How a Pub Chef from Offenham Took Home a National Title
Our head chef just proved that pub food belongs at the very top table of British cooking.
James Collins, head chef at The Bridge Inn & Ferry in Offenham, has been named Pub Chef of the Year 2026 at the International Salon Culinaire, one of the UK's longest-running and most respected culinary competitions. It's the kind of win that doesn't happen by accident, and it's one we couldn't be prouder to shout about.
Inside the Competition That Tested Our Head Chef Like Never Before
The International Salon Culinaire took place at ExCeL London as part of Food, Drink & Hospitality Week, running across three days from 30 March to 1 April 2026. It's not a quiet, behind-the-scenes affair either. James had to plate up four small dishes, two portions of each, all within a 45-minute window, cooked live on a theatre stage rather than tucked away in a kitchen. He's since described just how exposed that format is: a packed room, hundreds of spectators watching every move, and no real sense of the crowd size until you're stood in the middle of it. Judging the whole thing was a panel of 15 industry judges, including Harry Lomas MBE, head of culinary for Delaware North at Wembley Stadium.
That's the kind of pressure most of us will never have to cook under. Forty-five minutes, four dishes, a room full of people watching, and some of the most experienced palates in British hospitality deciding whether it was good enough.
Why This Win Means So Much to The Bridge Inn & Ferry
What makes this particularly special isn't just that James won; it's who he was up against. By his own account, the field was made up of chefs who'd either built their careers around competing at this level or were already well-regarded names in the industry, which is precisely why he's called it a privilege to have shared the stage with them.
For a chef who has built his career in pubs rather than fine dining kitchens, that's no small thing. He's spoken about friends from his own training background who went on to the fine dining route instead, while he stayed committed to what he calls "the gastro pub game." Coming away from a national competition with a title like this is proof that brilliant cooking doesn't need a tasting menu and a Michelin star to be recognised. It just needs skill, care, and the right dish on the right day.
The Man Behind the Pass: Getting to Know James
Ask anyone who's eaten at The Bridge Inn & Ferry, and they'll probably mention James before they mention the food, and that's exactly how he likes it. He's never been one to hide behind a kitchen door. By his own description, he's chatty and hands-on with customers, particularly the regulars, and genuinely enjoys the interaction rather than avoiding it.
That personality has clearly shone through since the win. James has said the wave of support and congratulations since the competition has been a lot to take in, and that competing for the first time at this level has already started opening professional doors for him. It's a rare thing to watch someone's hard work get recognised so publicly, and even rarer when that person is as embedded in a community as James is here.
Our Landlord's Reaction
We're not the only ones celebrating. Landlord Alistair Barlow was quick to share his pride, saying James's hard work, dedication and talent have finally paid off and that this recognition is thoroughly deserved.
That sentiment runs through the whole pub. This isn't a trophy that sits quietly on a shelf; it's a reflection of the standard James sets in our kitchen every single day, competition or not.
What This Means for Your Next Visit
A title like this doesn't change what we do; it confirms it. Every dish that leaves James's kitchen, whether it's a Sunday roast, a midweek special, or something a little more ambitious, is built on the same attention to detail that just won a national award against some of the best chefs in the country.
If you haven't visited The Bridge Inn & Ferry before, now's a good time to book a table and see what all the fuss is about.
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