Gold Service Scholarship announces 2016 Regional Finalists

The scholarship rewards the best front-of-house personnel in the country with the winner going on to receive support from those at the top-end of the industry, amongst other prizes.

The 2016 Regional Finalists include 2015 runner-ups Lukas Andr of Sexy Fish and Nicholas Winfield of Raymond Blanc’s Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons, as well as staff from Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, Buckingham Palace and The Ritz.

Twenty-four Finalists are invited to attend the Regional Finals where they will be required to complete a series of service tasks and will be judged by a panel of industry professionals.

Gold Service Reward Trip: Bordeaux 2015​​

Edward Griffiths, chairman of the judges panel, said: “Once again, the quality of the candidates has improved, and the task of selection has been all the more challenging. We have therefore increased the number of Regional Finalists from 20 to 24, to enable as many of the talented entrants to participate in the next stage.”

Alastair Storey, chairman of the trustees and chairman of BaxterStorey, said: “We have had a record number of entrants to this year’s competition, with entries from across the hospitality industry from those working in hotels, restaurants, pubs, foodservice and the Armed Forces. We are looking forward to the next stage of the competition and seeing the Regional Finalists take part in the challenges at the end of this month.”

Regional finalist list in full​

·         Paula Sobusiak - The Capital Hotel

·         Christoph Schrottenbaum - Dinner by Heston Blumenthal

·         Tom Noller – Sexy Fish

·         Andreea Albert - Morgans Hotel Group – Mondrian London

·         Amelia Thornhill - The King’s Head, Hampshire

·         Jennifer Santner - Sky Garden

·         Nico Ante - Bistro Hotel du Vin, Birmingham

·         Kate Turton - The Latymer, Pennyhill Park, Surrey

·         James Parums - Buckingham Palace

·         Charlie Lee - Fera at Claridge’s

·         Lukas Andr - Sexy Fish, London

·         Thomas Borghi - The Ritz

·         Sophia Warland - RAF Odiham

·         Travis Powell - Langshott Manor, Horley

·         Stephanie Beresforde - Scott’s Restaurant

·         Robin Roux - Hotel du Vin & Bistro, Birmingham

·         Judit Balonka - The Vineyard at Stockcross, Newbury

·         Lewis Dixon - Northcote Manor, Langho

·         Innes Haywood - L’Enclume, Cumbria

·         Gabriela Murea - Opus Restaurant, Birmingham

·         Dimitar Tanev - Mr Coopers House and Garden, Q Hotels Services Ltd, Manchester

·         Nicholas Winfield - Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons, Oxford