Clare Smyth

First Female Chef to Run a Restaurant with Three Michelin Stars in the UK, Former Chef Patron at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay & Named the World’s Best Female Chef by the World’s Best 50 Restaurants

Clare Smyth’s Biography:

Clare Smyth MBE is a trailblazing Northern Irish chef and the first British female to hold and retain three Michelin stars. As owner and co-founder of Core, she has redefined modern British fine dining and established herself as one of the most influential figures in global gastronomy. Clare is a compelling speaker because her career exemplifies excellence under pressure, leadership at the highest level and the discipline required to sustain world-class performance in a traditionally male-dominated industry.

Clare’s culinary journey began with rigorous classical training in some of the UK’s most respected kitchens, including Michelin House, The Waterside Inn, Gidleigh Park and the St Enodoc Hotel. Rising through the ranks from commis chef to sous chef and then head chef, her technical precision and leadership potential quickly became clear. In 2002, Gordon Ramsay offered Clare a position at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, and in 2004, she was appointed Head Chef, becoming the first woman in the UK to run a three-Michelin-starred restaurant. She later broadened her international experience at Alain Ducasse’s Le Louis XV before returning to London.

In 2017, Clare opened Core, her first restaurant, which rapidly achieved critical acclaim and three Michelin stars under her sole leadership. Her work has been recognised with numerous honours, including the Cateys Chef of the Year Award in 2016, Michelin Female Chef of the Year in 2017 and a perfect score of 10 from the Good Food Guide. She has also been named the Good Food Guide’s National Chef of the Year and appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to hospitality.

Alongside her restaurant work, Clare is a familiar face to television audiences, appearing regularly on programmes such as MasterChef and Saturday Kitchen. Widely respected for her calm authority and exacting standards, she continues to shape the future of British cuisine while mentoring the next generation of chefs.

Why Hire Clare Smyth?

Clare is hired as a speaker for her exceptional insight into high performance, leadership and sustained excellence. Drawing on her experience running a three-Michelin-starred restaurant, she speaks with authority on resilience, team culture and precision under pressure. Her talks resonate across corporate and creative sectors, offering rare perspectives on maintaining standards at the very top while building inclusive, high-functioning teams.

Clare Smyth’s Career Highlights:

Here are some of the key milestones that define Clare Smyth’s inspirational career in broadcasting and media:

• 2025 – Winner of the Special Award by the Craft Guild of Chefs
• 2021 – Her restaurant was awarded three Michelin Stars, making her the first female chef in the UK to run a three-star restaurant
• 2018 – Named the World’s Best Female Chef by the World’s Best 50 Restaurants
• 2017 – Opened her own restaurant Core
• 2016 – Won the Chef Award at the Catey Awards
• 2015 – Awarded a perfect 10 by the Good Food Guide
• 2013 – Awarded an MBE
• 2013 – Good Food Guides ‘National Chef of the Year’
• 2012 – Named Chef Patron at Restaurant Gordon Ramsey
• 2007 – Named Head Chef of Restaurant Gordon Ramsey