(Image: Sean Elliott Photography)
A North East chef has taken second place in one of the UK’s top culinary contests.
Scott John-Hodgson, executive chef at Michelin-starred Solstice and House of Tides in Newcastle, finished runner-up in the National Chef of the Year 2026 competition, organised by the Craft Guild of Chefs.
The winner was Ruth Hansom from Darlington, who owns the Hansom Restaurant in Bedale, North Yorkshire.
The top three were announced at a VIP awards ceremony on Tuesday, October 6, following a live final at Le Cordon Bleu in London.
Mr John-Hodgson said: "Continuous improvement is what drives me.
"Whether it's making a dish 1% better, developing someone in the team or giving guests a meal they'll remember years later, there's always another level to aim for.
"There aren't many jobs where you can spend all day obsessing over tiny details, then watch it all come together over a few hours every evening.
"It's stressful, but that's part of what makes it addictive."
The National Chef of the Year title is highly regarded in the industry, with past winners including Gordon Ramsay and Alyn Williams.
This year’s brief, set by new chair of judges Mark Birchall, focused on sustainability, with entries judged blind on innovation, sustainability and seasonality.
Mr John-Hodgson was one of 10 chefs to reach the final after progressing through live semi-finals in Sheffield and London.
The finalists were tasked with creating a three-course menu, including Isle of Mull scallops, two cuts of Angus Pure beef, and a chocolate mille-feuille.
Mark Birchall, NCOTY chair of judges and chef patron of Moor Hall, said: "This was an exceptional final and the standard across the kitchen was incredibly high.
"Ruth stood out with a menu that showed confidence and skill.
"Every dish delivered on flavour and the execution was consistently strong from start to finish."
David Mulcahy, competition director of National Chef of the Year, said: "National Chef of the Year is one of the biggest achievements in a chef’s career, and today’s final showed exactly why this competition holds such an important place in our industry. The talent and professionalism we saw from all ten finalists was outstanding."
Read more
‘I’m absolutely chuffed’ - Darlington woman is crowned National Chef of the Year
North East housing development wins national quality recognition award
How a Hartlepool dancer went from Billy Elliot to Emmerdale and Strictly Come Dancing
Mr John-Hodgson said the result reflected "years of hard work, sacrifice and support" and shone a light on the North East dining scene.
He congratulated winner Ms Hansom, who "has so ably represented Yorkshire and the North East of England," and said: "It's been amazing to work alongside her over the last few months."
The competition has been organised by the Craft Guild of Chefs since 1972 and is widely regarded as the UK's most career-defining culinary competition.