An Edinburgh celebrity chef is in the running for a major award - up against famous chefs from around the UK.

Restaurant Online released its 'Chef of the Year' shortlist for the National Restaurant Awards 2025 and Edinburgh's own Roberta Hall-McCarron made the exclusive six-person list.

She is up against heavy-hitting chefs from around the UK such as Mark Birchall of Moor Hall - a three-Michelin Star eatery in Lancashire - and Kim Ratcharoen, who runs Gordon Ramsay's three-star London restaurant.

Roberta made her mark on Edinburgh’s culinary scene with her early work at The Tower Restaurant, formerly located in the National Museum, the Balmoral Hotel, and the Castle Terrace, as well as working alongside Tom Kitchin at The Kitchin - a Michelin-star restaurant in Leith.

She made a splash in Edinburgh's fine dining world after opening The Little Chartoom, a Michelin-guide Leith restaurant and wine bar which "ranges from subtle to bold flavours while always retaining a keen sense of balance", according to the Guide.

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Roberta also co-runs restaurants Eleanor and Ardfern on Bonnington Road, rounding out a her prolific portfolio and garnering national fame.

Restaurant Online says Roberta transitioned "seamlessly" to more casual ventures in her more recent ventures Eleanor and Ardfern.

The celebrity chef has appeared on BBC's Great British Menu. The multi-hyphenate has also released a debut cookbook in 2024 called The Changing Tides which offers recipes that utilise Scottish produce such as game, fish, wild mushrooms, and berries.

The winner of the coveted Chef of the Year award will be announced at the National Restaurant Awards on June 9.

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