AA Rosette puts Buxton at the top table for teaching restaurants
Published On Wednesday 25 May 2016 by Sticky Beak
See Recent News Articles
Passion and enthusiasm are two of the ingredients which have helped the University of Derby’s Fine Dining Restaurant in Buxton win the highest accolade of its kind – and get students jobs with the likes of Gordon Ramsay.
“It was clear to see why this had been named as one of the top five universities providing degrees in tourism, hospitality, events and spa management,” said a mystery diner from the AA College Rosette scheme who gave the restaurant in the Buxton Campus Highly Commended status, the top accreditation available.
And the restaurant, in what used to be a rehabilitation ward when the building was used as a hospital, is run by first-year students with second-year colleagues overseeing their work.
“I believe the recognition achieved by these students reflects our approach, which is to enable them to develop high levels of professional competence,” said Tony Clodd, Head of Culinary and Hospitality Management at the University of Derby.
Recent examples of students’ success include one who was offered a job at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in Chelsea, another at the Alinea restaurant in Chicago, both of which are Michelin-three-starred – while a team of undergraduates are soon to travel to The Dorchester in London to hear if they have won the internationally renowned Toque d’Or competition.
Left to right Callum Le Goff, Kaylam Prince, Chris Jones, Ewen Crilley, Gary Hammond, Iuean Roberts and Laura Nutter.
The University’s sister organisation, Buxton and Leek College, which trains younger students in the same restaurant, was awarded Commended accreditation, demonstrating how the two institutions build on each other’s work to support young people as they progress towards a fulfilling career.
Tony said the restaurant was a platform from which students can develop supervisory and management skills: “The restaurant also enables them to apply and evaluate concepts relating to guest service, costing and control, systems and systems interfaces, regulatory compliance, team working and quality management.”
Comments from the AA in a section describing how the restaurant achieved its Wow! factor included: “Passion and enthusiasm shown by students and lecturers… awareness of guests’ needs and comfort… excellent display of an intuitive approach.”
And the comments on the food included: “Very well executed… detailed uniform arrangement added to visual appeal… vibrant in colour and offering positive depth and clarity of flavour.”
Anne Barber, Curriculum Leader for Hospitality and Catering at Buxton and Leek College, said:
“We are extremely pleased with the AA award and proud of our students. Their professionalism and skills learnt and displayed in our open kitchens and restaurant, at this stage in their career, are at such a high standard.
“The courses here at Buxton and Leek College can set them up for a successful future in hospitality, with recent students going onto work for high profile employers such as Raymond Blanc’s Belmond Le Manoir Aux Quat’ Saisons in Oxfordshire, as well as other top local employers.”
lThe University’s Buxton Campus is housed in the magnificent Devonshire Dome, built in 1789 by the Fifth Duke of Devonshire as a stable and converted in 1881 to a hospital with the addition of what was then the largest unsupported dome in the world.
It was reopened as a university in 2006 by the Prince of Wales.
To find out more about studying tourism, hospitality, events and spa management at the University of Derby’s Buxton Campus, visit: www.derby.ac.uk/campus/campuses/buxton/courses
| The Bakewell Tart Shop Presents A Delightfully Unique Valentines Gift This Valentine's Day, The Bakewell Tart Shop, home to the iconic Bakewell Tart for over a century, is offering a delicious twist on traditional romance: Read The Article | |
| Future of popular Peak District hotel and restaurant secured following acquisition The Premier Inn Chesterfield West hotel and Highwayman Beefeater Restaurant, situated at the edge of the Peak District National Park just six miles Read The Article | |
| Selena Turns Sheffield's New Era Square Into Hottest New Leisure Destination The latest jewel in Sheffield's £70 million New Era Square development is already raising the bar - quite literally. Sporting and entertainment Read The Article | |
| Restaurant revamp brings taste of Spanish sunshine to Mercia Marina A six-figure investment is set to take a much-loved bar and restaurant at Mercia Marina to new heights at one of the Midlands’ most popular tourist and beauty spots. Read The Article | |
| The Peacock At Owler Bar Near Sheffield, To Be Refurbished & Reopened By Longbow Before Christmas Longbow Venues, owned by Peak District hospitality entrepreneur, Rob Hattersley, will be taking on The Peacock at Owler Bar Read The Article | |
| Croots Farm Shop in Derbyshire wins two accolades in the Great British Food Awards The farm shop near Duffield scooped a silver medal for its dirty brisket burger in the burgers category and a bronze medal for its lamb and mint Read The Article | |
| Visitors flock to Derby's Cathedral Quarter Hotel after new owners take over New management at one of Derby’s major hotels has revealed that business is “extremely good” since they bought it in May. Read The Article | |
| All we want for Christmas ... is a curry Diners in Derbyshire are planning on swapping their Christmas turkey for chicken tikka this festive season after a recently refurbished Indian restaurant revealed it is almost fully booked. Read The Article | |
| Derby's newest Indian restaurant thanks the city after a thousand diners flock to try it out Management at Derby's newest Indian restaurant say more than a thousand diners have visited since it opened. Johns Geo and his friends Read The Article | |
| Why this gin-ius metal bottle captures the spirit of upstart Guerrilla Chicken An upstart Derby distiller which sells its vodka and gin in distinctive eco-friendly reusable metal bottles has picked up a host of awards at two prestigious spirit Read The Article | |