Lisa Goodwin‑Allen is one of the most respected chefs in British hospitality and is Chef Patron‑Director of Michelin‑starred Northcote Hotel & Restaurant in Lancashire. She was named Food & Travel Reader Awards Chef of the Year 2023, CATEY Chef of the Year 2022 and AYALA SquareMeal Female Chef of the Year 2022, and holds a Fellowship of the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts, where she serves as Northern Chair.
Lisa has led the kitchen brigade at one Michelin‑starred Northcote since the age of 23, playing a defining role in the restaurant’s success for more than two decades. Following the acquisition of Northcote by Alf and Clare Ellis in 2025, her role formally evolved to Chef Patron‑Director, reflecting her long‑standing leadership of the kitchen and her involvement in shaping the future direction of the business.
Alongside her role at Northcote, Lisa also works as Culinary Director at The Beaumont Mayfair, where she launched the modern British restaurant Rosi in October 2025.
Lisa draws inspiration from the Ribble Valley landscape and the exceptional producers found across Lancashire and the North West. Her cooking is defined by seasonality, confident flavours and a deep respect for ingredients, combining refined technique with dishes that feel generous and grounded.
After joining Northcote at the age of 20, Lisa progressed rapidly through the kitchen brigade, becoming Chef de Partie after one year, Junior Sous Chef the following year and Head Chef at just 23. At the time, she was one of the youngest chefs to take on the role in a Michelin‑starred kitchen.
Since then, she has played a central role in maintaining Northcote’s Michelin Star, which the restaurant has held for over 25 years.
As well as creating menus, Lisa leads the kitchen team day‑to‑day, mentors young chefs, supports the commercial side of the business and fosters a positive, ambitious environment within the brigade.
Lisa is a familiar face on British television. She is a regular guest on James Martin’s Saturday Morning and BBC Morning Live, and has judged and mentored on MasterChef: The Professionals and Celebrity MasterChef.
She is perhaps best known for her long‑standing involvement with BBC One’s Great British Menu, where her cooking has earned multiple winning dishes. In 2020, Lisa won three courses on the Great British Menu Christmas Special, creating a banquet in honour of NHS staff and key workers during the Coronavirus pandemic – more than any other chef has achieved in a single series.
In November 2024, Lisa became the first female celebrity chef to lead the culinary experience in the luxurious East Wing at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.
She also made her debut at Royal Ascot in 2024, cooking at the Queen Anne Enclosure’s flagship Fine Dining Restaurant, and returned for the 2025 season.
Earlier in her career, Lisa cooked her winning dish of rabbit and leek turnover at a Great British Menu banquet served to HRH King Charles III while he was Prince of Wales.
Giving back to the industry is central to Lisa’s values. She plays an active role in training and developing the Northcote brigade, investing time daily in nurturing young talent and building long‑term careers in hospitality.
She has been involved with Springboard’s FutureChef programme, inspiring young people aged 12–16 to explore careers in food, and acts as a local hospitality ambassador for Blackburn College.
Nationally, Lisa was named Chair of Judges for the Craft Guild of Chefs Young National Chef of the Year competition (2022–2024) and is a judge for the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy, supporting emerging chefs on the international stage.
Lisa is also a long‑standing supporter of Hospitality Action, contributing to fundraising events and the Chefs at Home charity cookbook, and regularly supporting their work across the industry.
Her wider charitable involvement includes work with Blackburn Youth Zone, Lakeside Project, Eye Nepal and CSSG, reflecting her commitment to empowering young people and supporting communities.
During the first Coronavirus lockdown in March 2020, Lisa led the Northcote kitchen in preparing food boxes using surplus stock, donating them to local charities, hospitals and care facilities, with Lisa personally delivering many of the meals.
Lisa is Chef Ambassador for the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) and Taste Lancashire, using these platforms to champion British produce, rural food culture and the future of hospitality.
Outside the kitchen, Lisa enjoys spending time with her husband and young son, often cooking together at home. Parenthood has strengthened her belief in the importance of balance within the industry and reinforced her determination to create a positive, supportive environment for her team.
Northcote’s Chef Patron/Director, Lisa Goodwin-Allen, has embarked on an exciting consultancy with the prestigious Beaumont Mayfair in London, commencing in May 2025. This partnership will see Lisa work as Creative Director of The Beaumont alongside Executive Chef Brendan Fyldes in the launch of a new restaurant, Rosi, this autumn, and other upcoming projects.
Lisa shares her enthusiasm: “I am delighted to be collaborating with the exceptional team at The Beaumont Mayfair. I look forward to working alongside Brendan and his kitchen brigade to develop menus that celebrate seasonal and the finest British ingredients, as well as contributing to the hotel’s overall food and beverage direction. Together, we aim to create truly exceptional dining experiences for Beaumont guests.”
While this consultancy provides Lisa with a prominent presence in London, her commitment and leadership remain steadfast at Northcote in Lancashire.
Please direct all enquiries to Sales & Marketing Director Kaye Mathew
kaye.mathew@northcote.com
or call +441254 240555
or Kate Burke- Q Communications
kate@qcommunications.co.uk
