Hayward, who has been head chef at The Coach since September 2021, picked up the award at tonight’s (27 March) Michelin star revelation ceremony, which took place at the Silverstone Circuit in Northamptonshire.
She said: “Wow, I am really blown away to be honest and really humbled to receive the Young Chef Award, what an honour. I have so much respect for Michelin and I know how proud my dad will be, being a chef himself.
“I’m so grateful to my team and of course Tom Kerridge, who has helped me become the chef I am today and given me the confidence and belief that I can achieve anything.”
For 2023, five special awards were presented in total. Alongside the Young Chef Award, they included the Michelin Chef Mentor Award; the Welcome and Service Award; and the Sommelier Award.
Belfast chef Michael Deane, who runs the Michelin-starred Eipic in the Northern Ireland capital, received the Chef Mentor Award, who the little red book described as being ‘synonymous with quality restaurants and a true figurehead in the industry’.
Collecting his award, Deane said: “I have been around a long time, and in the words of Thomas Keller, it’s important we make the next generation better; without that, we don’t have anything.”
The Welcome and Service Award was given to Declan Maxwell and his team from Spitalfields restaurant in Dublin; while Tara Ozols from SO|LA in London received the Sommelier Award.
For the first time in the Great Britain & Ireland Guide, Michelin also put the spotlight on the restaurant world’s cocktail list with its Exceptional Cocktail Award, which went to Park Chinois in London where the bar team is led by Makis Kazakis.
A total of three new restaurants received two Michelin stars in this year’s guide, with a further 20 gaining one star.
Alex Dilling at Hotel Café Royal achieved the rare feat of going straight into the Guide with two stars, despite only opening last year.
Meanwhile, four new restaurants received Michelin Green Stars. They included Chantelle Nicholson’s Apricity in London, and Dan Cox’s Crocadon in Cornwall.
