We are the leading provider for cookery, food service, bakery and food manufacturing courses in Leicester and Leicestershire. When you study with us you train in fully-equipped kitchens, using industry standard equipment, to prepare and serve high quality meals in our fine dining restaurant.
Hospitality and Catering
Who are Leicester College’s Hospitality and Catering Courses for?
Our hospitality and catering courses are suitable for both school leavers as well as older people and/or those with a bit of experience in the industry already. The appropriate level for you will be decided based on your prior qualifications and work experience – many learners stay with us for two or more years to develop their skills to the required level for employment. If you are aged 16 to 19 and don’t yet have your English and maths at grade 4 (C) or above, these subjects will be an essential part of your study programme. All courses are designed to give you the skills and knowledge needed to work in the hospitality and catering industry.
Our courses are available from level 1 to level 3 in all aspects of hospitality and food manufacture including bakery. These courses help learners develop their practical skills as well as their knowledge of your chosen sector. All of our have a great deal of practical input, our cookery courses give you the practical skills honed in the training kitchens to prepare you to produce food to a fine dining level in our award winning Taste restaurant. Learners on food and beverage service courses are trained to the highest level in our fine dining restaurant and Zest our café bistro. We also have a state of the art food manufacturing suite which is equipped to deliver bespoke programmes on food manufacturing specialising in bakery.
Further Information
We have been awarded gold accreditation from the leading industry skills body, the Hospitality Guild, and we are also approved by the National Skills Academy in Food and Drink. Additionally, we are holders of an AA College Rosette, another coveted industry accreditation which rewards good practice in hospitality training.
All of our learners undertake work placements as part of their course – giving you even more real-world experience to prepare you for the workplace.

Virtual Tour
Campus and courses tour
Come join us around Leicester College campuses with our Virtual Tour
Read MoreEaster Egg Chocolate Making Workshop – C7653
Course Code: C7653
Key Information
-
Start Date 12 Apr 2023
-
Study Hours Part Time
7.5 hours per week -
Duration 1 week
-
Campus Freemen's Park Campus
Take time out and treat yourself to a day of chocolate making with our team here at the college. Working with one of the best food groups - sweets, you'll make a personalised Easter egg to share with someone you love or scoff to yourself Develop skills, knowledge, and a sweet tooth with this course.
Easter baking workshop – C7654
Course Code: C7654
Key Information
-
Start Date 13 Apr 2023
-
Study Hours Part Time
7.5 hours per week -
Duration 1 week
-
Campus Freemen's Park Campus
Book your place for some half-term fun during easter with our one-day bakery course. Kicking up a storm in the kitchen you will learn from our industry-experienced chefs to make a traditional Easter cake along with our mouth-watering brownies. Most important of all you'll come away more confident in home baking.
Bakery and Patisserie Diploma Technical Certificate level 2 – C5390
Course Code: C5390
Key Information
-
Start Date 04 Sep 2023
-
Study Hours Full Time
-
Duration 1 year
-
Campus Freemen's Park Campus
If you're looking to begin your journey towards becoming a professional pastry chef, this course will provide you with everything you need to get started. You will develop your basic pastry skills across bread, cakes and complex desserts, whilst building your knowledge of professional techniques and your understanding of the catering industry itself.
Diploma in Food and Beverage Service level 2 – C2938
Course Code: C2938
Key Information
-
Start Date 04 Sep 2023
-
Study Hours Full Time
-
Duration 1 year
-
Campus Freemen's Park Campus
If you’re looking for a career in front-of-house hospitality, this course provides a perfect overview of the practical skills and industry knowledge you will need to get started. Learn how to deliver a high level of service across a range of settings, so you can progress onto a higher level course or go on to employment in a professional setting at Junior level.
Food and Beverage Services Certificate level 1 – C7391
Course Code: C7391
Key Information
-
Start Date 04 Sep 2023
-
Study Hours Full Time
-
Duration 1 year
-
Campus Freemen's Park Campus
Ready. Set. Serve your way into an exciting career with our food and beverage with this course. You will be taught how to provide an experience for your customers and our units are designed to help you develop your confidence and skill set to work in this industry, all whilst learning in an award-winning restaurant.
General Patisserie and Confectionery Certificate Level 3 – C7783
Course Code: C7783
Key Information
-
Start Date 04 Sep 2023
-
Study Hours Part Time
5 hours per week -
Duration 1 year
-
Campus Freemen's Park Campus
Become the next best baker and patisserie maker with this Patisserie and Confectionery programme. You could go on to study a level 4 kitchen management programme or a foundation degree in hospitality management. Or go on to work as a pastry chef or in positions within good-quality restaurants, café, hotels, or catering establishments in hospitality industries.
Patisserie and Confectionery Diploma level 3 – C5389
Course Code: C5389
Key Information
-
Start Date 04 Sep 2023
-
Study Hours Full Time
-
Duration 1 year
-
Campus Freemen's Park Campus
Take your next step towards becoming a qualified professional chef with this level 3 course specialising in patisserie, confectionery and other sweet treats. You will build on skills from the level 2 course with more advanced recipes including artisan bread and using coloured cocoa butter, helping further your experience for a career in the industry.
Patisserie and Confectionery Professional VRQ Certificate level 2 – C6198
Course Code: C6198
Key Information
-
Start Date 04 Sep 2023
-
Study Hours Full Time
-
Duration 1 year
-
Campus Freemen's Park Campus
This course is for students who intend to start a career as a professional pastry chef. The course will allow for the development of basic pastry skills but will progress quickly into the more technical aspects of the trade. There will be a focus placed on developing an understanding of professional techniques so as to […]
Professional Advanced Technical Diploma in Professional Cookery Level 3 – C5388
Course Code: C5388
Key Information
-
Start Date 04 Sep 2023
-
Study Hours Full Time
-
Duration 1 year
-
Campus Freemen's Park Campus
Progressing from a level 2 technical certificate in professional cookery or experience in the trade, this course will help you develop your practical kitchen skills as well as supervision in the hospitality sector. Alongside expanding your kitchen skills, you will gain valuable experience in supervision and hospitality, through working in our award-winning Taste restaurant.