Gold Service Scholarship announces 2018 semi-finalists
The group were whittled down from over 100 entrants who were assessed over two days by 20 judges in London last month.
The Queen herself is patron of the scholarship, which recognises front-of-house skills, and presented the awards in 2016.
The 2018 winner’s prize includes a three-day stage during a State Visit at Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle, as well as PR and marketing training.
The 32 semi-finalists will go on to compete in the semi-finals at Rosewood London on 21 November.
Just eight candidates will make it to the final, where they’ll be tested on everything from their service skills to wine knowledge, ahead of the 2018 winner being announced in February in a ceremony at Claridge’s hotel.
The Gold Service Scholarship is one of a number of awards launched to raise the profile of front-of-house careers in recent years, including Fred Siriex’s National Waiters’ Day.
Chairman of the judges Edward Griffiths was impressed with the level of skill witnessed at the early stage of the competition.
“An amazing array of talent delighted us all, with keen candidates hailing all over the country,” says Griffiths. “2018 is going to be an excellent vintage for the Gold Service Scholarship!”
The 2017 winner was Stephanie Beresforde, formerly of Rick Stein’s Seafood Restaurant, who began working as restaurant manager at Jean-Georges at The Connaught in August.
For more information on The Gold Service Scholarship click here.
The 2018 semi-finalists are as follows:
• Adina Antofie, assistant restaurant manager at Coq d’Argent, London
• Catarina Caldeira, head waitress at Langshott Manor, Surrey
• Jeannie Doherty, supervisor at the Savoy, London
• Laudy Gibba-Smith, head waitress at L’Enclume, Cumbria
• Piers Gibson-Birch, junior assistant restaurant manager at the Wernher restaurant at Luton Hoo hotel
• Morag Hamilton, steward at Royal Air Force, Lincoln
• Christopher Hurle, head waiter at Jean-Georges at the Connaught, London
• Claudio Introzzi, restaurant manager at Heddon Street Kitchen, London
• Alexander Jagne, brasserie manager at Lucknam Park, Chippenham
• Sebastian Koewius, assistant room service manager at the Corinthia hotel, London
• Christian Köhle, head waiter at Fera at Claridge’s, London
• Tomas Kubart, assistant general manager at the Coach, Buckinghamshire
• Giuseppe Laboragine, assistant restaurant manager at the Greenhouse, London
• Silvia Lisanti, waitress at the Collins Room at the Berkeley, London
• Philip Littlewood, chef de rang at Northcote Manor, Lancashire
• Mariano Gabriele Ruiu, waiter at the Fat Duck, Berkshire
• Sarah May Coward, senior footman of the Glass Pantry at the Royal Household, London
• George McGettigan, floor manager at 45 Park Lane, Dorchester Collection, London
• Javier Melendo, senior waiter at Sexy Fish, London
• Maura Milia, junior assistant bar manager at the Connaught, London
• Aidan Monk, restaurant supervisor at Four Seasons Ten Trinity Square, London
• Alex Pern, assistant restaurant manager at the Star Inn, North Yorkshire
• Beatriz Pinto Da Silva, butler at the Savoy, London
• Millie Povey, chef de rang at Core by Clare Smyth, London
• Charlotte Poynton, sommelier and assistant restaurant manager at the Three Chimneys, Isle of Skye
• Samin Pun, head waiter at Sexy Fish, London
• Eugenio Simonelli, junior maitre d’hotel at Le Gavroche, London
• Alexandra Spatar, assistant restaurant manager at the Woodspeen restaurant and cookery school, Berkshire
• Michael Staub, floor manager at the Rosewood, London
• Alex Sumerauer, first waiter at the Ritz, London
• Alex Usovs, lounge and bar restaurant manager at D&D London, London
• David Wallace, floor manager at the Rosewood, London
