College unveils revamped training restaurant

Oaklands College celebrated the relaunch of its refurbished student training restaurant The Stables with a festive lunch for special guests.

The upgrade to the restaurant, which is in the old stables of the 1840s-built Oaklands Manor on the College’s St Albans Campus, was supported by match-funding from The Savoy Educational Trust who attended the lunch along with the College’s employer partners.

On the five-course menu were delights such as ham hock with beetroot sauce and pineapple jelly, turkey with cranberry jus, and perfectly risen apple souffle with gingerbread ice cream, all prepared and served by the College’s own students.

The Stables Restaurant, based at the St Albans campus, has long been a key part of the College’s Hospitality & Catering provision, offering students the opportunity to learn and work in a realistic, professional dining environment. The £70K refurbishment brought modernised interiors, updated equipment and an enhanced kitchen layout — all designed to mirror the standards of contemporary commercial restaurants.

The investment forms part of The Savoy Educational Trust’s ongoing support for hospitality education across the UK. The Trust funds a wide range of projects across schools, colleges, universities, and other educational organisations to help strengthen learning environments and provide students with meaningful, hands-on experience.

Head Chef Martin West said:

“We were thrilled to welcome our employer partners to celebrate the reopening of The Stables Restaurant. This refurbishment, made possible through the generous support of the Savoy Educational Trust, ensured that our students could continue to learn in a setting that reflects the expectations of the modern hospitality sector. It also gave us the chance to showcase the talent of our learners and the high standard of training delivered here at Oaklands.”

Guests at the reopening lunch were invited to tour the upgraded facilities and meet students who will use the restaurant as part of their professional training. The College said the improvements would strengthen its links with local employers and provide a platform for students to develop the practical skills needed for future careers in hospitality.

Student Jack, 17 from Welwyn Garden City was one of the budding chefs preparing the opening lunch and enthused:

“The best bit about this college is that it’s just like working in a professional environment.”

After the lunch, the students took part in a Q&A with guests and gave them a tour of the rest of the catering facilities. Jack said he wants to open his own street food business selling gourmet burgers. Fellow student Lacie, 16 from Hemel Hempstead said,

“I want to be a chef. I loved making the bacon-wrapped turkey today for the guests.”

Lou Hewitt, Grants and Trust Executive at The Savoy Educational Trust said:

“It is wonderful to see the refurbishment come to life and the difference it’s already making for the students and lecturers. Watching their pride in this professional setting, and the enthusiasm they bring to their work, is genuinely rewarding and inspiring.”