Isabella Condon from Dinner by Heston Blumenthal named 2025 Gold Service Scholar

Isabella Condon from Dinner by Heston Blumenthal has been named the 2025 Gold Service Scholar.

The junior assistant manager at the London restaurant was announced as the winner of the prestigious front of house award at a ceremony at Claridge’s hotel attended by senior industry figures.

Andrea Di Gangi, assistant restaurant manager at the Corinthia London’s Northall restaurant, and Valentino Galdi, head waiter at Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons in Oxfordshire, were named highly commended winning finalists.

They were among 10 finalists who competed in the competition’s final in January. This saw them serve a three-course lunch at the Corinthia London, which included dishes devised to test their service skills and demeanour at the table. 

Gold Service Scholarship chair Alastair Storey said: “It is extremely encouraging that so many young people with such fantastic talent are joining and flourishing in our industry. It’s also wonderful to see so many business leaders willing to set aside their time and resource to help them build their careers and invest in their future.

“We had a record number of winning finalists this year, which demonstrates how standards in our sector are improving year-on-year.”

Along with the commended winning finalists, Condon will benefit from work experience at venues such as the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok and Hong Kong, an overseas Rocco Forte hotel, and the three-Michelin-starred Waterside Inn in Bray, Berkshire.

Meanwhile, all 10 finalists will be offered professional development opportunities, including a trip to Porto with Graham’s Port, a development programme at EHL Hospitality Business School in Lausanne, Switzerland, and the opportunity to work at a garden party at Buckingham Palace. 

All winning finalists and semi-finalists also automatically join what is known as ‘Team Gold’, the alumni of the Gold Service Scholarship.

Storey added: “It is also hugely important to note that our ’Team Gold’ is now made up of around 100 people. The opportunities for development that this has opened up for our alumni, both in the UK and globally, has been remarkable.”
 
The Gold Service Scholarship 2025 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