Leicester College makes semi-finals of UK Young Restaurant Team of the Year 2025

Students from Leicester College have made the semi-finals of a national competition to find the Young Restaurant Team of the Year 2025.

Leicester College is one of eight semi-finalists for the competition, which is supported by the Savoy Educational Trust. The semi-finals will take place at Lainston House, part of the Exclusive Collection on Tuesday 11 March 2025.

Launched in 2012, the competition brings together teams from across the UK who run a live restaurant service for guests. All competitors are aged 21 or under, with each team comprising two chefs and one front-of-house member, who balances the role of service and sommelier. The winners of the competition will embark on an international gastronomic study tour of Paris.

Nicky Randall, Programme Area Manager for Hospitality and Food at Leicester College, said: “We’re delighted to reach the semi-finals of this prestigious competition and are all fully behind our team.

“Our Taste Restaurant provides fantastic facilities and opportunities for students to gain real experience in the hospitality and catering sectors. The team’s success in this competition is further proof that the facilities, service and teaching that the College offers meet and exceed industry standards.”

Vicky Enderson, Chair of Judges, commented: "The standard of entries this year exceeded all expectations and it was a difficult decision to choose our eight semi-finalists.”

The semi-finalists for the UK Young Restaurant Team of the Year 2025 are:

• Leicester College

• Loughborough College

• Eastleigh College

• Suffolk New College

• Oaklands College

• Academy by Simon Rogan

• University College Birmingham

• North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College

For further details on the competition, visit: www.restaurantcompetition.co.uk