Denmark win Bocuse d’Or Europe as Team UK qualify for Lyon final
Denmark won Bocuse d’Or Europe 2026 in Marseille, while Team UK secured its place in the Grand Final in Lyon after finishing seventh in the top 10 qualifiers.
Christian Wellendorf, head chef and partner at Babette in Copenhagen, took first place for Denmark, with Norway second and Italy third, as 20 teams competed across two days at Sirha Méditerranée.
The result means the UK will again be represented on the world stage when the Bocuse d’Or final returns in January 2027.
Team UK secure another Bocuse d’Or final place
For Team UK, qualification is a significant result, continuing their run of the nation being represented in the final of the Bocuse d’Or in every edition since the competition began in 1987, and Marseille was the next major test in maintaining that record.
The British team was led by candidate Oliver McGeorge, with Stella Harris as commis chef, Ian Musgrave as coach and Clare Smyth as president.
The team behind the UK campaign
Oliver trained at Ullswater Community College before studying at Lycée Hôtelier de Marseille in France. His career has included roles at Le Petit Nice in Marseille, Restaurant Guy Savoy in Paris and Frenchie rue du Nil, before a sabbatical that included international residencies and stages at leading kitchens including L’Enclume.
Stella achieved a distinction in her Level 2 Professional Diploma in Culinary Arts at Westminster Kingsway College and joined The Savoy Grill by Gordon Ramsay in 2023, later taking up a full-time role.
Ian, now executive sous chef at The Ritz London, represented the UK as candidate at the 2023 world final, where he placed seventh, and then coached Tom Phillips to fifth place at the Bocuse d’Or final in Lyon in 2025.
Clare brings huge weight to the project. The chef owner of Core by Clare Smyth and Oncore in Sydney, she became president of Bocuse d’Or Team UK in 2023 after serving as international chef ambassador, and remains one of the most decorated chefs in British hospitality. She was the first British female chef to win three Michelin stars.
Team UK said after the result: “What a moment for Team UK. After months of preparation, precision and relentless hard work, our team has secured their place at the Grand Final of the Bocuse d’Or in Lyon.
“A huge congratulations to our incredible candidate Oliver McGeorge, commis Stella Harris, coach Ian Musgrave and president Clare Smyth – and to everyone behind the scenes who helped make this possible.
“To our partners, supporters and friends: thank you for standing with us on this journey.
“Next stop: Lyon.
“We can’t wait to represent the UK on the world stage next January.”
What Team UK cooked in Marseille
The competition challenged chefs to interpret the culinary identity of Marseille and the Mediterranean through a series of demanding tests.
This year’s platter theme featured red gurnard, chickpeas, small purple artichokes and sea urchin, while other tasks included a surf-and-turf challenge and the live “On Stage!” test.
The UK’s platter was described by the team as delicate red gurnard with Scottish lobster and saffron mousse, aromatic chickpea and smokie garnish, tender violet artichokes, and a shrimp and sea urchin sauce.
Special prizes in Marseille went to Sweden for the platter theme, Finland for the Mediterranean-flavoured theme and Norway’s Hanna Korvald, who took the best commis award.
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Denmark win Bocuse d’Or Europe as Team UK qualify for Lyon final
