UK Heats of The World Tapas Competition
Cambridge Street Collective, Sheffield
16th and 17th July 2025
The UK Heats will be hosted at Blend Culinary Foundation Kitchen, Cambridge Street Collective, Europe's largest purpose-built food hall.
The competition will consist of 6 Chefs from Pub Groups and Casual Dining Chains and 6 Chefs from Public Sector and Contract Caterers.
On the first day all 12 chefs will compete in an innovation challenge using products from the sponsors larder.
The following day the Chefs will create their individual Tapa to present to our judges who will decide the overall winner.
The UK Heats are an exciting opportunity for Chefs to push their culinary boundaries and step out their comfort zone. The winner will earn the chance to represent the UK on the world stage, competing against top chefs from international heats across the globe.
The UK winner, runner-up and their sponsors will travel to Spain for the World Tapas Competition Finals in November, which includes an exclusive culinary tour of Madrid and Valladolid.
Head Judge
Omar Allibhoy
We are pleased to introduce our head judge for the World Tapas Competition - UK Heats, Omar Allibhoy. Dubbed ‘the Antonio Banderas of cooking’, critically acclaimed, Spanish celebrity chef Omar is a successful restaurateur and food author. He opened over 15 tapas bars in the UK, leading the charge in making Spanish cuisine a prominent feature on the British dining map. He’s worked alongside industry legends like Ferran Adrià and Jason Atherton and has also cooked for countless celebrities and even the Royal Family. His cookbooks have been applauded for their delicious simplicity and versatility, with ‘Tapas Revolution’ maintaining its status as one of the best-selling Spanish cookbooks in the world. In his latest book, ‘Paella’, Omar pays homage to the world’s most famous and beloved Spanish dish. Omar has also won several awards and maintained a career as a successful TV chef.
