Lancashire’s Lisa Goodwin-Allen wins the Craft Guild of Chefs Special Award
More than 700 of the UK’s leading chefs and industry celebrity names gathered at the Westminster Park Plaza in London on 10 June to celebrate the very best of British gastronomy at the prestigious Craft Guild of Chefs Awards 2026. Hosted by chef and broadcaster Simon Rimmer, the glittering ceremony recognised outstanding talent, innovation and dedication across the profession.
The evening’s highest honour, the Special Award, was presented to Lisa Goodwin-Allen, in recognition of her extraordinary contribution to the culinary profession. Having led the kitchen brigade at Michelin-starred Northcote since the age of 23, Goodwin-Allen has continued to shape the industry as Chef Patron-Director since 2025, earning widespread acclaim for her creativity, leadership and commitment to excellence.
Her achievements include being named Food & Travel Reader Awards Chef of the Year 2023, CATEY Chef of the Year 2022 and AYALA SquareMeal Female Chef of the Year 2022. Between 2022-2024 she served as Chair of Judges for the Craft Guild of Chefs Young National Chef of the Year competition helping to inspire and nurture the next generation of talent.
Lisa said.“Emotions are running quite high! I didn’t expect it. It’s a big privilege and an honour. To be stood up there with such an amazing bunch of people, and not only the people on the stage, but the people in the room too.”
She continues. “The Craft Guild of Chefs is massively important. It nurtures the next generation. It brings us together as a community.”
Mark Reynolds, Chairman of the Craft Guild of Chefs comments. “Lisa is a truly worthy recipient of the Craft Guild of Chefs Special Award. Throughout her distinguished career, she has consistently demonstrated exceptional skill, creativity and dedication, while also giving so much back to the profession she loves.”
He continues. “What makes Lisa especially deserving of this honour is the generosity with which she shares her knowledge and experience, helping to shape the future of our industry while continuing to set the highest standards herself. She is not only one of the UK’s most respected chefs, but an inspiring ambassador for hospitality, and we are delighted to recognise her outstanding contribution to the profession.”
Lisa joins an illustrious list of previous recipients of the Craft Guild of Chefs Special Award including Clare Smyth MBE, Asma Khan, Simon Rogan, Angela Hartnett MBE, Michel Roux OBE & Albert Roux OBE, Marco Pierre White, and Raymond Blanc OBE.
Other standout winners on the night include Scott John-Hodgson, Solstice by Kenny Atkinson for Restaurant Chef Award; Sam Leatherby, London Hilton on Park Lane for Pastry Chef Award; and Jöro Restaurantfor New Restaurant of the Year Award.
Five Special Recognition Awards were also presented, including honours for Craft Guild of Chefs Vice Presidents Steve Munkley MBE and David Mulcahy, acknowledging their outstanding service to the industry and the Guild.
The Craft Guild of Chefs Awards are among the hospitality industry’s most respected accolades, recognising the talent, dedication and impact of chefs working across all sectors of the profession.
___________________________________________
Lisa Goodwin-Allen is a Taste Lancashire Ambassador, supporting Marketing Lancashire’s work to raise the profile of Lancashire food and drink along with other leading chefs from the county. Read more about our Taste Lancashire Ambassadors here.
___________________________________________
The full list of Craft Guild of Chefs 2026 winners is as follows:
Accredited College Restaurant Award
Sponsored by Hobart Warewashing
Scholars Restaurant
Blackburn College
Apprentice Chef Award
Sponsored by Compass Group – Foodbuy
Nikoletta Theofylaktidou
Restaurant Associates
Banqueting & Event Chef Award
Sponsored by CleanEvent Services
Miles Greenaway
Rocket Food
Chef & Service Lecturer Award
Sponsored by Hobart Cooking
Neil Rippington
Royal Academy of Culinary Arts
Competition Chef Award
Sponsored by HRC and International Salon Culinaire
Terry O’Riordan
Craft Guild of Chefs
Contract Catering Chef Award
Sponsored by PizzaSi
Darren Passmore
Eurest
Culinary Hero Award
Sponsored by Williams Refrigeration
Robert Kennedy
Compass Group
Development Chef Award
Sponsored by Essential Cuisine
Will Torrent
Waitrose & Partners
New Restaurant of the Year Award
Sponsored by Alliance NZ
Jöro Restaurant
Pastry Chef Award
Sponsored by Lakeland Dairies
Sam Leatherby
London Hilton on Park Lane
Pub Restaurant Chef Award
Sponsored by Bonemasters
Pete Jackson
Wildmoor Oak
Public Sector Chef Award
Sponsored by Tugo Food Systems
Rachyel Ainsworth
HM Forces
Restaurant Chef Award
Sponsored by Electrolux Professional
Scott John-Hodgson
Solstice by Kenny Atkinson
*Special Award*
sponsored by Sodexo
Lisa Goodwin-Allen
Special Recognition Award
Steve Munkley MBE
Craft Guild of Chefs
Special Recognition Award
David Mulcahy
Craft Guild of Chefs
Special Recognition Award
Chris Burnham
The London Meat Company
Special Recognition Award
Tony Reynolds
Reynolds Foods
Special Recognition Award
Paschal Tiernan
James Knight of Mayfair
Street Food Chef Award
Sponsored by Blue Tomato POP
Pankaj Krishnan
Keralan Karavan
Sustainability Excellence Award (Small Operator)
Sponsored by McCormicks Flavour Solutions
Ian Waller
Restaurant Pine
Sustainability Excellence Award (Large Operator)
Sponsored by Rational
Eurest
Young Chef Award
Sponsored by Winterhalter
Tom Brassington
Restaurant Associates