Our hospitality and catering department is always busy in the Grove Training Kitchen and Restaurant on the second floor of the Knightstone Campus. Whether they’re making treats to sell around the College, or serving the public in the evening, they are always learning and improving their skills.

We’re taking a look back at the best guest chefs and experiences they’ve had over the last term…

Making canapés and serving front of house at Berwick Lodge

Our students were given a fantastic opportunity at the start of the year to serve front of house at an event at Berwick Lodge, and make canapés with head chef, Istvan Ulmann. They had a fantastic day, making a variety of dishes for a BBQ event and afternoon tea, and Istvan later returned to the College to deliver a guest session in our Grove Restaurant. Read the full story here.

Weston Wok from the College’s atrium

Back in February, a few of our Level 3 students decided to run their own Weston Wok lunch business from the Knightstone Campus atrium! They cooked lunch for paying members of the public, staff and students, fresh in front of them.

A vegetarian chef came for a visit

Elisabeth Guillén, Head Chef at The Gloucester Old Spot in Bristol, came in to lead a class of our Level 3 students. She taught them about traditional Spanish recipes with a vegetarian focus, creating some fantastic dishes and showing the diverse flavours you can create, even without meat! You can read the full story here.

Serving a party of 40 guests in the Grove Restaurant

The College recently held a special celebration for winning the Queen’s Anniversary Prize, so our hospitality and catering students worked hard throughout the day to make a three-course meal for all 40 VIPs. Everyone was thoroughly impressed with the food and all their hard work.

Working at the Cheltenham Festival

22 of our students attended the Cheltenham Festival to serve thousands of visitors over the week. They encountered a few famous faces while working in the Gold Cup Restaurant, Paddock Restaurant and The Sizzling Jack prepping food and serving front of house.

Find out more

If you’re interested in pursuing a career in hospitality and catering, we offer a range of courses and apprenticeships that can help you on your way! 

Click here to find out more...

On Monday 2nd July, Weston College’s Rolls-Royce apprentices took a trip to the famous RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. The apprentices are training to be aircraft engine fitters and this was a great opportunity for them to see up close the engines that Rolls-Royce produce on the airfield at an RAF base.

The students got to view an Airbus 330, an A400M and then had the privilege of going on board a Hercules C130J for a closer look! This gave them the chance to see the Rolls Royce engines in a real life situation. They also witnessed an Osprey aircraft doing some manoeuvres above the air field.

The students that visited the site have spent the first year at Weston College’s South West Skills Campus undertaking their Rolls-Royce Engineering Apprenticeships taking a mixture of academic subjects and hands on engineering workshop training. The College prides itself on delivering training specific to each company it works with and opportunities to visit places such as Brize Norton further enrich the students’ experience on their course.

Mick Jones, Aerospace Lecturer at Weston College said “All the students really enjoyed the trip and felt they had a greater appreciation of where all the work they do at Filton ends up, plus they could see first-hand why the quality of their work is so important! “

If you are interested in becoming a Rolls-Royce Apprentice please contact our Apprenticeship Team on 01934 411594 or click here to find out more.

Weston Town Council with Weston-super-Mare Civic Society have put up a plaque dedicated to architect Hans Fowler Price on the former School of Science and Art, in Lower Church Road, which is owned by Weston College. The plaque was unveiled on Monday 10th December 2018 at 12.00.

The building is one of many designed by Mr Price. As an architect he is responsible for much of Weston’s Victorian development. The Blakehay Theatre on Wadham Street which used to be a Baptist Church, also the Bristol Road Baptist Church, large parts of the Boulevard including the Mercury office, Walliscote School, and the former Library and Royal Hospital. He designed his own home in Trewartha Park where he died.

Hans Fowler Price (1835-1912) blue plaque was unveiled at Weston College by Dr Paul Phillips CBE Ph.D D.Litt Ed.D Principal and Chief Executive. Councillor John Crockford-Hawley who Chairs the Town Council's Museum Working Party and The Mayor of Weston-super-Mare were in attendance.

Dr Phillips commented; “This is a stunning Victorian architectural gem which has cost Weston College £1.64 million to completely refurbish.

“It was sensitively transformed in 2011 into a 21st century conference and event facility. Specialist stone masons, carpenters, joiners and engineers were drafted in to re-structure the cramped internal layout into large spacious rooms over three floors and replace all mechanical and electrical services.

“It was important the refurbishment was sympathetic to the original design and we have incorporated many original features. Stonework and tiling have been restored, while impressive stone pillars, archways, woodwork, roof beams and window handles have been retained. Hans Fowler Price was responsible for many treasures in the town during the Victorian era and we are delighted to own one of these properties and celebrate his work.”