Forty-eight semi-finalists for 2026 Gold Service Scholarship

Forty-eight hospitality professionals from across the UK have been named semi-finalists in the 2026 Gold Service Scholarship, the country’s leading award recognising excellence in front-of-house service.

Now in its thirteenth year, the Scholarship continues to champion excellence in front-of-house service and support the next generation of hospitality leaders. Edward Griffiths CVO, Trustee and Chairman of the Judges, said the group reflects the remarkable breadth of talent within British hospitality. He added that this year’s candidates represent everything from boutique countryside properties to some of London’s most celebrated dining rooms.

The semi-finalists are taking part in practical assessments at the Chancery Rosewood today (24 November), with finalists to be announced later in the year.

Last year’s Scholar, Isabella Condon from Dinner by Heston Blumenthal at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London, said the Scholarship opened doors and highlighted the powerful combination of skill, passion and opportunity.

Founded in 2012, the Gold Service Scholarship is open to hospitality professionals in the UK aged 22 to 30. It offers the Scholar and Winning Finalists a year of mentoring and development with industry leaders, along with unique placements in world-class establishments.

The 2026 semi-finalists are listed below:

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 and 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, 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 and Sommelier, Marea 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 and 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)

The competition now moves through a series of key stages, beginning with the semi-final at The Chancery Rosewood today, followed by a development seminar at Corinthia London on 5 January 2026. Finalists will then compete at Kerridge’s Bar and Grill at Corinthia London on 19 January 2026, before the Scholarship concludes with an awards ceremony at Claridge’s on 9 February 2026.

The Gold Service Scholarship was launched in 2012 with the aim of inspiring the UK’s up-and-coming front-of-house talent with mentoring, study and placement opportunities.