Nigella Lawson and chef Tom Kerridge among the UK's most influential

The 2016 Debrett’s 500 most influential people in the UK list has landed featuring 20 people from the food and drink industry including Tom Kerridge.

Seven chefs made the list and these were:

Jason Atherton

Michelin starred chef, Jason Atherton, began his career working alongside Marco Pierre White and Gordon Ramsay before launching his own restaurant group, The Social Company. He later opened his flagship restaurant, Pollen Street Social in 2011 followed by Social Eating House in 2013 and later the Little Social in Mayfair. He more recently opened his first stateside restaurant, The Clocktower and his first ‘Social’ restaurant, Marina Social, in Dubai.

Heston Blumenthal

Heston is the owner of the Fat Duck, which he opened in 1995. It was awarded three Michelin stars in 2004 which it still holds to this day becoming one of only four restaurants in the UK to do so. In 2005 the restaurant won the Best Restaurant in the World Award. Heston also has a number of cookbooks and TV shows including Heston’s Great British Food. He also opened a café in Heathrow’s Terminal two and launched Dinner at the Mandarin Oriental in 2014.

Angela Hartnett

A former protégée of Gordon Ramsay, Angela is chef patron for Murano, and also owns Cafe Murano along with Merchants Tavern. In 2002 she became the first ever female chef at The Connaught Hotel. She began working with Limewood Hotel and head chef Luke Holder at the Hartnett Holder & Co restaurant in 2013 and opened a second Murano cafe in 2015.

Tom Kerridge

Tom is the chef patron at the world's first ever two Michelin star pub, The Hand and Flowers. The gatropub was awarded this distinction after gaining their second star in 2012. Tom is also a bestselling author with his books 'Proper Pub Food' and 'Tom’s Table' and has appeared on numerous television shows. He is also set to present a Great British Bake Off spin-off for professional chefs: Bake Off: Creme de la Creme.

Jamie Oliver

The Essex born chef and food campaigner rose to stardom in the 90's with his first television programme, the Naked Chef. He has since gone onto revolutionise the way children eat with his campaigning presenting David Cameron with his Obesity Strategy last year with the aim to reduce childhood obesity. Jamie is also known as the face of Sainsburys's and owns a successful chain of restaurants including Jamie’s Italian and Fifteen.  

Yotam Ottolenghi

Yotam is a chef, restaurant owner and cookbook writer. His books Plenty and Jerusalem both won awards including Best Cookbook. His passion for food came after taking a course at Cordon Bleu and he now has three Ottolenghi delis around London as well as his Soho restaurant, NOPI.  

Nigella Lawson

Nigella is best known for her bestselling cookery books and television programmes. She shot to celebrity status in the late 90's with her book, 'How to Eat' and the short-lived television show, 'How to be Domestic Godess'. Nigella initially carved out a career in journalism and has never had any official chef training.