One of Scotland’s top chefs has earned his place in the grand final of the BBC cooking show, Great British Menu.
Orry Shand, from Ellon in Aberdeenshire, will be representing Scotland at the banquet on Friday 24 April from 9pm on BBC2 on iPlayer.
Orry’s highest-scoring starter, ‘The Night Crawler’, will now take pride of place on the banquet menu at St George’s Hall in Liverpool, after impressing the judges with his movie-inspired creation.
This year’s competition theme is British movies and filmmakers. Orry’s starter takes its inspiration from Alan Cumming’s character Night Crawler in the X-MEN film, X2. Orry focuses on Nightcrawler’s teleporting in a puff of smoke and ability to camouflage within the dish.
Orry’s winning dish is a charcoal potato dumpling filled with creamed truffled Scottish girolles; charred spring onions and herbs; along with a cashew nut cream condiment; crispy polenta; and a potato crisp finished with onion ash.
‘The Night Crawler’ is also served with a black truffle puree; fresh black truffle; baked baby ruby beetroots dressed in a coal oil and sherry vinaigrette; pickled beetroot stems; charred verjus onions and pickled walnut ketchup.
Orry will now represent Scotland and cook his dish for leading figures from the UK film industry at the historic Liverpool venue, which also serves as a notable filming location itself.
Orry said:
“It’s a huge career highlight for me to be representing Scotland at the banquet. I’ve enjoyed every moment of the Great British Menu experience and have made some great friends along the way.
“Earning my place at the banquet final in Liverpool is just the icing on the cake. I can’t wait to recreate my dish one more time and get the opportunity to meet some of the UK’s leading film industry figures.”
2026 is set to be an even bigger year for Orry. Scotland’s former National Chef of the Year is also gearing up to open his first independent restaurant in Royal Deeside this summer.
Orry is taking over the former Falls of Feugh restaurant, near Banchory. Inspired by its dramatic riverside location, the restaurant has now been renamed and will now be known as Falls by Orry Shand.
Orry added:
“We’re another step closer to opening the doors to the restaurant this summer, as work on the venue continues to progress.
“Rooted in Royal Deeside, Falls by Orry Shand will celebrate local produce and the region’s distinctive character. A set multi course tasting menu of up to 12 to 15 servings will blend Scottish ingredients with Nordic inspiration and classic French cooking techniques.
“We’re already looking forward to welcoming our first guests and have just opened online reservations this week.”
Falls by Orry Shand is located at Bridge of Feugh, near Banchory, which is around 20 miles from Aberdeen.
The restaurant will be open for dinner four nights per week from Wednesday to Saturday from Wednesday 15 July 2026.
Advance restaurant reservations are now open online. To make a reservation and to sign up for news and updates for Falls by Orry Shand, go to fallsbyos.com
Stay Tuned to Great British menu this week to see how Orry gets on with his other dishes on BBC2 & iPlayer.
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Follow Falls by Orry Shand on Instagram at www.instagram.com/fallsbyos
Follow Orry Shand on Instagram at www.instagram.com/oshand
