Deepak Mallya
Under John Williams, The Ritz has a habit of creating incredible chef talent, and nowhere is this more obvious than with Deepak Mallya. Mallya has been part of The Ritz’s kitchen brigade a for 14 years, starting as an apprentice at the age of 18 and has played a key role in it finally achieving two Michelin stars last year.
Meedu Saad
As co-owner and head chef at Kiln, previously voted the UK’s Best Restaurant, Meedu Saad knows what it is like to run a restaurant at the top of its game. His new North African project Impala has just opened and it has already proven to be a hit, wowing critics and bringing something completely fresh to the capital’s dining scene.
Dara Klein
Dara Klein’s trattoria Tiella has become one of the hardest restaurants at which to secure a table thanks to the buzz that has surrounded the chef for the past few years with her kitchen residencies. Her permanent restaurant in Hackney is pitch perfect as a neighbourhood spot and has enabled her to show London’s dining public what she ran really do behind the stove.
Holly Middleton-Joseph
Named as a member of the National Restaurant Awards Rising Stars Class of 2026 earlier this year, Holly Middleton-Joseph has brought some high energy to Peckahm as head chef and director of restaurant Hausu. Hausu brings Middleton-Joseph’s Chinese and Trinidadian roots to the fore with an inventive menu that stands out in London’s crowded restaurant scene.
Livia Alarcon
The chef owner behind Liverpool restaurants La Bistroteca and Chin Zano got her first head chef role at just 21 years old. Alacron took part in the BBC’s The Chefs Brigade’ with Jason Atherton, who offered her a job immediately after, but turned it down to follow her own path and hasn’t looked back. Alacron is a top cheffing talent but also an entrepreneur who looks set to go very far in the sector.
Jamie Keeble
Also named as a Rising Star earlier this year, Jamie Keeble was part of the opening team of North Yorkshire restaurant Mýse in 2023 alongside founders Joshua and Victoria Overington and has been instrumental in its success. A recent appearance on BBC’s Great British Menu has cemented his position as one of the UK’s most exciting rising stars.
Alex Craciun
Alex Craciun largely dropped off the radar following the closure of Sosharu but, eight years on, has returned to the capital with a distinctly original Fitzrovia restaurant named after his son. Launched with little fanfare at the tail end of last year, Aces Foodcraft stands out as one of 2025’s most intriguing openings. Working alongside his greengrocer wife, Aleksandra Jazevica, Craciun is producing striking, original dishes that reflect his wide-ranging culinary background.
Jack Bond
The name’s Bond - Jack Bond - and it’s one you’re likely to hear a lot more of. He and his wife Beth took over The Cottage in the Wood a few years ago and, remarkably, retained its Michelin star despite inspectors visiting just days after the takeover. Bond brings a different perspective to the Lakes, with experience spanning leading London kitchens and Eleven Madison Park in New York. His cooking is modern and precise, while firmly rooted in the quality of local produce.
Mark McCabe
Mark McCabe joined Henrock, part of the Simon Rogan group, two years ago following the closure of his own highly-rated Bristol restaurant The Ethicurean. It’s a natural fit, with both chefs sharing a hyper-seasonal, ingredient-led approach. McCabe, however, brings his own identity to the kitchen, delivering considered, produce-driven dishes with subtle Scandi-Asian influences.
Ewan Waller
Ewan Waller has helped bring a Michelin star back to Brighton and Hove for the first time in more than 50 years. Maré by Rafael Cagali sits between its namesake’s two-Michelin-star flagship and the more casual Elis, both located in Bethnal Green Town Hall. Inspired by its seaside setting, as well as Cagali’s Italian and Brazilian heritage, the cooking feels fresh and distinctive - something new for the city. While much credit goes to his two-star mentor, Waller’s performance is impressive, especially considering he’s just 24 years old.