In addition to being a cooking competition, The Great British Menu (GBM) is a platform for chefs to demonstrate their culinary storytelling, inventiveness, and artistry. Amber Francis returns to the competition in 2025, not only to establish herself but also to raise awareness of sustainability, education, and food.
Amber is back, representing the South West with an unwavering dedication to using food as a tool for change, after just missing out on the final stages of GBM Series 18. Her menu, which is very intimate and influenced by the best teachers in Britain, seeks to emphasize the value of education, mentoring, and neighborhood-based projects.
Amber Francis: Culinary Profile & Background
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Amber Francis |
| Region Represented | South West, UK |
| Current Role | Food Educator & Private Chef |
| Past Experience | The Ritz, The Dairy, The Zebra Riding Club |
| Awards | Young Chef of the Year 2022 (British Restaurant Awards) |
| Culinary Specialty | Sustainable, community-focused cuisine |
| Great British Menu Theme Inspiration | Celebrating Britain’s greatest educators |
| Previous GBM Appearance | Series 18 (Just missed the judges’ chamber) |
| @AmberFrancisChef |
📺 Watch Great British Menu 2025 on BBC iPlayer , Amberfrancis.co.uk
A Chef’s Path: From School Lunchrooms to Michelin Kitchens
Amber Francis is not your average chef at a fine dining establishment. Amber’s goal goes beyond restaurants, even though many GBM competitors aspire to earn Michelin stars.
Prior to working under Robin Gill at renowned eateries like The Dairy and Bermondsey Larder, she received formal training at The Royal Academy of Culinary Arts and honed her classical skills at The Ritz.
However, she made a daring career change in 2023 by leaving the upscale dining industry to work as a food educator at Christ’s College Finchley as part of the Chefs in Schools Program. Her objective? to guarantee that young children grow to love real, wholesome, and sustainable food.
According to Amber, “food is more than just fuel—it’s culture, history, and a tool for empowerment.” “Cooking should not be taught as a luxury but as a life skill.”
She stands out from competitors who are only interested in fine dining thanks to her love of teaching and cooking with a community focus, which makes her an unprecedented contender on GBM 2025.
GBM 2025: An Offering Honoring Teachers
In keeping with this year’s Great British Menu theme, which honors Great Britons, Amber’s menu pays homage to the visionaries, mentors, and influential educators who helped to shape the educational landscape of Britain.
Respecting British Teachers 👩🏫 Amber’s recipes are inspired by historical figures who revolutionized education, such as Sir Ken Robinson, a global supporter of creativity in education, and Mary Wollstonecraft, a pioneer in women’s education.
🌿 Using Sustainability as an Educational Instrument In addition to recognizing educators, Amber’s recipes highlight sustainable, locally sourced ingredients, reaffirming her conviction that environmental responsibility and food education should coexist.
📚 A Plate-Based Lesson Anticipate lighthearted yet provocative dishes that evoke the nostalgia of the classroom, perhaps with elements such as chalkboard patterns, ideas for school lunches, or a scholarly take on British classics.
The Reasons Amber Francis Is a Star in GBM 2025
🔥 A Story with Depth: GBM loves chefs who infuse their cuisine with personal tales. Amber has a strong, significant advantage because of her dedication to sustainability and food education.
🌍 Using Food to Promote Change Amber is a distinctive, purpose-driven competitor because, in contrast to chefs who concentrate on Michelin-style gastronomy, her work focuses on using food as a vehicle for social transformation.
🍎 A Banquet Dish Inspired by Schools? Is there a way to make a traditional school lunch more elegant? A dismantled flavor textbook? It will be interesting to observe how Amber manages to combine innovation and nostalgia.
🥇 Unfinished Business: Amber is back stronger, more focused, and determined to secure her place at the final banquet following her near-miss in Series 18.
What Will Happen to Amber After GBM?
Amber’s influence on British cooking is already being felt well beyond the competition, regardless of how she does on Great British Menu 2025.
Amber, a Food Education Advocate, is still working with the Chefs in Schools Program to make sure kids in the UK know where food comes from and how to prepare it properly.
🌱 Sustainability Pioneer: She is influencing the direction of British dining and demonstrating that everyone, not just the wealthy, should have access to delicious, sustainable food.
Motivating the Upcoming Generation One meal at a time, Amber is changing the way people in the UK view food through her advocacy for improved school meals, media work, and mentoring.
Will Amber Be Selected for the Great British Menu 2025?
Amber Francis is a force for change in the UK’s culinary scene in addition to being a chef. Her return to GBM is about more than just atonement; it’s about demonstrating the transformative, enlightening, and inspiring potential of food.
In addition to making it to the final banquet, Amber has the ability to change the definition of what it means to be a top-tier chef in Britain today thanks to her technical proficiency, compelling storytelling, and unwavering sense of purpose.
🔥 Watch Amber’s journey on Great British Menu 2025 on BBC Two and iPlayer starting on January 28.
