Student wins regional award in quest to be UK’s best waiter

Feb 25 2010 by David Powell, North Wales Weekly News

A STUDENT has scooped a top prize in a quest to find the nation’s best waiter or waitress.

Mark Irvine, 22, of Old Colwyn, a restaurant service student at Coleg Llandrillo, beat other regional finalists to win the Skills Competition Wales Restaurant Service Competition.

Mark will now represent Wales in the UK finals at the Bournemouth International Centre in March.

As well as the Advanced section, there was a competition for students at Intermediate level, won by Channon Morris of Abergele, who is a Coleg Llandrillo hospitality student.

After the event in Coleg Llandrillo’s Orme View Restaurant, Mark, who is on the Hospitality Supervision and Leadership course, said: “I’m used to demanding work but the competition really added to the pressure.”

“I’ve learned so much from taking part. My fellow competitors were very professional which makes the result all the more rewarding.”

Advanced competitors were judged on their professionalism and technical ability, aperitif/ cocktail making and food and beverage service.

This involved opening champagne and the preparation of smoked salmon and crêpes Suzette dishes.