Multi award-winning Master Chef Kemal Coskuncay has launched an exciting new organisation that aims to bring chefs together, champion the hospitality industry and make a real difference in communities across the UK. British Northwest Chefs was launched in May 2026 and recently hosted a free community event in collaboration with Groundwork UK’s Grow Speke.
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The founder of the much-loved Casa Rima restaurant in Halewood has joined forces with respected hospitality professionals Tacim Yetis, Ali Kavlak and Ibrahim Coskuncay to establish the new chefs’ union. Its aim is to give culinary professionals a stronger voice, greater opportunities and a supportive network where they can develop both professionally and personally.
Although only recently launched, British Northwest Chefs has already attracted members from across the UK, highlighting the appetite within the industry for a community that celebrates chefs while providing genuine support and benefits. Some top chefs have joined the organisation, from varying cultures and cuisines.
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Membership offers an impressive range of opportunities, including an official chefs’ uniform, commemorative medal and certificate, alongside networking opportunities, supplier discounts, legal advice, international culinary trips and professional guidance. More importantly, British Northwest Chefs has been founded on the principle of bringing people together, creating opportunities and promoting excellence throughout the hospitality sector.
Community engagement is also at the very heart of the organisation’s mission, with its first major event setting the tone perfectly. The inaugural Community BBQ, delivered in collaboration with Grow Speke, brought together leading chefs from British Northwest Chefs for a day dedicated to food, education and wellbeing.
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Throughout the event, talented chefs demonstrated a variety of dishes using fresh, locally grown ingredients while encouraging members of the local community to get involved, learn new cooking techniques and discover the benefits of preparing nutritious meals from scratch. Visitors were able to enjoy cooking demonstrations alongside a range of informative talks and hands-on workshops.
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The partnership with Grow Speke made the event particularly fitting. The educational charity has been serving the local community for more than 40 years, helping people learn how to grow their own fruit and vegetables while promoting healthier lifestyles and improved wellbeing. Its beautiful site is far more than an allotment and has a wide range of free services.
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Visitors can explore flourishing growing spaces filled with seasonal vegetables, herbs, tomatoes and basil, alongside polytunnels, wildflower meadows, beehives producing local honey and an abundance of wildlife. The project encourages natural growing methods free from chemicals and pesticides, demonstrating how sustainable food production benefits both people and the environment.
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Beyond horticulture, Grow Speke also offers activities that nurture mental wellbeing, with meditation, mindfulness sessions and music forming an important part of the welcoming community atmosphere. The Community BBQ perfectly reflected the shared values of both organisations — celebrating good food, supporting local communities and encouraging healthier, more sustainable lifestyles.
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Families, volunteers, chefs and visitors spent the day learning, cooking, sharing ideas and enjoying great company in a relaxed and inclusive environment. For Kemal Coskuncay and his fellow founders, the event represented far more than the launch of a new chefs’ union. It demonstrated exactly what British Northwest Chefs hopes to achieve: creating meaningful connections, supporting hospitality professionals and using the universal language of food to bring communities together.
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If the success of the first event is anything to go by, British Northwest Chefs has made an inspiring start. With ambitious plans for further community projects, educational initiatives and opportunities for chefs across the country, the organisation looks set to become a powerful force for positive change within both the hospitality industry and the wider community.
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For more info on Grow Speke visit the WEBSITE
Video and photos 1 & 8 courtesy of CORMOFILM LIVERPOOL
