Forty-eight hospitality professionals from across the UK – representing establishments from London to Stirlingshire, Cumbria to Devon – have been named semi-finalists in the 2026 Gold Service Scholarship, the country’s leading award recognising excellence in front-of-house service.
Drawn from the UK’s best restaurants, hotels, caterers and private members’ clubs, this year’s semi-finalists come from across the British hospitality sector.
Now in its thirteenth year, the Gold Service Scholarship continues to champion the craft of service and nurture the next generation of front-of-house leaders.
Each year, the competition identifies and recognises rising stars from all sectors of hospitality, offering unique training and educational opportunities.
“The Gold Service Scholarship has always celebrated the incredible people who make British hospitality world-class,” said Edward Griffiths CVO, Trustee and Chairman of the Judges. “This year’s semi-finalists reflect the extraordinary breadth of talent and dedication found across the UK – from boutique country hotels to London’s most celebrated dining rooms.”
The semi-finalists will now progress to the next stage of the competition, where they will take part in practical assessments to held at the Chancery Rosewood on 24th November before the finalists are selected later this year.
Last years scholar, Isabella Condon, from Dinner by Heston at the Mandarin Oriental, added: “The Scholarship changed my career by showing me what’s possible when skill and passion meet opportunity. It’s inspiring to see such a wide range of young professionals coming forward each year to represent our industry at its best.”
Founded in 2012, the Gold Service Scholarship exists to inspire the next generation of hospitality professionals in the art of service. Open to individuals aged 22–30 working in the UK hospitality industry, the Scholarship offers the Scholar and Winning Finalists a year of mentoring and learning experiences with industry leaders, including placements in some of the world’s most prestigious establishments.
The Scholarship is supported by a range of trustees, ambassadors, and sponsors representing the pinnacle of the hospitality profession, with past winners now holding senior roles in leading restaurants, hotels, and private clubs across the UK and beyond.
The 2026 Gold Service Scholarship Semi-Finalists:
(Listed alphabetically by first name)
Alejandro Nilo – Assistant Restaurant Manager, The Stafford London (London)
Anastasiia Novitska – Beverage Supervisor, Rosewood London (London)
Andrea Perissinotto – Assistant Restaurant Manager, The Lanesborough Grill (London)
Andreea Bercu – Events Operations Supervisor, Claridge’s Hotel (London)
Andrei-Sebastian Lixandru – Food & Beverage Manager, Cromlix (Stirlingshire)
Ashish Raj – Food and Beverage Supervisor, L’oscar London (London)
Bharathkumar Ravichandran – Restaurant Floor Manager, Estelle Manor (Oxfordshire)
Bianca Mesteru – Head Maître D’, Brown’s Hotel – A Rocco Forte Hotel (London)
Brendan Tierney – Chef de Rang, No1 Balmoral Hotel (Edinburgh)
Caoimhe Houston – Head Waiter, Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons (Oxfordshire)
Carmen Garcia Bogota – Restaurant Receptionist, The Ritz London (London)
Cristian Di Stefano – Head Waiter, The Grill at The Dorchester (London)
Cristian Nutt – ULP at Woven by Adam Smith, Coworth Park (Berkshire)
Daniel Johnson – Head Waiter, The Ritz London (London)
David Olah – Restaurant General Manager, Jumeirah Carlton Tower (London)
Diarmaid McDermott – Assistant Resident Manager, 100 Princes Street – Red Carnation Hotel Collection (Edinburgh)
Ellena Coglan – Head Waitress, Northcote Hotel (Lancashire)
Erin O’Connor – Head Waiter, The NoMad Hotel (London)
Evan Russell – Head Waiter, L’Enclume (Cumbria)
Fabrizia De Almeida Welman – Restaurant Manager, Britannic Explorer – A Belmond Train (London)
Filippo Villa – Chef de Rang, Core by Clare Smyth (London)
Giacomo Arcadu – Manager in Training, The Lanesborough (London)
Giannie Tiana Virgo – Demi Chef de Rang, Hélène Darroze at The Connaught (London)
Giorgio Manzinali – Team Leader, Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill (London)
Hal Nix – Sommelier, Lita (London)
Harry Blackhall – Assistant Restaurant Manager, The Gleneagles Hotel (Perthshire)
Harry Dye – Restaurant Manager, Whatley Manor (Wiltshire)
Harry Nugent – Assistant Restaurant Manager, 74 Charlotte Street (London)
Harshitha Mavinakere Siddaiah – Chef de Rang, 5 Hertford Street (London)
Hugo Korte – Head Waiter, Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester (London)
Jacob Andrew Garstang – Restaurant Manager & Sommelier, Maré by Rafael Cagali (East Sussex)
Jan Goede – Waiter, Sketch – The Lecture Room and Library (London)
Joel Pennington – Restaurant Manager, The Cottage In The Wood (Cumbria)
Juliette McKeon-Thiennette – F&B MIT, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park (London)
Katie Forrest – Head Waiter, Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons (Oxfordshire)
Kristina Volovidnyk – Chef de Rang, City of London Club (London)
Lam Lam Lamgie Yip – Senior Waiter, Kerridge’s Bar and Grill – Corinthia London (London)
Lauren Brooks-Hall – Head Waitress, 1890 by Gordon Ramsay – The Savoy Hotel (London)
Lewis McCarthy – Head Waiter, The Ritz Restaurant (London)
Liam Bruti – Commis Sommelier, Midsummer House (Cambridgeshire)
Manik Bakshi – Assistant Front of House Catering Manager, Keble College – University of Oxford (Oxfordshire)
Matthew Pope – Head Waiter, Claridge’s (London)
Natalie Ann Sherriff – Senior Waiter, The Greyhound (Buckinghamshire)
Nathan Horner – Senior Waiter, Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons (Oxfordshire)
Raegan Lynch – Assistant Restaurant Manager, Restaurant Andrew Fairlie (Perthshire)
Tara Dempsey – Assistant Hospitality Manager, Restaurant Associates (London)
Zoe Hopper – Head Waitress, Acleaf (Devon)
Zuzanna Olszewska – Senior Waiter, The Greyhound Beaconsfield (Buckinghamshire)
