North Hertfordshire College welcomed special guests to our Hitchin campus for the grand reopening of our student-run restaurant, The Meadows, following an extensive redesign. The renovations have been funded by a generous award of £75,000 from the Savoy Educational Trust and will allow students across NHC’s Hospitality & Catering courses to access industry-standard facilities from the start of their study programmes.
The reopening event saw representatives from across the hospitality sector join staff, students, and local councillors for a celebration of the investment in local talent and young people’s development. Amongst our valued guests were chef Cyrus Todiwala OBE (owner of Café Spice Namaste and co-founder of Zest Quest Asia), Jason Morrison (Managing Director of Riso Gallo), and Paul Gayler MBE (cookery author and ex-chef).
As well as showcasing the new facilities in the restaurant, the launch also provided an opportunity for students to gain practical experience of preparing and serving a seasonal tasting menu in a formal reception setting. Core themes at the heart of the menu include sustainability and culinary excellence, reflecting the values the restaurant and department will incorporate in future teaching sessions and dining experiences.
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Anthony Gascoigne, Catering tutor and Course Team Leader at North Hertfordshire College, said: “The restaurant relaunch menu is a testament to the future skills that the students will develop throughout the year. It places a strong emphasis on seasonality by incorporating fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Additionally, the menu showcases sustainability through creative ingredient use, demonstrating an awareness of environmental responsibility. This menu not only tantalizes the taste buds, but also leaves a positive impact on both diners and the planet.”
The menu and service certainly went down a treat with our guests – check out some of their feedback!
Paul Gayler MBE – Cookery Author and ex-chef
“Thank you to the whole team for a wonderful night at the College. The whole team across the board from kitchen to front-facing did a fantastic job, a truly fitting start for the new Meadows restaurant. Please pass on my personal thanks and congratulations to the whole team for a superb job – they all did the event proud!”
Julia Sibley MBE – Savoy Educational Trust
“Huge congratulations for yesterday! Hard to believe some were first years who have only just started on their journeys, and how lovely to watch the third years really helping, guiding, and supporting them. The food was delicious and beautifully presented. What a difference the facilities have made.”
Richard Russums – Russums Catering Clothing & Equipment
“Thank you to all the team and students for your hospitality, it was a very enjoyable evening and extremely good first service of the year! I was pleased to see how smart the new restaurant is, it’s quite a change and a great representation of the high standards you all attain.”
The successful reopening sets a good precedent for the rest of the academic year. The Meadows not only offers amazing opportunities to our students, but also offers themed evenings and exclusive dining experiences for our local community. The enhanced skills our Hospitality & Catering students develop on their courses also further supports the local area, as many of our learners start their careers with local hospitality establishments.
Kit Davies, Principal of North Hertfordshire College, commented: “We are delighted to have received this funding for the refurbishment of the student-run restaurant. The Catering and Hospitality team work so hard to develop the skills, understanding, and aspirations of our students which has continually put them at the forefront of training and competitions within the local and national arena. With this additional funding, we are able to build on their skills and talents within these fantastic new facilities and we cannot wait to see the breadth of opportunities this provides for our future catering and hospitality superstars.”
Angela Maher, Chief Executive of the Savoy Educational Trust, said: “The main aim of the Savoy Educational Trust is the advancement and development of education and learning within the hospitality industry. The practical side of learning from an early age is a fundamental contributor to the success of future hospitality professionals, so being able to support North Hertfordshire College within this training kitchen project is something we and the Board of Trustees felt would be hugely beneficial.”
If you are looking for your own taste of luxury and a fine-dining experience to remember, The Meadows will be offering themed evenings throughout the academic year which are open to public bookings. More information can be found on The Meadows’ webpage.