Lincoln College's Sessions restaurant underwent renovations earlier this year. Students have now resumed service at the on-campus fine dining restaurant to welcome guests to enjoy its new and exciting facilities.
Elayne Shannon, Learning and Skills Lead for Travel, Tourism & Hospitality Sector, said: “The complete refurbishment at Sessions House will enable the School of Food and Hospitality Team to maximise opportunities to encourage and develop transferable skills, knowledge and behaviours of all our learners from Level 1 through to level 3 and beyond!
“The personalised barista training areas, bespoke mixology training rooms and state-of-the-art chef suite with production kitchen equipment will ensure that our learners get trained using the latest methods by highly skilled tutors ready to take their places as the highly skilled workforce of tomorrow.
“Our students develop not only high-level service skills and knowledge but also their communication, organisational and problem-solving skills, making them work ready for employment within the varied environments of the Catering and Hospitality Industry.”
Michelin Star chef James Mackenzie recently worked with students to create a collaborative menu featuring some of his signature dishes for the grand reopening - providing students with an invaluable experience.
The partnership between Lincoln College and the Pipe and Glass is significant in engaging learners with employer-led learning. The Pipe and Glass have already provided work experience for alumni and current students at the college. This collaboration will provide students with the opportunity to learn from one of the best chefs in the country and gain valuable experience in a professional kitchen.
James Mackenzie, Michelin Star chef and proprietor at the Pipe and Glass, said: “I am thrilled to work with students to prepare a selection of signature dishes for the opening of Sessions restaurant at Lincoln College and to be a part of developing the next generation of talented chefs.
“It is vital to inspire and encourage people to pursue a career in hospitality - I am honoured to work with Lincoln College to do just that. I started my career at 13 years of age, and after training at Scarborough Technical College, I understood the value of practical experience in the field.
“That’s why it’s a pleasure to work with current and qualified students - like Lucy who came to us recently for work experience, and former Lincoln catering student Eloise who is employed as a chef with us. I do not doubt that the facilities in the Sessions restaurant and at Lincoln College will help the students to achieve great things in the industry.”
Eloise Palmer, an Alumni Lincoln College student, said: “I started my journey at Lincoln College studying Level 1 in Catering and progressed to Level 2 and 3 qualifications. Whilst undertaking my studies, I had work experience at the Pipe and Glass supporting the Pastry Chef doing prep. Now I am a full-time commis chef. What I enjoyed most about the course was experiencing the different aspects of the industry to find where I fit best.”
Sessions will undoubtedly be a popular destination for guests looking to enjoy the culinary creations of the college's talented students. Each week Level 3 Catering students create themed taster menus and act as the head chef on the night, providing delightful dishes from around the world.
Lucy Bell, a Level 3 Professional Chef Student at Lincoln College - currently works at the Pipe and Glass alongside her studies. Recently she took the lead as head chef with her Puerto Rican-themed menu coordinating with her peers to deliver service - it is a fantastic opportunity for students to gain leadership skills.
Earlier in the academic year Catering and Hospitality students - including Lucy - went on an enriching trip to Denmark. Lucy said: “I really enjoyed the Erasmus trip. Whilst at the ZBC college in Denmark, we considered the welfare and treatment of the animals as the most important thing when cooking a dish; how you shouldn’t waste any food and should always be respectful. We also got to work alongside Danish students, creating a dish each to contribute to a collaborative taster menu. Getting to know the students was great and we kept in contact even after our visit.”
At Lincoln College, we are delighted to offer top-of-the-range facilities with employer-led and enriching learning. We understand that the cost of work placements can be a barrier to some students. To overcome this, as a college, we offer transportation and equipment bursaries to help with the costs associated with work placements. This support ensures that all students can access equal opportunities and have the best chance to thrive in their chosen fields.
Would you like to be the next cohort in September 2023? For more information on our School of Food and Hospitality courses click here.
Book now to dine and support our upcoming industry professionals, email: sessionsrestaurant@lincolncollege.ac.uk or call 01522 876343.
