Ready to cook, serve and create the future of hospitality? Toque d'Or® is back for 2027. We're searching the country for the brightest, boldest and most ambitious front of house and back of house students to join one of the UK's most exciting hospitality competitions.
This year's theme is Tomorrow's Table. It's all about using the trends of today to shape the menus, drinks, service and experiences of tomorrow. From the very first entry challenge to the Grand Finals, students will learn from industry experts, discover new skills, make friends for life and build the confidence to start an amazing career. And our two champions will win an unforgettable trip to the Netherlands!
Please read all the information below carefully, especially the entry requirements and deadlines. The competition format and challenges may change because of unforeseen circumstances. If they do, we'll let students and lecturers know.
1. HOW TO REGISTER FOR TOQUE D’OR® 2027
Registration is open from Monday 2 November 2026 to Thursday 14 January 2027
All students must be registered by a lecturer to take part. The competition is open to back of house and front of house students at levels 2, 3 and 4, or the equivalent levels 5, 6 and 7 in Scotland. Students of all ages can submit an entry, but only students aged 18 to 25 on 15 March 2027 can go through to the National Heats.
New for 2027! Every entry counts! Not yet 18, or outside the age range? You can still take part and your hard work won't go unnoticed. The best front of house and back of house students outside the 18 to 25 age range who submit a complete entry task will be invited to the Toque d'Or® Awards with their lecturer. It's our way of celebrating your talent, and we hope it inspires you to come back and compete next year!
Please read our Entry Guide and competition Terms & Conditions before registering.
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO AS LECTURER: WHAT YOU NEED TO DO AS A STUDENT: |
2. COMPLETE THE ENTRY CHALLENGE
Entries are open from Monday 1 February to Thursday 11 February 2027
This year's challenge is to design the street-food concept of tomorrow! Back of house students will create a future-focused street-food dish, and front of house students will create a coffee mocktail. Both are pitched as if a customer were standing right at their stall.
The entry task takes place at college, supervised by a lecturer. Nestlé Professional products will be delivered to the college. Everything students need to know is in the entry brief and in our judges' videos below. Then let the creativity flow!
Have questions about the challenge? Join our online Q&A session in the week commencing 25 January 2027. We'll send registered lecturers the details.
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO AS LECTURER: |
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO AS A STUDENT: |
3. THE HEATS
Dates: Monday 15 to Thursday 18 March 2027
Location: Nestlé Head Office, Gatwick
The National Heats are where the competition really heats up! Over four action-packed days, the most impressive students from across the UK will come to Nestlé Head Office in Gatwick. They'll show off their skills, meet industry experts and get a real taste of competition life.
Each year, 24 back of house and 24 front of house students are selected for the Heats. From these, 6 back of house and 6 front of house finalists go through to the Grand Finals. Shortlisted students will be announced on Monday 22 February 2027. Our team will then be in touch with students and their lecturers to arrange competition days, travel and accommodation.
4. GRAND FINALS
Dates: Week commencing 17 May 2027
LOCATION: TBC
Our 12 finalists will be announced on Tuesday 23 March 2027. Then, in May, they'll take on a week of exciting challenges inspired by Tomorrow's Table. Along the way, they'll learn new skills, work alongside leading chefs and hospitality professionals, network with industry peers and get direct feedback from expert judges. It's a week full of energy, learning and moments they'll never forget.
5. THE TOQUE D'OR AWARDS: SOMETHING NEW IS COMING!
Date: To be confirmed. Watch this space!
Get ready, because the Toque d'Or® Awards are getting a makeover! For 2027, we're planning a brand-new way to celebrate our finalists and crown our champions. It will be bigger, bolder and more exciting than ever before. Think more energy, more moments to remember and more ways to celebrate the talent shaping Tomorrow's Table.
We can't say too much just yet, but we promise it will be a day to remember. Finalists, lecturers, judges, partners and the hospitality industry will all come together to celebrate. And for the first time, we'll also welcome some very special guests: the best front of house and back of house students outside the 18 to 25 age range who submitted a complete entry, together with their lecturers. They'll get to enjoy the day, be inspired by this year's finalists, and get a taste of what could be waiting for them next year!
Dates and full details are coming soon. Follow Toque d'Or® on Instagram and keep an eye on this page to be the first to know!
6. WINNERS’ TRIP: Tomorrow's Table in the NetherlandsDates: 4th - 11th July 2027 Pack your bags! Our two 2027 champions will win an unforgettable trip of around seven days across the Netherlands. It's one of the world's most exciting places to discover the future of food, drink and hospitality. They'll travel from buzzing cities to the coast and the countryside, exploring Tomorrow's Table in real life and having the time of their lives along the way. Experiences could include:
It's learning, inspiration and fun all in one trip, and a once-in-a-lifetime way to finish the Toque d'Or® journey. |
College Prizes
Every college that reaches the Heats, Grand Finals and Winners stages could win a prize! In past years, the Savoy Educational Trust has generously funded prizes for all of these colleges.
These prizes have been redeemed at Russum's, where colleges could choose top-quality catering equipment to boost their culinary programmes and give their students an even better learning experience
Stay tuned! We'll share details of the 2027 college prizes in the new year.
Lecturers Prizes
Lecturers are at the heart of Toque d'Or®, and we love to celebrate them! For 2027, the back of house lecturer and the front of house lecturer with the highest number of students who submit a complete entry task will each win a £200 voucher. That's double last year's prize! And it's your choice: an Amazon voucher or a Russum's voucher, whichever you prefer.
Only complete entry tasks submitted by the deadline of Thursday 11 February 2027 will count. So encourage your students to get creative, finish their entries and hit submit!
And there's more. The lecturers of our winning back of house and front of house competitors will receive a surprise prize, revealed at the Toque d'Or® Awards. We're keeping it under wraps for now. In past years, winning lecturers have enjoyed an unforgettable meal for two, with drinks, at some of the UK's most exciting Michelin-starred restaurants. Watch this space!
Prizes for students who can't progress to the Heats
New for 2027! Every great entry deserves to be celebrated! The best front of house and back of house students outside the 18 to 25 age range who submit a complete entry will be invited to the Toque d'Or® Awards with their lecturer.
They'll be part of the big day, cheer on this year's finalists, meet industry professionals and get a real taste of what's waiting for them. We hope it inspires them to come back and compete next year!
Questions?
Email Toque.D'Or@uk.nestle.com
Follow Toque d'Or® on Instagram for all the latest news!
