Having successfully triumphed over hundreds of hopeful entrants, the eager 2007 Young Chef Young Waiter national finalists have now been announced.

Eight chefs and eight waiters all aged under 24 will go on to compete side by side for the prestigious title on 15 October at Westminster Kingsway.

Directly after the competition, a glamorous awards dinner will be taking place at the Intercontinental on London’s Park Lane to announce the respective 2007 winning chef and waiter.

This esteemed competition, now in its 23rd year, is regarded as one of the industry’s most important awards and the talented finalists have been named as follows.

Chef finalists are Christopher King (The Gavroche), Ryan Simpson (The Elephant Torquay), Sinead Finnigan (The Square), Clark Crawley (RA Barclays), Simon Christey-French (The Square), Darkon Coan (Andrew Fairlie at Gleneagles), Tristin Farmer (Gordon Ramsey at Claridges), and Joshua Pelham (The Square).

Waiter finalists are Philippe Bonjean (The Ritz), Matthew Mawtus (Gordon Ramsey at Claridges), Josefine Stattaus (Hilton, Heathrow Airport, Terminal 4), Luke Skidmore (Blue Restaurant), Sandrine Guerillon (Four Seasons Hamilton Place), William Bonfield (Design House Restaurant), Matthew Balman (Gidleigh Park Hotel), and Anja Pfuhl (Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons).

Selected from stiff competition at regional finals held at Adam Smith College (Fife), Darlington College, Birmingham College (Food & Tourism) and Thames Valley University (Ealing) the 16 have already impressed judges by demonstrating their excellent skill and industry knowledge.

All finalists were winners of an exclusive three-day study trip to Champagne Louis Roederer at the end of September.

The eventual final winners will be presented with a cheque for £2,000 courtesy of the Savoy Educational Trust as well as an unforgettable week’s study trip to Berlin.

Second place runners up will be receiving £1,000 each and a study trip to Piedmont, Italy.

The third place finalists will receive £500 plus work experience at a UK Michelin star establishment.

The 2007 competition will also see £500 worth of catering equipment from Hansens awarded to each of the overall winners’ establishments.

The BHA wishes all entrants the best of luck.

A limited number of tickets are still available for this prestigious dinner, to book places please contact [email protected] or click here for a booking form.

Photograph: Bruce Poole, Chair of the Chef Judging Panel, deliberates with the team