LOCAL chef Carl Cleghorn who is chef owner of Tyme by Carl Cleghorn located in Newport, South Wales has been announced as one of the ten finalists in the Craft Guild of Chefs’ National Chef of the Year competition, which is known as the UK’s most prestigious culinary title.
Selected from a pool of highly talented chefs across the UK, Carl impressed judges with a menu that showcased creativity, technical skill, sustainability, and exceptional flavour. His final dishes will be served up at the live final held at the University of West London on October 7, 2025.
The menu that secured Carl a place in the final includes:
- Starter: Cornish Native Lobster & Sand Carrot & Lovage
BBQ lobster tail, poached claw, cassia balm poached carrot, sand carrot puree, pickle heritage, lovage oil & lobster bisque - Main Course: Grass Fed Australian Angus Beef Rump Cap & Short Rib, Onion, Potato, Truffle, Beef red wine sauce
Grass Fed Australian Angus beef BBQ Rump Cap, slow cooked short rib, beer braised roscoff onion, onion puree, caramelized silver skin onions, fermented 3corner leek, onion crumb, ip8 vinegar gel, truffle pomme puree, winter truffle, beef red wine sauce - Dessert: Chocolate Cremeux Tart, Blackberry & Yoghurt
Chocolate tart filled with 70% Valrhona cremeux, chocolate soil, blackberry jam, macerated blackberries, yoghurt sorbet - The judging panel, led by Matt Abé, chef patron at Bonheur by Matt Abé, includes some of the UK’s most respected culinary figures such as Lisa Goodwin-Allen, Cherish Finden, Hrishikesh Desai, and James Sommerin. The final promises to be a showcase of the very best in British gastronomy.
Speaking about the achievement, Chef Carl Cleghorn said: “It’s been a busy few weeks practising and refining the dish and timing ready for the finals and I cannot wait to get in the kitchen and cook on the day.
“Wining National chef would honestly be the achievement of a lifetime and my career to date, as well as the honour to be named next to previous winners who are some of hospitalities leading chefs.
“Representing my area and show casing the culinary scene in Wales is incredible especially on a national stage being the only Welsh chef in this year’s final.”
The winner will be revealed during a VIP Awards evening at the iconic Hippodrome Casino in Leicester Square on October 7. Alongside earning a place in culinary history as the National Chef of the Year, the champion will receive a framed commemorative plate, exclusive culinary experiences, professional development opportunities, and a host of other prestigious prizes.
