Geoff Acott MBE

Geoff Acott trained at Westminster Technical College from 1962-64 0n the Hotel Chefs Course and after receiving his diploma he then worked in various establishments in the West End of London including the Ritz Hotel, Piccadilly and The Institute of Directors, Belgravia. He joined the British Army in 1968 as a Private soldier and served in the catering function of the British Army for 25 years reaching the rank of Captain. At the end of his uniformed career, he joined the Ministry of Defence as a Senior Instructional Officer for a further 17 years.

He has won numerous medals and awards at Salons Culinaire in both the UK and overseas.  In both 1978 & 1979 he was a senior member and trainer of the US Army Grand Prix winning team at the National Restaurant Show in Chicago.

He is a trained and qualified assessor and an experienced international culinary judge who has judged at local, national and international levels including at the Culinary Olympics and Culinary World Cup.  The highlight of his judging career was being invited to judge at the World Association of Chefs Societies inaugural Global Chefs Challenge in Dubai. He has been Vice-Chairman of Judges at both Hotelympia and Hospitality and Chairman of Judges at the Armed Forces Salon Culinaire, Exercise JOINT CATERER an appointment he relinquished in 2022.

He is currently employed as the Trust and Fund Manager of the Army Catering Training Trust which manages the continuous professional development of Army chefs.

He is a Governor and Vice-President of the Craft Guild of Chefs and an Honorary member of the Emirates Culinary Guild.  He is a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Cooks and a member of the Reunion des Gastronomes.

He was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2013 for services to the Hotel and Catering Industry.