Plough Pub Chef Nominated For Parliamentary Prize

Eight finalists will battle it out with winner announced in February

Local pub chef Ben Morgan of The Plough Inn, Ealing, has been shortlisted as one of just four national finalists in the Parliamentary Pub Chef of the Year competition, in the under 30’s Young Chef category.

The prestigious award, in its second year, sought nominations from MPs across the country in the search for the most skilled and talented pub chefs.  Chef Ben was nominated by his MP Virendra Sharma of Ealing and Southall and shortlisted after a rigorous judging panel selected the best entries from more than 130 nominations.

The competition is run by the British Beer & Pub Association and the All Party Parliamentary Beer Group’s in partnership with Nestlé Professional.

Eight finalists, four from the Parliamentary Pub chef and four from the Young Parliamentary Pub Chef categories, will go on to battle it out for the title of Parliamentary (Pub Chef or Young Pub Chef of 2018) at a cook-off event in Hospitality House, a bespoke training venue in London, on 24th January. They will cook for judges before winners are announced at an award ceremony in the House of Commons on Wednesday 7th February 2018.

Chef Ben said: ”I am very excited to be put through to the final four of the competition and it’s a privilege to represent The Plough Inn and Fuller’s as a pub company and what Fuller’s food stands for.”

Virendra Sharma MP said: “The Plough is a fantastic pub and I am not in the least bit surprised that Ben has been chosen to participate in the Big Cook Off in January.  Myself, his team and the local community are behind him 100%, wishing him all the very best of luck.”

Brigid Simmonds, BBPA Chief Executive, commented: “Last year’s nominees were of a high standard but this year really has seen a step up in quality. The entries showed the breadth of talent on display in our pubs and I am excited to see what our finalists produce in the cook off.”

Judge Andrej Prokes, Executive Chef at Nestlé Professional commented: "The standard of entries for this year's competition was extremely high. I was really impressed with the quality and attention to detail shown by the nominees. The finalists can already be really proud of what they've achieved and I am excited to sample their work in the cook off."

The panel of expert judges included Paul Dickinson, Director of Food at Fuller’s; Andrej Prokes, Executive Chef at Nestlé Professional; Kate Hempsall, consultant to the beer and pub trade; and Dawn Redman, Director at Hospitality Jobs UK.

Other shortlisted chefs include:

Young Pub Chef of the Year Award

Michael di Bella of The Dean Inn nominated by Gillian Keegan, MP for Chichester

Gordon Stott of The Sun Inn nominated by Kit Malthouse, MP for North West Hampshire

Amy Houghton of The Shoulder of Mutton Inn nominated by Craig Whittaker, MP for Calder Valley

Pub Chef of the Year Award

Kevin Maclean of The Rat Inn nominated by Guy Opperman, MP for Hexham

Oliver Farrar of The Durham Ox nominated by Kevin Hollinrake, MP for Thirsk and Malton

Ryan Lamb of The Tally Ho nominated by Caroline Nokes, MP for Romsey and Southampton North

Craig Jeffery of The Ship Inn nominated by Scott Mann, MP for North Cornwall

19 December 2017