Students from Alsop High School's Hospitality and Catering department enjoyed a fine dining experience at the Hilton Liverpool City Centre. 

The event was designed to raise aspirations and give our Year 10 Hospitality and Catering students a unique insight into the exciting careers available within the hospitality industry. For many students, this was their first experience of dining in a luxury hotel. 

Year 9 Hospitality students took on the role of front-of-house staff, waiting on guests throughout the meal. They demonstrated outstanding professionalism, confidence and teamwork, gaining invaluable experience of customer service in a luxury hospitality setting. 

Guests were welcomed with a drinks reception before enjoying a three-course lunch: 

Starter: Spiced Lentil & Butternut Squash Velouté with a sprinkling of dukkah, served with freshly baked bread and whipped butter, prepared by lecturers and students from the City of Liverpool College. 

Main Course: Pan Roasted Chicken Breast stuffed with pork, shallot and sage mousseline, served with celeriac purée, glazed carrot, stem broccoli, fondant potato and thyme-infused red wine jus, prepared by Chef James Holden, a member of the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts. 

Dessert: Velvet Malteser Bar with banana crumb and butterscotch ice cream. 

Throughout the afternoon, students heard from inspirational speakers who shared their own career journeys. Steven Doherty, the first British chef to lead a three-Michelin-starred restaurant,  spoke passionately about the dedication, resilience and commitment required to succeed at the highest level of the industry.  

Students also heard from Ciara, a Springboard Future Chef winner, whose journey demonstrated how school competitions can be the first step towards an exciting culinary career. A special pre-recorded message from Molook "Molly" Shaheer in Dubai highlighted the global opportunities that a career in hospitality can offer. 

The afternoon also featured a musical performance by our talented Year 10 students.  

We are incredibly grateful to The Savoy Educational Trust, The Royal Academy of Culinary Arts, Savoy Educational Trust, The City of Liverpool College, Udale Speciality Foods, Wellocks, Essential Cuisine and The Hilton Hotel for sponsoring this inspiring event, helping to provide an experience that many of our students would not otherwise have the opportunity to enjoy. We would also like to thank the Hilton Liverpool City Centre for their exceptional hospitality and all of the chefs, speakers and industry professionals who generously gave their time to inspire the next generation. 

Events like this allow our young people to experience the very best of the hospitality industry while building confidence, developing employability skills and seeing first-hand the exciting career pathways available to them—from local restaurants and luxury hotels to Michelin-starred kitchens and international careers.