Clare grew up on a farm in County Antrim, Northern Ireland and is the first British female chef to win three Michelin stars.
Since moving to England at the age of 16, she has worked with an uncompromising devotion to her craft, training in some of the most celebrated kitchens in the world. In her time as Chef Patron at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in Hospital Road, her many awards included 10/10 in the Good Food Guide, five AA rosettes and an MBE for services to the hospitality industry.
Clare opened Core in 2018 which secured two Michelin stars in the 2019 Michelin guide and three Michelin stars in 2021. The restaurant also ranked the highest in La List 2022 and was awarded the Best Gastronomic Experience in the 2023 Harden’s Guide.
In November 2021 Clare opened Oncore by Clare Smyth in Sydney Australia which was awarded three hats in the 2022 Good Food Guide Australia. This made Clare only the second chef in history to hold both three Michelin and three hats at the same time. Clare’s latest project includes Corenucopia, a luxury bistro set to open in Chelsea London in November 2025.
Clare’s other accolades include: Craft Guild of Chefs Special Award 2025, Cateys Independent Restaurateur 2023, World’s 50 Best Female Chef 2018, Michelin Female Chef 2017 and Cateys Chef of the Year 2016.
Clare was appointed President of Bocuse d’Or Team UK in 2023, following two years as International Chef Ambassador. Clare represented the UK as Honorary President at the Bocuse d’Or Europe in 2020.
