Toque d’Or 2026 National Heats shortlist revealed

With just two weeks to go until the 2026 Toque d’Or National Heats, Nestlé Professional has unveiled the shortlist of students set to compete in the next round of its hospitality competition. Taking place at The Grand Cookery School in York from 9th to 12th March, the Heats will bring together 48 of the UK’s most promising back-of-house and front-of-house college students for four days of challenges. 

Almost 400 students from 43 colleges across the UK registered for this year’s competition, showcasing their creativity and passion for hospitality in a highly competitive entry process. For the National Heats, 48 college students are progressing to the next stage of the prestigious hospitality competition. The full list can be found here.

Chef Kate Austen will lead the panel of back-of-house judges, while Andy Downton will head up the front-of-house judging panel, using more than two decades of Michelin-level hospitality expertise to guide and mentor the budding restaurateurs. 

"I’m absolutely delighted to be judging this year’s Toque d'Or," said Austen. "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."

Joining the panel will be last year’s front-of-house winner Katie Blundell and back-of-house finalist Olivia Cartlidge. Other panelists include Nestlé Professional development chef Paul Hawkins, channel manager for branded desserts ingredients James Candy, coffee training specialist Jo Walsh and coffee trainer Emilia Flajszer, as well as Country Style Food’s senior development chef Chris Brown.

You may also be interested in…