19.July 2026
Thank you to all who came to 2nd Bite Festival, together we all raised an incredible £116,462.06!
Tokens
Tokens will be released in late May through our website only. Don't miss out on the chance to be a part of the 3rd Bite in aid of Cancer Research Festival and help us raise funds for Cancer Research UK. Please note: All tokens are non-refundable. This is a non smoking event.
20 Michelin rated chefs
Help us fundraise for
Cancer Research UK
£10per token
The Line Up
Last year we were honoured to have 20 Michelin starred Chefs from around the UK help us raise money for CRUK by each creating 500 portions of extremely tasty food! Below you will find the list of the incredibly talented chefs who volunteered their time and their days off for this special occasion!
Lisa
Goodwin-Allen
Northecote , Lancashire
One of the most innovative and exciting chefs in the UK today, Lisa has led the kitchen brigade at Northcote since the age of 23 and is a familiar face on Britain’s TV screens. Drawing inspiration from the stunning Ribble Valley landscape, she creates beautiful dishes that showcase the incredible produce of the region. The accolades speak for themselves. Lisa holds a Michelin Star, has not one, not two, but three winning dishes on Great British Menu, and was named Catey’s Chef of the Year in 2022. It’s safe to say we’re off to a very strong start.
James
Knappett
Kitchen Table, London
James has worked in some of the world’s most highly regarded kitchens. He trained in Cambridgeshire before spending formative years at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay and Pétrus. He then went on to cook at Rick Stein’s The Seafood Restaurant, Thomas Keller’s Per Se in New York, and alongside René Redzepi at Noma. Kitchen Table opened in 2012, earned its first Michelin star in 2014, and achieved a coveted second star in 2018 - which it has proudly retained ever since. Having eaten at Kitchen Table, a meal that has lived with us ever since, we guarantee you don’t want to miss out on James’ cooking!
Stuart
Ralston
Layla, Edinburgh
Stuart opened Lyla in 2023, earning a Michelin star less than two years later in February 2025. Coming from a family of chefs, Stuart began his career as a kitchen porter as a teenager before following in his parents’ and siblings’ footsteps and donning the chef whites himself. He went on to work at The Roman Camp Hotel, Greywalls Hotel and Michelin-starred Inverlochy Castle, before linking up with Gordon Ramsay and securing a role at his London Hotel in New York. Returning to England, he led the kitchen at Lower Slaughter Manor in the Cotswolds, where he earned three AA Rosettes. A spell in Barbados followed before he moved back home to Scotland in 2014. Lyla is his fourth Edinburgh restaurant — a refined evolution following Aizle, Noto and Tipo. And now, we’re delighted to welcome Stuart back for another bite festival.
Paul
Leonard
The Forest Side, Grasmere
Michelin Starred Paul Leonard of The Forest Side who over the last two year’s has produced incredible stand out dish’s of BBQ Herdwick Belly on Flatbread and then a Shellfish Roll at 2nd Bite. Soft milk bun stuffed with langoustine, pork jowl and fragrant lobster mayo topped with sweet scallops last year was insane- swipe to reminisce! We were delighted to celebrate with Paul in his achievement of winning a green Michelin Star at this years Michelin awards- adding to his lofty collection of awards now. Paul has been praised for his loving and simple use of local produce. This celebration of provenance is an ethos he has carried with him to The Forest Side, where the culinary experience is designed to be a reflection of the landscape of the Lakes in which it sits. Welcome back for a 3rd Bite Paul, we look forward to cooking along side you once again this July 19th at Wylam Brewery.
Adam
Handling MBE
Frog, London/ Ugly Butterfly, Cornwall
Adam is the Michelin-starred Chef Owner of the Adam Handling Collection, operating venues across the UK, and is fast becoming one of the best-known chefs in the country. Adam has achieved a number of impressive awards, having earnt his first Michelin Star at his flagship restaurant, Frog by AH , in 2022, a Michelin BibGourmand at his pub Loch & Tyne in 2024, and a Michelin Star at his Cornish restaurant Ugly Butterfly in 2026. Adam was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to Hospitality and International Trade in the New Year Honours List 2024 and was also chosen to create one of five official recipes for HRH King Charles III’s Coronation. We’re so excited to welcome Adam to the North East for this year’s 3rd Bite Festival!
Jack
Bond
The Cottage In The Wood, Keswick
Fresh from being crowned North West regional winner on this year’s Great British Menu, Jack is one of the most exciting talents in British cooking right now. Originally from Crosby, Liverpool, Jack began his journey in the kitchen at just 15 as a kitchen porter, quickly discovering a passion that would take him around the world. His career has seen him work in some of the most celebrated kitchens, including Eleven Madison Park in New York, as well as alongside Gordon Ramsay and Marcus Waring at The Berkeley and The Gilbert Scott. In 2024, Jack returned to the North West with his wife Beth to take over The Cottage in the Wood. Under their leadership, the restaurant has retained its Michelin star and continues to hold three AA rosettes. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Lake District, Jack’s cooking is deeply rooted in seasonality, sustainability, and a strong sense of place. His dishes celebrate local produce while championing a thoughtful, low-waste approach — combining creativity with a deep respect for the natural environment. We can’t wait to welcome Jack to the festival.
