Semi-finalists for The Gold Service Scholarship 2023 revealed

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The Gold Service Scholarship has announced the list of candidates who have reached the semi-final stage of its 2023 competition.

Following two quarter final assessment days held at the Langham Hotel and at Hotel Café Royal, 41 candidates will take part in the semi-final, which will be held on 14 November at Rosewood London.

The Final of the competition will take place on 16 January at Corinthia London with the winner set to be announced at an awards reception at Claridge’s on 15 February.

The organisers say the variety of entrants has been particularly impressive this year, with candidates from many of the UK’s most prestigious establishments, representing a range of five-star hotels, restaurants and The Royal Household.

Venues represented include BiBi, Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, L’Enclume, Core by Clare Smyth and Hélène Darroze at The Connaught. 

“We have been delighted to see a high level of entries, despite continued challenges in the industry, and the quality of entrants has again surpassed our expectation,” says chair of judges Edward Griffiths. 

“As a result, we are seeing a record number of talented young professionals reach the semi-final stage. The spread of entries from across the country is also heart-warming, and we now have the difficult task of selecting eight very worthy winning finalists in January.”

Launched in 2012, The Gold Service Scholarship exists to inspire, educate and nurture the UK’s finest young front-of-house talent.

Led by a group of the industry’s most senior figures, the annual competition is open to individuals aged 22-28 who work full-time in front of house food and beverage service in the UK hospitality industry - and who wish to hone their craft and further their careers under the mentorship and guidance of the trustees, judges and ambassadors of the Gold Service Scholarship.

The list of semi-finalists

Luca Aloisi, head waiter, Il Borro

Zilbehar Asani, restaurant supervisor, The Lanesborough

Charlotte Bailey, fine dining head waiter, Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons

Arline Bronkhorst, floor manager, BiBi Restaurant

Diana Caruntu, restaurant manager, Hotel Café Royal 

Luca Cavazzoni, restaurant supervisor, The Rosebery, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park

Roberto Chaves, assistant bar manager, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park

Scott Crowe, chef de rang, Number One, Balmoral Hotel

Giulia d’Angelo, waitress and sommelier, Trivet 

Florian David, head waiter, The Waterside Inn

Laëticia Decure, restaurant supervisor, The Dorchester

Fanny Descourts, assistant manager, Savoy Grill by Gordon Ramsay

Romy Diplexcito, head waiter, Restaurant Andrew Fairlie, Gleneagles

Bradley Earland, assistant restaurant manager, Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa

Davide Esposito, assistant restaurant manager, The Ned 

Valentino Galdi, chef de rang, Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons

Vivien Gyulai, assistant restaurant manager, The Woodspeen Restaurant

Tom Hanlon, restaurant manager, Northcote

Etienne Harding, assistant restaurant manager, The Goring Hotel

Rachel Harvey, management trainee, Rosewood Hotel London

Jupiter Humphrey-Bishop, footman, The Royal Household, Buckingham Palace

Lucas Kelly, food and beverage supervisor, South Lodge Hotel & Spa

Ryan Kenyon, restaurant manager, Coast Saundersfoot

Max Lawrence, assistant restaurant manager, L’Enclume

Daniela Mayer, assistant restaurant manager, Strathearn Restaurant, Gleneagles

Emilie Monte, lounge supervisor, Corinthia London

Mario Paglia, food and beverage manager, Baglioni Hotels & Resorts

Andrea Perissinotto, Restaurant Supervisor, Galvin at Windows

Daniel Price, assistant restaurant manager, The Lanesborough Grill, The Lanesborough

Alana Quigley, assistant restaurant manager, Gleneagles

Alex Ranzetta, assistant restaurant manager, Royal Exchange Bar & Restaurant, Fortnum & Mason

Kevin Ricou, head waiter, The Ritz London

Beth Sampson, junior assistant restaurant manager, L’Enclume 

Paolo Scialpi, bar supervisor, Connaught Bar, The Connaught

Ashton Smith, manager trainee, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park

Mélina Soulavie, sommelier, Hélène Darroze at The Connaught

Alice Taraschi, bars deputy manager, Claridge’s

Lupo Thoenes, head sommelier, Hélène Darroze at The Connaught

Robin Tola, head waiter, Hélène Darroze at The Connaught

Lynn van Logtestijn, head waiter, Core by Clare Smyth 

Jade Walker, head waiter, The Ritz London