A SOUS chef from Kendal has been named the UK’s Young Chef of the Year 2016 at the national Oscars of the catering world.

Twenty-year-old Arthur Quin from The Punch Bowl Inn & Restaurant at Crosthwaite picked up the prestigious award at a ceremony held at The Lancaster London Hotel.

The annual event, which has been running for more than 50 years, is a pinnacle of the culinary calendar recognising both emerging and well-established talent from across the UK’s catering and hospitality industry.

An audience of 800 industry professionals and luminaries from all over the UK watched the former Kendal College student collect the most significant accolade of his career to date.

Presenting the award, judges said: “Despite being only 20, Arthur has grown immensely in his role in the last 12 months, nurtured and mentored by 25-year old head chef Scott Fairweather.

"A naturally quiet boy, Arthur has pushed himself out of his comfort zone to promote the Punch Bowl at numerous events in Cumbria by carrying out chef demonstrations in front of huge crowds at county shows and food festivals.”

Punch Bowl Inn owner, Richard Rose, said: “I am just bursting with pride at the moment. Both Scott and Arthur never cease to amaze me with their passion, hard work and talent in the Punch Bowl kitchen and it was just fantastic to see Arthur collecting his award in front of so many of the industry’s top chefs last night.

“Arthur is such a humble and unassuming young man whose hard work and enthusiasm have seen him develop so much in the last 12 months and he certainly has an exciting future ahead of him.”

Speaking after receiving the award, Arthur said: “It was a great evening and I really enjoyed spending time with Richard and Scott out of the kitchen.

“I need to thank them as well as the Craft Guild as I couldn’t have got here without their support and encouragement. But the biggest thanks have to go to my mum and dad for everything they have done and for believing in me as a chef.”

Scott was also shortlisted for an award on the night. He was just pipped to the post in the Pub Restaurant Chef of the Year category by Michelin-starred chef patron of the Beverley-based Pipe & Glass Inn, James Mackenzie.

As a Craft Guild of Chefs winner, Arthur was presented with a trophy and a special dinner jacket to mark the occasion.

The two other finalists in the Young Chef of the Year category were Victoria Williams, Crerar Glencoe Inn & Gathering in the West Highlands of Scotland and Jonathan Ferguson, from Restaurant Andrew Fairlie at Gleneagles in Perthshire.