Johnnie
Crowe
Restaurant St Barts, London
Welcoming back Johnnie Crowe of Michelin star and Green Michelin star Restaurant St. Barts- a culmination of passion & hard work from three long-term friends Johnnie, Luke & Toby where food has Sustainability at its core and is the value by which St Bart’s operates. Johnnie is quoted as saying “The provenance and locality of produce is essential for us - we lived by this philosophy throughout the design and build of the restaurant. We work with small scale farmers for our meat and use the entire animal to avoid any waste.” Jonnie has also promised not to go to Flares the night before the event this year- as last year he succumbed to the bright lights of the big market. Joking aside, one of our favourite people returns to Bite Back!
Jean
Delport
Interlude, Sussex
Born in Cape Town and now based in West Sussex, Jean is the chef behind the Michelin-starred Restaurant Interlude at Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens. Known for his innovative approach to fine dining, he creates seasonal tasting menus inspired by Sussex’s landscape and his South African heritage. Jean earned Interlude its first Michelin star just 10 months after opening, followed by a Michelin Green Star in 2023 for his commitment to sustainability. In 2025, he represented London and the South East on BBC’s Great British Menu, winning both the fish course and the main course, a very rare achievement in the show’s history. A huge thank you Jean! We are so excited to see you in Newcastle!
Tom
Shepherd
Upstairs, Lichfield
Guess who’s back for a 3rd time! It is of course the incredible Tom Shepherd chef and owner of Restaurant Upstairs in Lichfield, which was awarded a Michelin Star just four months after opening in 2021. In 2023, Tom represented the Central Region on the BBC’s Great British Menu. He went on to win the main course round and cooked at the Banquet where he served his infamous take on Desperate Dan’s Cow Pie. For the last two years Tom has cooked 1000 of his delicious GBM winning pies and is always one of the first to sell out! He’s asked us whether he should do pies again this year… what do you think?
Roberta
Hall-McCarron
The Little Chartroom, Edinburgh
We’re delighted to welcome Roberta Hall-McCarron to the lineup for this year’s 3rd Bite festival! An award winning Scottish chef, Roberta trained in some of the UK’s most respected Michelin starred kitchens, refining a style rooted in classical technique, precision, and a deep respect for exceptional ingredients. She first rose to national prominence as a finalist on Masterchef the professionals, before going on to win the fish course at the banquet on Great British Menu in 2021 an incredible achievement that cemented her reputation on the national stage. She is the chef owner of The Little Chartroom and Eleanore in Edinburgh, two much loved restaurants that showcase her signature approach to seasonal, produce led cooking. The Little Chartroom, in particular, has earned widespread acclaim as one of the city’s standout dining destinations, celebrated for its ever evolving menus, warm neighbourhood feel, and beautifully balanced dishes that highlight the very best of Scotland’s larder. Roberta’s food is thoughtful, refined, and quietly creative combining Michelin level skill with a genuine passion for hospitality. We’re thrilled to have her join our chef lineup. Jean earned Interlude its first Michelin star just 10 months after opening, followed by a Michelin Green Star in 2023 for his commitment to sustainability.
Gareth
Ward
Ynyshir, Wales
We are absolutely thrilled to announce that Gareth Ward is returning for this year’s 3rd Bite Festival. Gareth is head chef and co-owner of Ynyshir the most highly-awarded restaurant in Wales, and named Best Restaurant in the UK two years running in 2022 and 2023. It has two Michelin stars, five AA rosettes, and is ranked in the UK’s top five UK restaurants by the Good Food Guide ...who also named Gareth 2019 Chef of the Year. The only thing celebrated at Ynyshir as much as his food, is his love for Newcastle United. A HUGE thank you for taking part Gareth! 💜
Mark
Donald
The Glenturret Lalique, Crieff
We are absolutely thrilled to announce that 2 Michelin starred Mark Donald from The Glenturret Lalique will be returning on our line up for this year’s 3rd Bite Festival. Mark is an incredible chef who has experience working in some of the best restaurants in the World, including a season at Noma in Copenhagen, Andrew Fairlie at Gleneagles, Hibiscus in Mayfair, Bentley in Sydney, Number One at Balmoral and more recently settling in at Glenturret Lalique, earning a Michelin star after 7 months and then 2 Michelin stars in 2024. We are absolutely thrilled that Mark will be joining our formidable line up once again. Who remembers his incredible chicken dish at last year’s 2nd Bite? A huge thank you Mark!