2024 Judges

Raymond Blanc OBE

One of the world’s most respected chefs, Raymond Blanc is founder of the visionary Oxford restaurant Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons. Raymond has had such an influence on the world of food that he is the only person to have been awarded an OBE from Britain and

Michel Roux Jr

Legendary Michelin starred chef Michel Roux Jr was raised in Shipbourne, Kent where his father Albert Roux OBE worked as a private chef for the Cazalet family.

Olly Smith

Olly Smith is a multi award-winning broadcaster, wine expert, TV personality, author and columnist. He is best known for his finely-tuned taste buds, boundless knowledge and infectious enthusiasm especially in the world of food and drink. He is the weekly

Sally Abé

Sally is one of London’s leading chefs, having worked in some of the capital’s most illustrious restaurants including The Ledbury, The Harwood Arms, and The Square. She runs the critically acclaimed fine dining restaurant, The Pem, at 5* Conrad London St J

Eric Lanlard

Having trained in France to great acclaim, Eric moved to London aged 22 to work for Albert and Michel Roux, becoming head pastry chef within two years.

Adam Handling

Michelin-starred Chef Adam Handling started out at Gleneagles 16 years ago where he was the first ever apprentice chef, before he went on to become Fairmont’s youngest ever Head Chef. Adam has a number of impressive awards under his belt, including Scottis

Miguel Barclay

Chef, presenter and best-selling author, Miguel Barclay is the creator of the #onepoundmeals phenomenon. Through his @miguelbarclay Instagram account, Miguel has amassed a 250k Instagram following and inspired the nation to get cooking at home. Writing sev

David Moore

William Sitwell

William Sitwell is one of Britain’s leading food writers restaurant critic for The Telegraph and a longstanding judge on the BBC show MasterChef. He’s the author of a number of internationally best-selling books too.

David Josephs

James Lynch

Chilled Ready Meals Buying Director for Aldi. James has overseen sourcing innovative and competitively priced own-label ready meals despite the pressures of inflation. He's passionate about keeping abreast of emerging flavour and culinary trends.

Andy Maxwell

Sparkling, Fortified Wine and Spirits Buying Director, Aldi.

Olly Marlowe

With two decades of experience working in the kitchen of a number of top establishments, Oliver Marlowe is Owner Chef Director of Lunar Pub Company.

Paul Askew

Paul Askew is one of the UK’s most pioneering figures in hospitality. Chef Patron for the last eight years at The Art School in Liverpool, Paul creates classic and innovative fine dining whilst working with many excellent young chefs under his tutelage.

Robert Hunningher

Robert started Humdingers Catering with a simple vision of bringing unpretentious but delicious food to as many people as possible across London.

Kevin Barber

The Head Chef at MARA and the brains behind their much-loved menus. Kevin has been a member of the Links House team since 2021.

Gerard King

Gerard runs Salter & King, an independent butchers shop on Aldeburgh high street in Suffolk.

Scott Goodfellow

Scott has been with Wilkin & Sons Ltd. of Tiptree for the past fifteen years, working in sales, marketing, and commercial roles before becoming Joint MD in January 2018.

Graham Hornigold

Graham Hornigold’s award-winning career has spanned twenty-eight years with experience ranging across 5* hotels, Michelin starred restaurants and multiple retail operations.

Robert Gooch

Robert is co-founder and director of the Wild Meat Company which he started with his business partner in 2000.

Merlin Griffiths

Merlin Griffiths is instantly recognisable as TV's best-known barman.

Jacob Liddle

Jacob runs Jiddlers Tipple, a multi award-winning, carbon-negative, gluten-free beer business based in North London. Most recently the business’s Pale Ale won Best Beer in the Great British Food Awards 2022. Jacob is a registered BJCP Beer Judge and in the

Holly Shackleton

As editor in chief of Great British Food, Holly is passionate about celebrating – and enjoying – the very best food and drink the UK has to offer. She’s judged at various food awards across the UK, covering everything from cheese to chocolate, spirits and

Tom De Keyser

With over a decade of experience working for Tom Kerridge, Tom De Keyser is the Head Chef of The Hand & Flowers, the two-Michelin starred pub in Marlow. Tom grew up in Essex and spent much of his youth helping in his parent’s local pub The Ship, so from an

Hero Hirsch

Hero is a regular judge at the World Cheese Awards and won their ‘Cheesemonger of the Year’ title in 2012. She has been a training partner for the Academy of Cheese since its inception, delivering both level 1 and 2 courses to hundreds of delegates. She is

Laura Willoughby MBE

Laura is the founder of the world’s largest mindful drinking movement, Club Soda, and the UK’s foremost expert in low and no alcoholic drinks. Receiving an MBE for services to the community in 2004, Laura’s devotion to Club Soda means hundreds of thousands

Shirley Aubrey

Shirley is Food Development and Buying Manager for Harvey Nichols, and previously spent many years working in premium food retail at M&S and Fortnum & Mason. Shirley understands many aspects of food and customers, having developed new products and packagin

Lucy Charles

Lucy has worked in hospitality and operations for over 20 years and has been part of the Borough Market team since 2015, following a year out to pen her own cookbook. Responsible for overseeing the operations and trader development, she is deeply passionat

David Atherton

David is best known for winning the tenth series of the Great British Bake Off in 2019, but his love for good food started as a cold in his mum’s kitchen.

Shelina Permalloo

Restaurateur, food writer and TV chef Shelina was crowned BBC’s MasterChef Champion in 2023. She soon published her first book, Sunshine on a Plate – which showcased her Mauritian heritage – and her second book, The Sunshine Diet, was published in 2015. He