What good looks really looks like – an interview with GSS Trustee, Conor O’Leary
1. You’ve worked your way from London’s restaurant and bar scene to leading some of the world’s most celebrated hospitality businesses. Looking back, what have been the defining moments in your career? I’ve been incredibly fortunate to spend my career working alongside brilliant people in some truly spectacular properties. Every step of my journey has […]
Get To Know Our 2026 Winning Finalists: Personal Stories and Insights from This Year’s Top Finalists
Want to learn more about this year’s winning finalists? We sat down with them to discover what makes them tick, from their biggest service no-no’s to what they might be doing if they weren’t working in hospitality. Follow the links below to meet each of our finalists and explore their stories in more detail. Getting […]
Interview with GSS2026 Scholar, Joel Pennington
Tell us about your background. I grew up in Cockermouth, a town in the Lake District. From an early age, I developed a strong appreciation for nature and community. Did you always want to work in hospitality? No, growing up, I dreamed of becoming a forestry commissioner. However, I began working weekends in local cafes, […]
Joel Pennington named 2026 Gold Service Scholarship Scholar
Joel Pennington, restaurant manager at The Cottage in the Wood, has been named the 2026 Gold Service Scholarship Scholar. Pennington, who works at the single-site Michelin-starred restaurant in Cumbria, was presented with the title at a high-profile event held at Claridges in London yesterday evening. His win highlights the depth of front-of-house talent emerging beyond […]
Customised Professional Development Programme for Winning Finalists
Following the success of earlier customised Executive Education programmes delivered at EHL Hospitality Business School Lausanne in 2019 and 2022, the Gold Service Foundation partnered once again with EHL to deliver a third programme in 2024. This four-day programme brought together 16 Winning Finalists from the 2023 and 2024 cohorts, marking the first time finalists […]
London, Edinburgh, Cumbria, Oxfordshire and Perthshire all represented in 2026 Gold Service Scholarship final
Ten food and beverage front-of-house professionals from across the United Kingdom will compete in the 2026 Gold Service Scholarship final in January. Representing London, Edinburgh, Cumbria, Oxfordshire and Perthshire, the group includes individuals working in hotels, restaurants and a luxury train – highlighting the diverse range roles within the sector. The winning finalists will progress […]
Forty-eight hospitality professionals from across the UK named semi-finalists in the 2026 Gold Service Scholarship
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 […]
Conor O’Leary appointed Trustee of the Gold Service Scholarship
The Gold Service Scholarship has announced the appointment of Conor O’Leary, group managing director of Gleneagles and Estelle Manor, to its board of trustees. O’Leary brings a wealth of experience to the role, having led some of the hospitality industry’s most celebrated operations in the UK and internationally. His career began in London’s bar and […]
An Interview with 2025 Scholar, Isabella Condon
Just a few months have passed since Isabella was named as our 2025 Scholar, we caught up with her to discuss her career, why the sound of somebody’s name is so sweet, and her aspirations for the future. • Tell us about your background, did you always want to work in hospitality? I grew up […]
Isabella Condon named 2025 Gold Service Scholar
Isabella Condon, junior assistant manager at Dinner by Heston Blumenthal in London was named the 2025 Gold Service Scholar on Monday 10 February at an awards ceremony in Claridge’s hotel. Condon, who is originally from Ireland and trained at the Shannon College of Hotel Management, joined the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park London hotel more than […]