Finalists revealed for 2025 Gold Service Scholarship

Ten young front of house professionals from across the UK have been selected for the final of the 2025 Gold Service Scholarship.

It marks the highest number of winning finalists since the competition was launched in in 2012.

Fifty candidates attended the semi-finals at the Rosewood London, following quarter-finals in October at the Langham, London and Hotel Café Royal in London.

The final is scheduled to take place at the Corinthia London on 13 January 2025, where participants will serve high-profile guests from across the industry.

They will be tasked with planning, preparing and serving a three-course lunch to a table of four guests, including canapés, Champagne and wines, with three dishes served table-side.

Judges will be grading their ‘mise en place’, welcome, service skills, professionalism and potential.

The winning scholar will be announced at an awards ceremony at Claridge’s in London on 10 February 2025. They will receive a range of prizes to support their professional development, including a trip to Porto, access to a development programme at EHL Hospitality Business School in Lausanne, Switzerland, and the opportunity to work at a garden party at Buckingham Palace.

Work experience at hotels and restaurants such as the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok and Hong Kong and the three-Michelin-starred Waterside Inn in Bray will also be available.

Edward Griffiths, trustee and chair of judges, said: “This has been another exceptional year, so much so that we had to extend the number of semi-finalists and now the final itself includes more candidates than ever before. 

“My fellow judges and I are extremely excited for the upcoming final and would like to wish a hearty congratulations to all of the winning finalists.” 

Who are the Gold Service Scholarship finalists? 

• Isabella Condon, junior assistant restaurant manager, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, London
• Jacob Cranch, restaurant manager, the Tasting Room, Rathfinny Wine Estate, Sussex
• Andrea Di Gangi, assistant restaurant manager, Northall restaurant, Corinthia London
• Valentino Galdi, head waiter, Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, Great Milton, Oxfordshire
• Rogan Galea, assistant manager, the Strathearn, Gleneagles, Auchterarder, Perthshire
• Charlotte Hughes, head waiter, the Grill by Tom Booton at the Dorchester, London 
• James Kenny, food and beverage duty manager, Killeavy Castle Estate, Newry, South Armagh
• Rebecca Panza, restaurant supervisor, Claridge’s restaurant, London
• Delphine Vielrecobre, head waiter, Pétrus by Gordon Ramsay, London
• Huw Williams, sommelier, the Woodspeen, Newbury, Berkshire