Who is chef Ash Valenzuela-Heeger on Great British Menu 2026?
With Great British Menu 2026 now on our screens on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer, we find out more about chef Ash Valenzuela-Heeger, who is competing in the Central heat.
Ash Valenzuela-Heeger is the chef-owner of Riverine Rabbit in Birmingham, a 12-seat open kitchen restaurant known for bold flavours, intimate dining and a deeply personal culinary style rooted in her South African heritage.
Early career in South Africa
Originally from South Africa, Ash began working in kitchens at the age of 16 as a pot wash before formally training in classic Cordon Bleu techniques at cookery college.
During her early career she was mentored by renowned South African chef Luke Dale Roberts, whose guidance helped shape her professional development and approach to cooking.
Experience in Michelin-starred kitchens
Ash later moved to the UK to broaden her experience, spending three years working in some of London’s most respected fine-dining kitchens.
Her time included roles at The Ledbury, which held two Michelin stars at the time, and Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, also a two-Michelin-starred restaurant. These kitchens exposed her to highly refined techniques and a disciplined approach to flavour and presentation.
After gaining experience in London, she returned to South Africa where she opened her first restaurant in 2015, running it until 2020.
Opening Riverine Rabbit
In 2020, Ash relocated to Birmingham with her wife Erin and joined the Michelin-starred restaurant Carters of Moseley.
Following a series of intimate pop-ups that showcased her cooking style, she opened Riverine Rabbit in January 2024 in the Stirchley area of the city.
The restaurant takes its name from the endangered riverine rabbit of the Karoo Desert, reflecting both Ash’s South African roots and her commitment to sustainability and responsible sourcing.
Riverine Rabbit quickly gained national recognition. In the 2025 Michelin Guide it was awarded a Bib Gourmand, while Ash herself received the Michelin Young Chef Award the same year.
Her rising profile has also been recognised more widely, with a nomination for Best Chef at the 2025 British Restaurant Awards and inclusion in Condé Nast Traveller UK’s list of rising culinary stars.
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Ash Valenzuela-Heeger on Great British Menu 2026
Ash’s cooking combines classical technique with bold, flavour-driven dishes inspired by her South African heritage, creating an intimate and highly personal dining experience.
In Great British Menu 2026, Ash represents the Central region. She competes alongside Nikita Pathakji, James Sherwin and Louisa Ellis for the chance to progress to finals week and cook at the banquet.
The veteran judge for the Central heat is Spencer Metzger, executive chef of two-Michelin-starred Row on 5.
Ash’s menu celebrates cinema and the creative talent associated with Birmingham and the wider West Midlands, interpreting the competition’s film-themed brief through expressive and flavour-led dishes.
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