Lisa Goodwin-Allen
Lisa Goodwin-Allen | |
|---|---|
| Born | Lisa Allen April 29, 1981 |
| Occupation | Chef |
| Known for | Executive chef at Northcote, winner on Great British Menu |
Lisa Goodwin-Allen (née Lisa Allen; born 29 April 1981) is a prominent British chef, recognized primarily as the executive chef at the Michelin-starred establishment Northcote. She gained wider acclaim as one of the four victorious chefs in the fifth season of the BBC series Great British Menu.
Career
Allen initiated her culinary journey at Holbeck Ghyll located in Windermere, Cumbria, where she worked part-time while completing three National Vocational Qualifications in catering. Following this, she secured a full-time position at Le Champignon Sauvage in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, after finishing college.
At the age of 20 in 2001, Allen joined Northcote under the guidance of Nigel Haworth as a demi chef de partie, originally intending to remain for only a short period. Her rapid advancement saw her promoted to chef de partie within a year, then junior sous chef in 2003, sous chef the following year, and by 2004, at just 23 years old, she assumed the role of head chef with complete kitchen oversight.
In 2018, Allen successfully upheld Northcote's Michelin star status—a distinction maintained since 1996 during Haworth’s tenure before he transitioned into a chef ambassador role.
Her professional honors include being a finalist for the Roux Scholarship in 2006 and receiving Chef of the Year at the Northern Hospitality Awards in 2008. In 2010, she was the sole female contestant in the north-west heat of BBC’s Great British Menu, advancing to the final and winning with her dish featuring rabbit and leek turnover accompanied by piccalilli, which was served at a banquet hosted by Prince Charles. The following year, she earned the title of Restaurant Chef of the Year from the Craft Guild of Chefs.
Additionally, Allen served as a mentor during series 8 of MasterChef: The Professionals.
After dedicating more than twenty years to Northcote, it was announced in March 2025 that she would be leaving. Nevertheless, after Northcote was sold by Stafford Collection to Silkstone Finance in April 2025, she chose to rescind her departure and resumed leadership of the restaurant.
Personal life
Allen has an allergy to shellfish.
During The Christmas Great British Menu in 2020, she won three out of six courses presented at the final banquet held in tribute to NHS and key workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic.