Gold Service Scholarship 2026 semi-finalists announced

The 2026 Gold Service Scholarship has announced the names of 48 semi-finalists.

These front-of-house individuals represent a host of hospitality establishments based across the UK, ranging from Devon to Stirlingshire.

Now in its 13th year, the Gold Service Scholarship continues to champion the next generation of front-of-house leaders.

The selected semi-finalists will progress to the next stage of the competition, where they will take part in a series of practical assessments held at the Chancery Rosewood in London’s Mayfair (pictured) on 24 November.  

Edward Griffiths, trustee and chairman of the judges, said: “This year’s semi-finalists reflect the extraordinary breadth of talent and dedication found across the UK – from boutique country hotels to London’s most celebrated dining rooms.”

The 2025 scholar, Isabella Condon, from the two-Michelin-starred Dinner by Heston Blumenthal at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, added: “The scholarship changed my career by showing me what’s possible when skill and passion meet opportunity. It’s inspiring to see such a wide range of young professionals coming forward each year to represent our industry at its best.”

The Gold Service Scholarship was founded in 2012 and is open to young, front-of-house professionals aged between 22 and 30 each year.

The 2026 Gold Service Scholarship semi-finalists are:

• 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 & 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 – ultimate leaders programme at 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 & sommelier, Maré 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&b manager in training, 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)