Game Chef of the Year Competition 2025
Are you a chef with a passion for game cookery and a flair for bold, seasonal flavours?
The Master Chefs of Great Britain (MCGB) are proud to launch our very first Game Chef of the Year competition — a nationwide search for the most exciting talent in game cookery. This is your chance to showcase your skills, creativity and understanding of one of Britain’s most sustainable and flavour-packed ingredients — game.
The competition, the passion of the MCGB Chairman, George McIvor OBE, is designed to allow chefs to produce a main course game dish using furred or feathered game, giving you the opportunity to put your own flair and imagination into the dishes.
The Game Chef of the Year competition is open to all Chefs in the UK working full-time in the Catering Industry. Competitors will be given 1 ½ hours to produce 2 portions of an innovative Game main course, accompanied by three seasonal garnishes plus a potato or starch garnish. NB All game must be plucked or skinned prior to the competition.
The winner will receive
The George McIvor OBE Game Chef Trophy and £2000
A one week stage with Chef Mark Donald in the 2*Michelin Lalique Restaurant, Crieff
A three day gastronomic tour of Venice, Italy sponsored by UNOX
Key dates
Applications open: 14th July, 2025
Entry deadline: 31st August, 2025
Finalists announced: 14th September, 2025
Final cook-off: Tuesday 21st October 2025
How to enter
Competitors are required to submit:-
Their CV along with recipes, working methods and images no later than the closing date of 31st August 2025.
All entrants will be subject to paper judging.
The top four competitors who will cook in the final will be notified by 14th September 2025
The Finalist cook-off will take place at City of Glasgow College on Tuesday 21st October 2025. All finalists must bring all of their ingredients, presentation plates and cooking utensils.
Entry form
Whether you’re already confident working with game or eager to challenge yourself with a new ingredient, this is your opportunity to shine. Bring your creativity to the table — and let Britain’s wild flavours do the talking.
Competition Terms and Conditions
Only one entry per individual. Entrants must submit an original recipe using at least one type of game, furred or feathered. Entries must be received by 31st August 2025 to be considered. Finalists will be selected by a panel of expert judges and invited to take part in a live cook-off at City of Glasgow College on Tuesday 21st October 2025. The organisers reserve the right to publish submitted recipes and images for promotional purposes. The competition is organised and administered by the Master Chefs of Great Britain, headquartered in Scotland. All decisions by the judging panel are final. By entering, participants agree to be bound by these terms and conditions.
