Through a series of competitive heats, the talented contenders were whittled down to three exceptional finalists, with tables at the Great Bupa Menu Grand Final event sold to raise money for the food bank charity.
The competition was open to anyone working at one of the 115 Bupa care homes and 10 Richmond Villages around the country who had a passion for cooking and saw a huge number of talented applications.
The initial 24 chefs competed in three heats, using their own recipes and ingredients to produce a starter, main and dessert for the judging panel.
Following a series of qualifying rounds three extraordinary finalists were chosen to compete at the Grand Final, hosted at Edgbaston Cricket Ground for an audience of 140 people, who were each tasked with choosing their favourite dish to decide the overall winner.
The three dishes served during the final were:
- Starter – Trio of Duck by Jonathan Green, Head Chef at Richmond Villages Northampton
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Main - Baked Cod Loin with Boulangère Potatoes, Peas Bonne Femme and Sorrell by James Day, Sous Chef at Richmond Villages Aston on Trent
Dessert - Apple Souffle Crumble by Terry Warren, Chef Manager at Collingwood Grange Care Home, Camberley
Despite an incredibly close competition, only one could take home the trophy, with Terry Warren crowned as the Great Bupa Menu Winner 2025 for his Apple Crumble Soufle.
Leon Palmer, Director of Public Sector and Hospitality at Bupa and head judge, said:
“When we created this competition, it was all about shining a spotlight on our amazing chefs, and it’s been an extraordinary first year celebrating the incredible talent working across our Bupa care homes.
“Although we could only crown one winner, every dish we tried blew us away, with amazing thought, creativity and pride clearly on display.
“We can’t wait to go again next year, championing our excellent chefs, while also raising money for a great cause in the process.”
Chef Manager at Collingwood Grange Care Home and winner of the Great Bupa Menu 2025, Terry Warren, said:
“I’m immensely proud to have won this competition, but truly every chef that took part is a winner. Together, we helped raise £30,000 for the Trussell Trust, which makes this achievement even more special.
“It’s been incredibly inspiring to be reminded how food can bring people together, creating meaningful experiences and lasting memories, something we’re proud to deliver every day across our Bupa care homes.”
With the competition proving to be a huge success, plans are already underway for the Great Bupa Menu 2026.
