Who is chef Abbie Hendren on Great British Menu 2026?
As we come towards the end of the regional stages of Great British Menu 2026, we find out more about chef Abbie Hendren, who is representing London and the South East.
Last year, Jean Delport cooked for the region and took two dishes through to the banquet, setting a high bar for this year’s chefs.
Abbie Hendren is currently head chef for veteran judge Sally Abé on her first solo venture, restaurant Teal, which recently opened in Hackney.
Sally cooked the starter course at the 2025 GBM banquet.
Early career and cooking background
Born in London, with part of her childhood spent in Australia, Abbie draws on a broad range of influences. She has worked in notable London kitchens including The Glasshouse in Kew, La Trompette in Chiswick and The Petersham Hotel in Richmond, where she developed her love of fine dining and a strong understanding of seasonal British produce.
Before moving to Sally Abé’s new project, Abbie joined Sam’s Waterside in late 2023 as sous chef and was quickly promoted to head chef. In a Staff Canteen feature, she described the restaurant’s approach as classical, with a strong focus on well-sourced fish and seafood.
Cooking style and motivation
Abbie has said she is driven by the idea that her food is often eaten during milestone moments in people’s lives. That personal connection to hospitality shapes the way she cooks, with the aim that each dish has the potential to stay in someone’s memory long after the meal itself.
Her style is rooted in seasonal British produce and fine-dining technique, but it is also shaped by a broad set of influences from her upbringing and career. That combination has helped her build a reputation for thoughtful, polished cooking with a strong emotional thread running through it.
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Abbie Hendren on Great British Menu 2026
In Great British Menu 2026, Abbie represents London and the South East, competing against Josh Hughes, Dana Choi and Vince Smith for a place in finals week.
Aktar Islam, chef patron of the two-Michelin-starred Birmingham restaurant Opheem, is the veteran judge for the London and South East region.
Abbie’s menu is a celebration of cinema, highlighting legendary films and actors from London and the South East.
With experience in respected London kitchens and a major new role alongside Sally Abé, whose starter reached the banquet in 2025, she will be aiming to make a strong impression in the closing stages of the competition.
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