South Devon trio battle it out for SW Chef of Year title
Local chefs out to impress judges including Michael Caines
Three talented chefs from South Devon will be battling to land a prestigious title.
Jordan Bartholomew, Ben Greenhalf and Madison Williams are among a line-up of chefs competing for the title of South West Chef of the Year.
The finals of the competition, which was founded by acclaimed chef Michael Caines, take place at Exeter College on Tuesday October 27 and conclude with a glittering awards dinner at Exeter Golf and Country Club that evening.
Hosted by TV celeb and Michelin chef Caines, the evening will feature a four-course menu crafted by some of the region's most celebrated chefs, all of whom are judges and/or previous winners of the South West Chef of the Year competition.
Together, they will showcase the very best of seasonal South West produce, supported by students from the Michael Caines Academy, who will help deliver a dining experience of exceptional quality.
Guests will enjoy a welcome drinks reception followed by a collaborative feast, prepared by:
- Tim Kendall, from The Idle Rocks, Cornwall - South West Chef of the Year 2018, Young Professional Chef of the Year 2016 and competition judge.
- Harrison Brockington, from Gather, Totnes - South West Chef of the Year 2024, Student/Apprentice Chef of the Year 2016 and competition judge.
- Adam Gerrish, from The Apple Tree Inn, West Pennard, Glastonbury - South West Chef of the Year 2004.
- Hywel Jones, Executive Chef, Lucknam Park, Bath - competition judge.
- Michael Caines - South West Chef of the Year head judge.
The evening concludes with the announcement of the winners of South West Chef of the Year 2026, across professional, young professional, student/apprentice, home cook and junior chef categories.
Jordan, Head Chef, Stoke Lodge Hotel, Stoke Fleming, is in the Professional chef category. Ben, Chef de Partie at Gather in Totnes, is in the Young chef category and Madison, South Devon College and Stoke Lodge Hotel, Stoke Fleming is in, Student/apprentice.
Chef Caines, co-founder of the South West Chef of the Year competition, said: “We have seen some fabulous cooking from our competitors to get to the finals of the competition. In fact, for the first time we have five finalists rather than four in two of our categories, as the standard was so high, the judges agreed it was impossible to choose just four.”
The full list of finalists competing:
Professional ChefSponsored by Cricket St Thomas by Lactalis Professional
- Jordan Bartholomew, Head Chef, Stoke Lodge Hotel, Stoke Fleming, Devon
- Tom Bennetts, Head Chef, Driftwood Spars, St Agnes, Cornwall
- Will Bradridge, Pastry Chef, Gidleigh Park, Gidleigh, Devon
- Harrison Holmes, Senior Sous Chef, The Idle Rocks, St Mawes, Cornwall
- Samuel Loader, Pastry Chef, Lucknam Park, Bath
Young Professional ChefSponsored by Four Seasons Fruiterers
- Jacob Ashburton-Dunning, Chef de Partie, Gidleigh Park, Gidleigh, Devon
- Charlie Bowie, Commis Chef, The Barbican Kitchen, Plymouth, Devon
- Ben Greenhalf, Chef de Partie, Gather, Totnes, Devon
- Bethany Martin, Junior Sous Chef, Lucknam Park, Bath
- Finlay Maxworthy, Demi Chef de Partie, The Royal Crescent Hotel, Bath
Student/Apprentice ChefSponsored by Forest Produce
- Josh Goodman, Exeter College
- Isaac Harris, Weston College and Thatcher's Railway Inn, Sandford, Somerset
- Luca Jokonya, Exeter College and The Mill on the Exe, Exeter, Devon
- Madison Williams, South Devon College and Stoke Lodge Hotel, Stoke Fleming, Devon
Home Cook
- Oscar Egbulam, Bristol
- Stephanie Jeffries, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
- Monika Middleton, Exmouth, Devon
- Dave Morgan, Bristol
- Riley Pearce, Drybrook, Gloucestershire
- Susan Richards, Sturminster Newton, Dorset
The competition for the title of South West Junior Chef of the Year took place on October 10. Hesali Galuge, 15, from Penair Secondary School, Truro, beat five other young finalists to take the title and will be presented with her prize at the awards ceremony on October 27.