The British Culinary Federation has created a special new awards partnership with Stadium Experience this year. The not-for-profit association works with over 70 UK stadium venues to promote their event spaces, and celebrate best practice in the industry.
Stadium Experience also organises a prestigious awards programme, The Stadium Events & Hospitality Awards, which is now in its 18th year. Fresh for 2025, the BCF has developed a bespoke live kitchen competition specifically for stadium chef teams to compete head-to-head to be in with a chance of being officially crowned the ‘Chef Team of the Year’ at the awards this summer.
The BCF was tasked to fully organise and independently judge the award category. BCF President, Peter Griffiths MBE, and BCF Ambassador, Rod Bowker swiftly set to work finding a host venue, developing a suitable brief to really showcase the chef’s skills, and recruiting an experienced judging team covering a multitude of high-end restaurants and chefs’ associations.
Work began with a search for a suitable venue to host the competing stadium chef teams. Xcelerate With Edgbaston located at Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham was the ideal venue with its central location in the UK, 12 fully equipped kitchen stations, and onsite parking too. he venue, which opened just over a year ago, is a regional community skills and learning centre run by Compass. The fact it is also located at a stadium made it the perfect fit for this event.
The Competition Brief
Teams of two stadium chefs had 90 minutes to prepare, cook and present a four-course menu for 2 covers suitable for their Club Chairperson to entertain the Head of the FA, RFU or the Cricket ECB to a business luncheon. The menu had to include: Amuse Bouche, Starter suitable for a Vegan, Main Course of competitors’ choice and Dessert of competitors’ choice. Teams were asked to serve their dishes on chinaware kindly sponsored by Ariane Fine Porcelain, creating a level-playing field for all of the competing teams.
The Teams
The competing teams travelled from across the country to take part. Teams included chefs from; Allianz Stadium (Twickenham), Arsenal FC, Blackburn Rovers FC, Chelsea FC, Coventry Building Society Arena, Edgbaston Stadium, Leeds United FC, Lord’s Cricket, Newcastle United FC, Preston North End FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC. Stadium Experience also hosted a special industry meeting at the stadium on the same day, culminating in over 100 guests attending the competition to observe and support the teams in action.
The Judging Team
The BCF fully co-ordinated the competition and judging process. Peter Griffiths was the Chair of Judges for the competition with a team of 9 judges, 3 on each course: Roger Narbett MCA, previously chef patron of Chequers, Droitwich and former Chef to England’s Football Team; Luke Tipping, Chef Director, Michelin-starred Simpson’s Restaurant; Stuart Deeley, past winner of Master Chef the Professionals; Liam Dillon, Chef Patron, The Boat in Lichfield; Ed Marsh, previously Head Chef, Michelin-starred The Manor House, Castle Coombe now at Palé Hall Hotel in Wales; Graham Crump, Lead Judge , Live Theatre, HRC Show; Lee Corke, WorldChefs’ Judge, Director of Hospitality at Clare College, Cambridge; Rob Palmer, Executive Chef, Toff’s at Hogarth’s, Solihull; Kristian Curtis, Executive Chef, De Banke Group, Chadwick End.
The Results
The results remain top secret for now, and will be announced at the 2025 Stadium Events and Hospitality Awards at Brighton and Hove Albion FC on Thursday 3rd July, by representatives from the award category sponsor, Chef Works & Bragard UK.
British Culinary Federation President, Peter Griffiths MBE, said: “The BCF was delighted to organise and oversee the competition. The facilities at Xcelerate were excellent and the venue generated a fabulous atmosphere. All teams coped with the brief exceptionally well and the judges tasted some excellent food, witnessing some very good skills and innovative dishes. All menus had to be presented on chinaware sponsored by Ariane Porcelain. The Point range chosen worked well with the brief, offering many options and enhancing the presentation. Standards set were a credit to all concerned.”
Debbie Rigney, Marketing and PR Manager for Stadium Experience and awards organiser, commented: “The ethos of Stadium Experience is all about sharing best practice and celebrating successes in our industry at our annual awards. It is fantastic to have partnered with the world-renowned British Culinary Federation to recognise the very best chefs at our stadium venues. Our guests were overwhelmed with the very high standard of the cuisine showcased and are very excited to hear the results announced this summer. We would like to thank the organisers for creating such a brilliant competition for our 2025 awards.”
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