Semi-finalists for The Gold Service Scholarship 2023 revealed
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
