The Bailliage’s 2026 National Young Sommelier of the Year Competition culminated in a prestigious awards dinner at the Cadogan Hotel, London. The event was marked by anticipation, highlighting the talent and passion of emerging professionals in the hospitality industry.

Kamila Blaszczyk, Deputy Head Sommelier at Celeste in London’s Notting Hill, was crowned the winner. Her victory secures her a place to represent Chaîne GB at the 2026 International Final of the Jeunes Sommeliers Competition in Båstad, Sweden, this October.

The competition also recognized Thomas Walker from Estelle Manor in Chilterns, who finished Runner-up, and Barnaby Lewis from Cornus in London City, who secured Third Place.

Notably, Barnaby Lewis received the Gerard Basset Tasting Trophy* for his outstanding performance in the tasting section of the competition.

The evening was further enriched by Johan de Sousa from The Savoy, who recently represented Chaîne GB at the International Final of the Jeunes Chefs Rôtisseurs Competition in Istanbul, Türkiye. Johan joined The Cadogan’s kitchen team to assist in preparing the dinner, exemplifying the camaraderie and dedication among young professionals.

General Manager Russell Platt, Maître Hôtelier, and Executive Chef Michael Turner led the event, which showcased the passion and talent of the new generation.

Reflecting on this year’s National Final, Échanson Tristan Mason Smith commented that 2026 was “a year where the passion that these young professionals show for their trade, shone through.”

Darryl Thompson
Chancelier

* The Gerard Basset Tasting Trophy
The Trophy is given to the young sommelier scoring the highest marks in the blind tasting and food matching sections of the GB National finals of the Jeunes Sommeliers Competition.

Gerard Basset, who died in January 2019, held both the titles of Master of Wine and Master Sommelier, and was named ‘world’s best sommelier’ in 2010. Bailli Délégué Philip Evins said, ‘Gerard was a highly committed professional member of the Chaîne, who gave so much of his time to head up the judging panels year after year, and also mentor so many young sommeliers as they honed their skills’.