none other than St. George’s Day, April 23rd. YCYW England welcomes young hospitality professionals who are 28 years old or under from any background, to showcase their talents. This competition provides an incredible opportunity for emerging talents to showcase their skills on a global platform.
Applications for the 2024 YCYW England competition are now officially open, inviting aspiring chefs, waiters, and mixologists from across the country to showcase their talent and dedication to the craft.
How to Apply:
- Entry is free for young professional Mixologists who are 28 years old or under from any background.
- Applicants entering WordYY must be available to take part in the world final competition scheduled for early November 2024.
- To apply and learn more, visit https://youngchefyoungwaiter.com/enter/.
- The deadline for submissions is March 23rd
The competition will feature a diverse range of challenges designed to test the finalist’s skills and talents. From intricate cooking techniques to impeccable table service and captivating mixology presentations, each aspect will be evaluated by a distinguished panel of judges comprising industry experts and renowned chefs.
Finalists will be judged by a panel of esteemed culinary experts, food critics, and industry leaders including Adam Handling MBE, Chef owner of Adam Handling Restaurants, Mario Perera, Executive Chef at The Dorchester Michael Kwan, Executive Pastry Chef at The Dorchester, Sam Lee, Co-Founder and Managing Director- Temper Founder, Roy Ner, Founder of Jeru, Simon King, Andy Downton, Founder of Burnt Chocolate Consultancy, George Heresy, Restaurant Director of Adam Handling Restaurant Group, Rob Edwards, Co-Founder of Wine&Earth and CFP of WorldYY and Anna Sebastian, Founder of Anna Sebastian Hospitality & Celebrate Her.
Last year’s winners of the YCYW England competition set the bar high, showcasing exceptional talent and determination. As we embark on this journey once again, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to chef Benjamin Mabley from Hartwell House Hotel & Spa, waiter Jade Walker and Mixologist Niamh Preedy from Northcote Hotel for their remarkable achievements and contributions to the culinary landscape.
Young Chef Young Waiter was established in 1979 and only operated in England for 42 years. Over the past years, the competition has expanded around the world and is now in its 45th year. In 2024, World Young Chef Young Waiter, and Young Mixologist elevated by NEFT Vodka will expand to 15 countries around the world. As we continue to grow, these competitions will offer even greater opportunities for young talents in the culinary and hospitality industries, fostering international collaboration and providing an enriching platform for skill development and professional advancement.
Young Chef Young Waiter and Young Mixologist’s mission is to recognise, celebrate and support young talents in the hospitality industry to motivate and inspire them to build successful careers. WorldYY promotes hospitality as a career of choice, a profession, and a vocation. We ensure we provide young chefs, waiters and mixologists with the right tools, resources, and opportunities to also nurture the growth of the next generation of hospitality.
We are grateful for the generous support of our esteemed sponsors and partners, including NEFT Vodka, Great Campaign, Champagne PIAFF, Culinary Institute of America, Ascot, The Caterer, Wine&Earth and Really Social.
Robert Walton MBE, Chairman of WorldYY said: “I am deeply excited about the upcoming Young Chef Young Waiter England competition, now in its remarkable 45th year, a platform celebrating young talent within our vibrant industry. To all aspiring talents, I wholeheartedly encourage your participation in this extraordinary event. Young Chef Young Waiter serves as a great platform for career growth, offering invaluable opportunities to engage with esteemed industry professionals, cultivate new skills, and foster enduring connections. The esteemed venue of Royal Ascot hosting YCYW England adds to the excitement, and I eagerly anticipate meeting this year’s finalists.”
Adam Handling MBE of Adam Handling Restaurant Group said: “YCYW is such an important competition, and I can’t wait to see what the contestants will bring this year. This competition encourages the next generation of enthusiastic young talent in hospitality roles and pushes them to be the best that they can be. The restaurant world is changing and YCYW is there to help them evolve and adapt, nurturing the exciting and fresh talent they already bring.”
Kate Nicholls CEO of UKHospitality said: “The Young Chef Young Waiter competition is a fantastic initiative that showcases the enormously talented people working within hospitality. I’m pleased to hear that the competition will be expanding into 15 countries this year, widening its reach, and promoting hospitality as a career of choice to many more young people. I look forward to meeting with the contestants and fellow supporters of the competition at the UKHospitality Restaurant Association Gala Dinner in November 2024 and raising funds to support the future of the initiative.”
Paul Robinson CCO of NEFT Vodka said: “YCYW England is such an integral part of the competition. Last year, in Birmingham, we launched Young Mixologist, and this year the contestants will be competing overlooking the competitive fields of the Royal Ascot. What an amazing place to show the world what you’ve got.”
Anna Sebastian founder of Anna Sebastian Hospitality & Celebrate her said: “Very much looking forward to the second year of YM s the competition begins to grow and grow opening up into new exciting regions. It is always exciting to see new talent coming through as we look to build the next generation of talent within the industry. We are asking all industry leaders to encourage all their up-and-coming colleagues to enter this amazing experience.”
Andy Downton owner & founder of Burnt Chocolate Consultancy said: “I am really excited for the upcoming YCYW England final 2024, I can’t wait to see what great talents we unearth this year, the standard seems to improve every year and it gets harder each year to crown the winners, this year we have included a few new challenges which will add further excitement to the competition, it’s going to be a very exciting final, so watch this space.
The competition attracts entries from all over the UK and we openly encourage anyone to enter, all entries have the opportunity to develop in areas such as personal growth, skill development, education & networking whilst also receiving exposure, recognition, motivation, inspiration, mentoring & heighten future career opportunities.
I’m extremely proud of being involved in World YCYW as it allows me to give back to the industry that I love, it allows me to teach, support, guide & nurture the next generation of culinary & hospitality talent and also celebrate excellence at the same time.”
About YM
The Young Mixologist competition elevated by NEFT Vodka further promotes hospitality as a career of choice, a profession, and a vocation. The Young Mixologist competition aims to acknowledge young and outstanding talents behind the bar in the hospitality industry. In today’s restaurant scene, mixologists have become the new rockstars. Crafting fabulous cocktails, making exquisite food, and providing excellent service are the keys to success. The Young Mixologist competition designed for individuals aged 28 and younger, aims to recognise the talent and expertise required to craft exceptional cocktails.
The Young Mixologist competition started in 2022 in Monaco and now in 2023 has taken place in 4 countries around the world. In 2024, the YM competition is expanding to more countries around the world giving more opportunities to the many outstanding talents in the hospitality industry. Celebrating the extraordinary young talent who push the boundaries of mixology and elevate cocktail-making to new heights.
About WYCYW
Since its establishment in 1979, the Young Chef Young Waiter competition has continued to promote hospitality as a career of choice, a profession, and a vocation. Today, with its new revitalised format Young Chef Young Waiter continues to honour the next culinary and service stars globally. World Young Chef Young Waiter, in partnership with Great Campaign UK and Northern Ireland and the Culinary Institute of America, mission to discover the best young talents in the industry. The competition is open to Young Chefs and waiters under the age of 28 from diverse backgrounds and WYCYW ensures these young talents are equipped with relevant skills, current knowledge, and a network to help them succeed in the world of hospitality.
In 2023, the competition marked a significant milestone by expanding its reach to a global audience for its second year, with participants from nine countries striving for the title of World Young Chef Young Waiter Champion. Building on this success, the competition has returned in 2024, reaffirming its commitment to supporting the global hospitality industry and providing an expansive stage for the cultivation of creativity, education, and innovation that knows no geographical bounds, the event promises to surpass all previous iterations in size, quality, and sustainability.
Anna Startin
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