Meet the finalists in our 2026 Chef of the Year competition

Seven talented chefs from across our care homes have secured their place in the national final of the 2026 Chef of the Year competition.

Open to chefs from across our care homes, the annual Chef of the Year competition gives colleagues the opportunity to showcase their culinary expertise.

During the regional finals, chefs prepared a three-course menu, which was judged on its nutritional value, how residents had been involved in choosing the menu, and how it reflected our Year of Culture.

The chefs progressing to the national final, taking place on Thursday 3 September, are:

• Hamid Bentarif – Berkeley Court, Leeds
• James Conroy – Eric Morecambe House, Morecambe
• Tessa Gregory – Orchard Gardens, Eastleigh
• Babatunde Iwajomo – Oakleigh, Godstone
• Piotr Szymczak – Buckingham Lodge, Aylesbury
• Lee Jones – Glenvale Park, Wellingborough
• Thomas Foster – Oakwood Grange, Barnsley

Noel Finnegan, National Catering and Hospitality Manager at Anchor, said:

We’re incredibly proud of our talented chefs for reaching the national final of the Chef of the Year competition, as well as all those who competed in the regional finals over the past couple of weeks.

Great food plays such an important role in residents’ wellbeing, and this achievement is a wonderful recognition of the passion, creativity and care our chefs bring to every meal they serve.

Their dedication to creating enjoyable dining experiences that residents look forward to each day is at the heart of what they do. Everyone at Anchor wishes them the very best of luck in the final.

Our ‘Chef of the Year’ competition is held annually and chefs can take the opportunity to showcase their impressive skills, knowledge, and the high-quality meals that they serve daily to our residents.

To find out more about our Chef of the Year competition and meet previous winners, visit here.