Rob Hartwell of the Rose & Crown in Warwick scooped the accolade at the ceremony at Wembley Stadium.
CGC chief executive Martin Bates received a rare Honorary Award for services to the Guild.
The award winners were chosen for outstanding cooking, innovation and initiative in each sector.
“To win a Craft Guild of Chefs award, you have to be more than just handy in the kitchen, you need that extra, stand-out ingredient,” said CGC vice president Steve Munkley. “Every winner in this year’s awards can lay claim to this and thoroughly deserves their place in the association’s hall of fame.”
Gary Witchalls of the Mole Inn, Toot Baldon, Oxfordshire, and Jean-Philippe Bidart of the Milbrook Inn, South Pool, Devon, were also shortlisted for the Pub Restaurant Chef Award.