Bournemouth College wins prize at Academy awards

Bournemouth & Poole College in Dorset has scooped the College of the Year title in this year's Academy of Food & Wine awards.

The Academy's awards, launched in 1988, recognise and reward those individuals, companies and colleges the Academy believes are doing the most to raise the profile and improve the standard and skills of front-of-house as a profession.

The Academy's president, restaurateur Roy Ackerman CBE, FIH, FAFW, commented: "It's vital to recognise those that are working hard to improve front-of-house service as it's an often over-looked, but absolutely vital, area of the hospitality business. So often in the industry it's chefs that gain the recognition, but we must remember that front-of-house staff are responsible for looking after our customers in the most direct way."

Other award winners were Jumeriah Hotel Group, Dubai, who achieved the Company of the Year award, Jade  Kock, sommelier of Rex Whistler Restaurant at Tate Britain, London, won The Savoy Educational Trust Sommelier Scholarship, and Lucy Rhyddid, a candidate from Coleg Powys, nominated by City & Guilds, scooped The Philip Thornton Award.

The event was held at a ceremony in London's Vintners' Hall.

Words: Maria Bracken

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