Discover which talented chefs from the region are battling it out on Great British Menu this year
Cooking competition Great British Menu returned for a new series on January 31, this year with the theme ‘British animation and illustration’ in honour of Paddington Bear’s 65th birthday. We’ve been glued to our screens in the second week of the show as top chefs from the South West take to the pass to represent the region.
So, who are the top South West chefs competing on Great British Menu 2023?
Amber Francis of The Zebra Riding Club, Hertfordshire
Amber (pictured top with host Andi Oliver) is executive chef of The Zebra Riding Club, the flagship restaurant of Hertfordshire’s Birch Community. She kickstarted her culinary career in some of the world’s most celebrated kitchens, including two-Michelin-starred Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons in Oxfordshire and The Hand and Flowers in Marlow, before landing her first commis role at The Ritz. A summer trip to The French Laundry in California inspired Amber to cook with super fresh seasonal and local ingredients, which she now puts into practice using produce from Community’s Birch Farm.
Andrew Tuck of St Kew Inn, Cornwall
Known for his use of smoke and flame, Andrew (also known as Andi) is bringing the heat to Great British Menu this year. His fire-cooked food gained interest after his appearance on Rick Stein’s Cornwall and he is currently head chef at St Kew Inn, a 15th-century pub in Bodmin ranked 36th in the Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs list. The chef also participates in live-fire cooking competitions and food festivals across the UK.
Nick Beardshaw of Kerridge’s Bar and Grill, London
Somerset-born chef Nick started his career at The Castle in Taunton and went on to work at Midsummer House in Cambridge and The Hand and Flowers in Marlow before landing the head chef role at Kerridge’s Bar and Grill in London in 2016. In 2014, while working for Tom Kerridge at The Coach in Marlow, Nick helped the restaurant secure its first Michelin star.
Charlotte Vincent of Colson’s Restaurant at Hotel Indigo, Devon
The Devon chef is back for another bite of the Great British Menu cherry, competing for a second time following her first appearance on the show in 2022. Establishing her career in Devon, the Food Reader Awards Best Chef finalist spent nearly a decade working alongside Michael Caines at The Royal Clarence and Gidleigh Park before taking on her first head chef role at The Five Bells Inn at Clyst Hydon. In 2022 Charlotte was appointed head chef at Hotel Meudon, but is now at the helm of Colson’s Restaurant in Exeter.
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