Cornwall's Michelin-starred chef Paul Ainsworth is to judge a new cooking competition to find the UK's top young barbecue chef.

Grill brand Kamado Joe has partnered with Great British Chefs to launch a nationwide search for the UK's Barbecuer of the Year.

The new competition launching this spring is designed to celebrate live-fire cooking and support emerging culinary talent.

Great British Chefs

Entrants need to submit a short video (up to 60 seconds) and a photo of their finished dish, along with the full recipe.

The deadline for entries is Sunday, April 5. Five finalists will then be selected and invited to take part in a live cook-off at Great British Chefs headquarters in London on April 22.

Entrants need to submit a short video and a photo of their finished dish, along with the full recipe. (Image: Nick Hook)

Reading between the lines

The finalists will be judged by Paul Ainsworth, chef-patron at the restaurant Paul Ainsworth at Number 6 in Padstow, with the overall winner receiving the title of Young BBQ Chef of the Year 2026 and a money-can't-buy prize - see full details below.

Ben Forte, international marketing director at Kamado Joe, said: "We want to empower a new generation of chefs to cook with confidence, creativity and consistently exceptional results.

"By teaming up with Great British Chefs, we're giving young chefs the chance to show what they can do, grow their skills beyond the grill and start shaping an exciting future in food."

To enter visit www.greatbritishchefs.com/competitions/kamado-joe-bbq-chef-competition

Paul Ainsworth

The finalists will be judged by Paul Ainsworth, chef-patron at the restaurant Paul Ainsworth at Number 6 in Padstow (Image: Nick Hook)

The prize
  • A mentoring session with Paul Ainsworth, focused on career development and progression
  • Become a Kamado Joe ambassador, receive a Kamado Joe barbecue and accessories, and help inspire barbecue lovers by sharing your expertise with a wider audience.
  • Join Great British Chefs as a contributor, with your profile and recipes published on the site.

What the judges are looking for

By teaming up with Great British Chefs, we're giving young chefs the chance to show what they can do, grow their skills beyond the grill and start shaping an exciting future in food.

Where this fits

Menus are the clearest record of what diners actually wanted, since every change reflects something that did or did not sell.

The short version

  • Cornwall's Michelin-starred chef Paul Ainsworth is to judge a new cooking competition to find the UK's top young barbecue chef
  • Grill brand Kamado Joe has partnered with Great British Chefs to launch a nationwide search for the UK's Barbecuer of the Year
  • The new competition launching this spring is designed to celebrate live-fire cooking and support emerging culinary talent
  • "By teaming up with Great British Chefs, we're giving young chefs the chance to show what they can do, grow their skills beyond the grill and start shaping an exciting future in food."
  • The finalists will be judged by Paul Ainsworth, chef-patron at the restaurant Paul Ainsworth at Number 6 in Padstow (Image: Nick Hook)

Common questions

What should you know about Great British Chefs?

Grill brand Kamado Joe has partnered with Great British Chefs to launch a nationwide search for the UK's Barbecuer of the Year.

What happens next?

Five finalists will then be selected and invited to take part in a live cook-off at Great British Chefs headquarters in London on April 22.

All told

The details will firm up over the coming months. What is already clear is that this is unlikely to be the last we hear of it.