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A leading culinary event that would have attracted the world’s best chefs to compete in Wales in October has been cancelled due to the global pandemic.

With Covid restrictions continuing to impact countries around the world, the Culinary Association of Wales (CAW) said it had no choice put to pull the Worldchefs Global Chefs Challenge, scheduled for the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport from October 23-26.

The established event comprises three competitions and chefs were set to fly in from countries worldwide. However, due to travel and quarantine rules in their own countries, many finalists and jury members were forced to withdraw, potentially leaving only European chefs to compete in a downgraded competition.

The CAW said the decision was taken in discussions with partners, the Celtic Manor Resort and its adjoining ICC Wales venue, the Welsh Government and professional conference organiser Worldspan.

CAW president Arwyn Watkins, said: “It is very disappointing because the Culinary Association of Wales and our partners have made a significant investment in resources and time to host this prestigious global competition.

“However, with the possibility that the competition would not run as intended, due to the global impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, it was not something that we are were prepared to support and underwrite. We set out to host the postponed Global Chefs Challenge Final 2020 and not a lesser, alternative competition.

“The only positive news is that we have received an assurance from Worldchefs president Thomas Gugler that the three Welsh chefs who were due to compete at the Global Chefs Challenge Final will now be allowed to compete when the event is held at the Worldchefs Congress in Abu Dhabi in May 2022.”

Mr Gugler said: “We as an organisation realise the hard work that has already gone into this project and the massive time and effort that your committee has put into this event to make it a great success.