The competition, which is sponsored by Young’s Seafood and is celebrating its 25th Anniversary year, was ‘delighted’ to have celebrity chefs Rick Stein, Mitch Tonks, Nathan Outlaw and Mark Hix heading up the judging panel.
Ben Jackson and Kian Marshall made up the winning team and impressed the judges with their menu of smoked haddock, cullen skink starter and hake, scallops, asparagus, Jersey royals and dill main course.
Kian said: “We are so shocked; we can’t believe we have won. It’s been amazing to take part and to see everything finally come together. Competitions like this are important, they give so much experience and really help develop your skills.”
Ethan King and Hector Kilvington from Exeter College took second place, Mhamed Chemical and Oliver Becker from Westminster Kingsway College came third with Zain Tahir and Claudiu Ziate from Birmingham College coming fourth.
All of them won a two-week work experience at one of the judges’ prestigious restaurants and the winning team took home a host of prizes including a knife set, salmon knife, a signed cookbook from each chef and the trophy.
Paul Robinson, associate principal for Commercial Enterprise, said: “The standard this year was the amazing, you could see the teams went that extra mile in their preparation for the final as the standard was exceptional.
“To have the top four seafood chefs in the UK visit us and on the judging panel made the 25th anniversary competition such a special occasion for all those involved. A huge congratulations to all the teams that took part and a big well done to Newcastle College on taking the title, their menu was excellent.”