Acorn Award winner to represent Scotland on Great British Menu

Jun Au, chef-owner of modern Chinese restaurant Pomelo in Edinburgh, is set to appear on the BBC’s Great British Menu this week representing Scotland in the show’s 21st series.

Au, who received an Acorn Award last year, will cook with fellow Scottish representatives Rohan Wadke, chef at Cameron House, yacht chef Hannah Rose, and 2025 National Chef of the Year Orry Shand, who is set to open his first restaurant Falls this summer in Banchory, Aberdeenshire.

Speaking to The Caterer, Au said that representing Scotland “was a great honour”.

He added: “When I first got asked if I was up for a call with one of the producers, it was a crazy moment. I really didn’t think anything much of it after my interview and my screen test, because I was still thinking, ‘Oh, you know, there are so many more prestigious chefs in Scotland that may stand out’. But when I got told that I would be on the series, it was a crazy moment.”

The 28-year-old chef said the shoot days were “intense” and “tiring”, with filming sometimes starting at 6am, and not wrapping up until 10 to 12 hours later.

Giving a bit of insight into the shoot days, Au said: “I didn’t expect [the days] to be so tiring and draining. It’s not just you’re trying to cook to a very high standard, but it’s also about being very presentable on camera to make sure that, when you get interviewed, you’re saying the right things, as well as trying to get your presentation right for certain dishes. There were a lot of other things that we didn’t think would tire us, but it was a great experience. I really enjoyed my time there.”

The Great British Menu, which returned to BBC Two last week, will see 32 chefs from across Britain and Northern Ireland have the opportunity to cook at a banquet celebrating the British film industry at St George’s Hall in Liverpool, which features as Gotham City Hall in The Batman (2022), starring actor Robert Pattinson.

Chefs Tom Kerridge, Lorna McNee and presenter Andi Oliver are joined by comedian and new judge Phil Wang, who takes over from Ed Gamble.

There is still time to get your Acorn Award nominations in

With just 24 hours left to nominate your rising star for The Caterer’s 2026 Acorn Awards, time is ticking to get your entries in now.

So, if you’re thinking about entering yourself or nominating a colleague, there are only three criteria for nominees: they must work in the hospitality industry; be under the age of 30 on 8 June 2026; and be available for the winners’ weekend which will take place at Swinton Estate in North Yorkshire on Sunday 7 and Monday 8 June 2026.