GEORGE BIRTWELL George Birtwell, 26, from Burnley, is the senior sous chef at The Black Swan at Oldstead, owned by Michelin-starred chef Tommy Banks. He started his career after completing his NVQ Level 3 through an apprenticeship and worked at the Michelin-starred restaurant Northcote Manor for three years during his studies. He went on to work at The Three Fishes in Mitton, Whalley, and two Michelin-starred restaurant Ynyshir in Wales before he moved onto a development chef role at high end food manufacturer TRUEfoods. George joined The Black Swan in 2022, where he started out as a chef de partie before working his way up to sous chef. He made his way into the final of Masterchef: The Professionals last year where he cooked elegant plates and classic flavours along with some standout seafood meals.

NICHOLAS BALFE Chef/Owner Holme, Somerset Starting out as a pot washer aged 15 in a friend’s dad’s restaurant in his home town of Harrogate, Nicholas went onto stage at St John, Moro and the River Cottage amongst many others, before landing a role at Rochelle Canteen working under the tutelage of Margot Henderson in 2009. Next up was a role at Brunswick House in Vauxhall in, alongside renowned chef Jackson Boxer. After a number of other stints in London, including running the kitchen at Franks Cafe in Peckham, Nicholas worked under Isaac McHale (latterly of the Clove Club) and James Lowe (latterly of Lyles) for the duration of their landmark Young Turks pop up in 2011/12. At the tail end of 2012, Nicholas embarked on his first solo-venture, Salon, on the site of an old hairdresser in Brixton Market. What started out as a pop-up event became a semi-permanent fixture, before Nicholas took on the lease of the space himself in January 2013. Critical acclaim followed as Salon’s reputation grew steadily amongst food lovers and the restaurant community alike. As Salon’s time drew to a close in the wake of the post-pandemic fall out, another opportunity presented itself, in the form of Holm, in Somerset. A restaurant deeply rooted in its Somerset surroundings. Nicholas now lives in Somerset with his family and late last year, opened 7 bedrooms upstairs, transforming the offering at HOLM to rave reviews.

OLIVIA BARRY Chef Owner, Adelina Yard. Olivia is a born and bred Bristol girl; at her apprenticeship under the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts, she was one of just four students to achieve a Diploma in Professional Cookery with distinction. Since then, she has worked at St. Albans and The Wolseley, Wright Brothers in Soho and for the Galvin Brothers. Prior to returning home, Olivia worked under Angela Hartnett at her Michelin-starred Murano in Mayfair, London.

DAN MERRIMAN Dan recently shot to culinary fame when he was crowned champion of BBC's MasterChef The Professionals in December last year. Coming from humble beginnings Dan started out as a pot wash at a local hotel and soon fell in love with fine dining. Working his way through the ranks, Dan’s previous experience as a chef for 12 years has seen him work at Michelin-starred Plas Bodegroes, AA three rosette Cottage in the Wood, Fishmore Hall in Ludlow, Northcote Manor, and most recently as senior sous chef at The Black Bull Inn. Dan, originally from Droitwich in Worcestershire, is the eldest of five brothers and now lives in Accrington, Lancashire, with his partner Chloe and baby boy Ernest.