Buckingham Palace footman Jupiter Humphrey-Bishop wins 2023 Gold Service Scholarship

It is the first time the high profile front of house competition has been won by a competitor from outside the hotel and restaurant industry. 

Charlotte Bailey, fine dining head waiter at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, and Robin Tola, head waiter at Hélène Darroze at The Connaught, were recognised as Commended Winning Finalists. 

A total of eight young front of house professionals​​ competed at Corinthia London on 15 January with the results announced last night (15 February) at Claridge's. 

“Huge congratulations to such a worthy 2023 Scholar and our two impressive commended winning finalists! Again, this year brought us such an impressive level of talent throughout the competition,” says chairman of judges Edward Griffiths. 

“In celebrating the achievements of all eight winning finalists, we also had an amazing number of Semi Finalists, whose level of skills were so close to our final eight. It is commendable to see the continued growth in talent in service, and an endorsement to the career opportunities in this great profession.”

Chairman of the trustees Alastair Storey added: “Having just marked a decade of celebrating the phenomenal talent who have engaged with The Gold Service Scholarship, I am increasingly proud to work in this industry. I am also, however, one of many who has concerns for our future workforce, and therefore want to wholeheartedly encourage young people to join our dynamic industry, and to recognise that a career in hospitality is rewarding, fascinating, fun, and challenging.”

“This year’s group of candidates, and especially the Winning Finalists, will play their own part as mentors to encourage, endorse and even recruit into hospitality roles – they are the future leaders.”

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 supporters of The Gold Service Scholarship.