Who is chef Ciaran Brennan on Great British Menu 2026?
As Great British Menu 2026 reaches its final week of regional heats, we find out more about chef Ciaran Brennan, who is representing the South West.
Last year, Amber Francis represented the South West at the banquet and went on to be crowned Champion of Champions.
Ciaran Brennan is head chef at Osip, the 30-cover farm-to-table restaurant in Bruton, Somerset, where the menu is shaped entirely by what arrives each morning from the farm and trusted local suppliers.
Early career and cooking background
Born in Leicester and raised in Devon, Ciaran has a strong personal connection to the South West. He began working for Merlin Labron-Johnson at Portland in London in 2016 before moving to Australia in 2018 to work at Ester, where he developed a deeper love of cooking over fire.
He returned to England in 2019 to help open Osip as sous chef and was promoted to head chef in 2021, playing a central role in shaping the restaurant’s style and identity.
Cooking at Osip
At Osip, Ciaran leads a restaurant that has built its reputation around a stripped-back, ingredient-led approach to dining. There is no fixed menu, with guests instead served a sequence of dishes determined by the best available produce that day.
During his time at the restaurant, Osip was awarded a Michelin star in January 2021 after just eight months of trading, followed by a Michelin green star in recognition of its commitment to sustainability. It has since received widespread acclaim, including being named Good Food Guide Restaurant of the Year 2025.
Style and identity
Ciaran’s cooking is nature-led and low-waste, with vegetables at the heart of the menu and a strong focus on whole-animal butchery, fermentation, fire cooking and foraging.
That approach is matched by a deep respect for the land and for the producers around him. His food is defined by elegant simplicity, with an emphasis on preserving the integrity of exceptional ingredients and allowing them to speak for themselves.
Ciaran was also named in CODE Hospitality’s 30 Under 30 list, underlining his status as one of the most exciting young talents in British hospitality.
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Ciaran Brennan on Great British Menu 2026
In Great British Menu 2026, Ciaran represents the South West, competing against Martin Baylis, Mark Tuttiett and Jeffrey Robinson for the final place in finals week from the regional heats.
Multi-Michelin-starred Simon Rogan is the veteran judge for the South West heat.
Ciaran’s menu is a celebration of all things South West, drawing on the region’s film locations, actors and produce.
With a strong grounding in fire cookery, a close connection to the region and a style rooted in seasonality and sustainability, he will be aiming to make a major impression in the last week of heats.
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