Two Cambridge chefs make it through to the 2025 Roux Scholarship semi-finals

Two Cambridge chefs have won through to the semi-finals of the 2025 Roux Scholarship, which seeks to find Britain’s best young chef.

The Roux Scholarship, which is now in its 41st year, is seen as one of the most prized cookery competitions for young chefs, aged between 22 and 30 years old.

It’s being judged by Michel Roux Jnr, Angela Hartnett OBE, Brian Turner CBE, and James Martin, among others.

Liam Anderson works at Midsummer House, an internationally-acclaimed two Michelin-starred restaurant in Cambridge, while Liam Pride, who was born and educated in Cambridge, now works at Fancett’s, a small, independent French-influenced bistro located on Mill Road.

They will compete in the semi-finals in London on Thursday, 6 March. This year, 14 of the 18 finalists are new to the competition and they hail from establishments as far afield as Scotland and Devon.

The 18 chefs, and two reserves, were selected from their written recipes that had to use two gurnard fish, mussels, dulse seaweed and parsnips.

They were submitted anonymously to the judges, who took part in the recipe judging day at The Waterside Inn on 19 February.

Chairman Michel Roux Jr said: “It is great to see so many different establishments represented across the country and to see chefs who have been supported to enter the competition by past winners, our Roux Scholars, and past finalists.

“There were some very inspiring recipes using affordable ingredients and lots of skilful, innovative techniques as well.”

Four finalists have competed in the finals before: Charlie D’Lima (2024), Rebecca Tough (2024), Darryl Shotlander (2024), and Liam Pride (2022). For more information, visit rouxscholarship.co.uk.