Pine chef returns to Great British Menu

A North East chef is set to showcase his culinary skills on national television as he returns to a leading cooking competition.

Cal Byerley, chef and co-owner of Michelin-starred Restaurant Pine in Northumberland, will appear in the 2026 series of Great British Menu, marking his third consecutive year on the show.

He will represent the North East alongside three other regional chefs, competing in the heats for a place in finals week. 

The series begins on March 24 on BBC Two and iPlayer, with chefs tasked to create dishes inspired by this year’s theme of British film.

Spanning nine weeks, the competition culminates in a final banquet for the UK’s film industry, to be held at St George’s Hall in Liverpool.

Cal will compete against Jamie Keeble, of Myse in North Yorkshire; Weike Zhao, of Wood Hall Hotel and Spa in West Yorkshire; and Ryan McVay, of Calabash Tree in Sunderland, as they battle for a place in the finals.

From left, Jamie Keeble, Weike Zhao, Ryan McVay and Cal

Cal said: “This is my third year of competing in Great British Menu. 

“I’ve come second twice in previous years by the narrowest of margins – this year I’m ready to give it another go and determined to make it through to finals week. 

“This year’s theme is pretty interesting and gives us all lots of opportunities to be creative, so we’ll just have to see where I end up as competing against some of the UK’s best established and up-and-coming chefs.”

Now in its third decade, Great British Menu has become a platform for some of the country’s most prominent culinary talent, offering chefs the opportunity to showcase their creativity on a national stage.

Watch Cal on Great British Menu on Tuesday, March 24 at 7pm on BBC Two and iPlayer.

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