Louis Makepeace

Makepeace gained national attention in 2018 after he claimed Heart of Worcestershire College refused him a place on a cooking course due to his small height, claiming that he was a "health and safety hazard" and that he would cause "disruption" to the other fourteen students undertaking the course.[5] Makepeace's mother, Pauline, claimed that the college had told Louis that there was "no point" in him undertaking the course, as he would "never be allowed" to work in a busy commercial kitchen due to being too small.[5]

Makepeace had branded the incident involving him and the college as "highly humiliating", highlighting that the rejection from the college had highlighted his differences amongst others and had "embarrassed" him due to being too small and made him question his future aspirations to become a chef.[5] He claimed the college had told him that he was a risk to other students in case he "got under their feet" and "in their way" which Makepeace described as "really humiliating".[5][6]

After the controversy, Makepeace claimed that his confidence was badly damaged and felt that people "just stared and laughed" at him due to him being small, claiming that other people still thinks he is a small child, and pushes in front of him in queues. Makepeace claimed all he wanted is for him to be able to "do normal stuff" and not have people laughing at him because of his height.[5]

In response, the college rejected the claims made by Makepeace and his mother Pauline, and claimed that they had not discriminated against Makepeace because of his small stature. A spokesperson for the college said that after discussions with Makepeace, he had rejected a place on the course and that he told the college he no longer wished to study there.[7]

Following national publication over the controversy between Makepeace and the college due to his height, he received attention from celebrity chefs such as Gordon Ramsay who offered Makepeace an apprenticeship.[8] Ramsay said the way that Makepeace had been treated by the college was "disgusting" and that he would "offer him an apprenticeship any day"[9]

On 13 September 2018, Makepeace began working as a chef in the Michelin star restaurant Pied à Terre working alongside head chef Asimakis Chaniotis.[10]

In 2022, Makepeace starred in the BBC Three cooking competition Hungry For It. Prior to the show beginning, Makepeace said "tall or small, I am the same standard as anyone else in the kitchen".[2] His role on the show highlighted that a recent Accessibility in Hospitality survey suggested 71% of people believe more should be done to bring attention to the lack of accessibility for disabled people in the hospitality industry.[11] During his time on the show, Makepeace claimed a block had to be constructed by the production team to allow him to stand on in order to reach the countertops and stoves.[2]