Pubs in Richmond and Twickenham are being encouraged by their local MP to nominate their chefs for the second Parliamentary Pub Chef Awards.

The British Beer and Pub Association and the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group have launched the 2018 Parliamentary Pub Chef and Young Pub Chef of the Year award, in partnership with Nestlé Professional.

Sir Vince Cable, the Lib Dem MP for Twickenham, has announced he is ‘keen to hear’ from pub staff and residents who they think is the ‘best pub chef or chefs’ so he can put them forward for the prestigious award which has a cash prize of £500.

The 2018 Parliamentary Pub Chef Awards which launched in 2015-16 requires MPs to nominate pub chefs and young pub chefs in their constituency who are renowned for their great food.

Sir Cable said: “Twickenham has a great number of excellent pubs, many of them serving great food as well.

“I might be biased, but I think there is a very good chance that the best pub chef in the country is working locally.

“If pub staff or clientele think a local chef should be nominated for this national award please get in touch with me and I will nominate them for this national award.”

After the success of the first competition which saw over 120 nominations momentum for the 2018 awards continues to build as MPs recognise the huge contribution pubs make to the dining out market.

Winning the awards could see huge benefits for your local chefs career with the previous winner of the young pub category, Chef Robert Yuill, seeing a significant benefit.

Chef Yuill said: "Winning the award made an instant difference to my life. It brought instant recognition locally via local news and media, and opened up doors for me to progress professionally.

“I enjoyed every aspect of the competition and it was a privilege to be involved in something so passionate in recognising the skills that go into cooking in pubs, and all the expertise shared by all the people involved.

“I learned that I can perform under immense pressure, and that on the day I could compete with some of the best in the country. I would do it again in a heartbeat."

In December, a panel of judges that will include former Michelin Star holder and TV guest chef Paul Merrett, Chief Executive of the BBPA Brigid Simmonds and an executive chef from Nestlé Professional, will shortlist the nominations who will then go forward to a cook-off and winners announced in early 2018.