Toque d'Or® 2026 Competition: National Heats Shortlist
We’re delighted to announce the shortlist of college students advancing to the Heats of our 2026 Toque d’Or competition, after a competitive entry process which saw 377 applications from individual students across the UK.
Taking place at The Grand Cookery School in York during 9th-12th March 2026, the Heats will host 48 FOH and BOH students.
Colleges with shortlisted students for the Heats include:
| Ayrshire College | Barnsley College | Capital City College Group |
| Cheshire South and West College | Chesterfield College | City of Glasgow College |
| East Durham College | East Riding College | Hughbaird College |
| Isle of Wight College | Loughborough College | Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group |
| North Hertfordshire College | North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College | Scarborough TEC |
| Tameside College | UHI Perth | University College Birmingham |
| University of Highlands and Islands | West Nottinghamshire College | York College |
Click here to see the full list of shortlisted entrants for the heats
Back of House Judges:
Kate Austen, Private Chef
Paul Hawkins, Business Development Chef at Nestle Professional
James Candy, Channel Manager at Nestlé Professional
Chris Brown, Senior Development Chef, Country Style Foods
Olivia Cartlidge. Toque d’Or 2025 BOH finalist
Front of House Judges:
Andy Downton, Owner & Founder, Burnt Chocolate Consultancy
Jo Walsh-Scott, Coffee Specialist at Nestlé Professional
Emilia Flajszer, Coffee Specialist at Nestlé Professional
Katie Blundell, Toque d’Or 2025 FOH winner
2026 Toque d'Or Key Dates:
Heats: 9th – 12th March
Grand Finals Week: 10th-14th May
Awards: 12th June
Winner's trip: 1st full week of July (between 5th – 12th, exact dates and number of days to be confirmed)
"I’m absolutely delighted to be judging this year’s Toque d'Or. It’s such a prestigious competition for young people in hospitality and I’m really looking forward to seeing the passion, creativity and dedication the competitors bring. Supporting emerging talent is incredibly important and I’m honoured to be part of Toque d’Or 2026"
Kate Austen, Private Chef
"I am extremely proud, honoured, and grateful to be heading up the FOH judging panel for Toque d'Or 2026. My role is always to support, guide, and advise the next generation of hospitality professionals, helping them shape their future careers and achieve their goals. Toque d'Or gives me the platform to elevate that support even further."
Andy Downton, Owner & Founder, Burnt Chocolate Consultancy
