For Fine Dining Value, Go Back To College
Last year, I discovered that my local college in Kendal has an excellent training restaurant as part of its Hospitality and Catering department. And it’s open to the public. Given the hospitality industry’s importance to the UK economy and the need to underpin this with professional training, this should have come as no surprise. And despite challenging economic times, here are some impressive UK Hospitality statistics : 1
- Hospitality’s direct annual contribution to the UK Economy is £93 billion. Add another £121 billion on top of that from the indirect supply chain contributions;
- It employs 3.5 million people directly in the UK. It’s Britain’s third-largest employer, with 10% of the UK workforce. Again, you can add another 3 million indirect jobs from the supply chain;
- The annual direct Treasury tax receipts (e.g. VAT, income tax, national insurance, business taxes, excise duty) was £54 billion;
- The hospitality sector is essential to every UK region and is closely allied to tourism and food production.
Restaurants are key
In the UK, restaurants are the key drivers of employment and growth in the hospitality industry. For example, my adopted home county of Cumbria boasts 23 Michelin Stars, the most anywhere outside London.2 Those 23 stars represent twenty one-star restaurants and the 3-star l’Enclume. Many support Kendal College with various training and job opportunities, although alumni are spread worldwide.
This is a testament to Cumbria’s quality of life, the availability of terrific local produce and tourism, culinary talent, and the continued demand for fine dining at world-class venues. Nevertheless, plenty of other sources of great dining experiences exist at lower-cost. For example, I’d argue that hotel, pub and themed restaurant dining has never offered better and is frequently far from humble in either ambition or quality.
Catering and Hospitality training
Meanwhile, the restaurant sector is naturally labour-intensive and relies on human talents for cuisine and service. But raw talent isn’t enough; it needs to be honed. Hence the importance of college hospitality and catering courses. Students at these establishments represent the next generation of professionals and leaders undergoing training for careers in hospitality and management.
No wonder many of these colleges have a fully functioning training restaurant open to the public. This makes total sense, as the best way to learn and practice skills is under pressure in front of paying customers where there’s nowhere to hide. This, in turn, builds confidence and resilience. In return, fortunate diners get exceptional food and quality hospitality at a bargain price.
If there’s a venue for “fine dining value”, then your local catering college restaurant is probably it. And please leave any misconceptions from memories of school dinners or staff canteens at the door.
The Restaurant at Kendal College
I’ve featured Kendal Catering College as the example for this article, as it’s the one I’m familiar with. However, there’s probably a similar college restaurant near where you are. Kendal has an excellent reputation, established over more than 20 years. This, in turn, relies on the Tutors’ experience and expertise and their ability to teach, supervise, and inspire their students. Naturally, their CVs are impressive!
The restaurant is open during term time, and you can book online. A lunchtime sitting is currently £17.00 per head for three courses a la carte, including coffee, while it’s £28.00 for an evening four-course tasting menu. There are even discounts if you join the Diner’s Club. Occasional extra events include guest chefs, award hosting (such as the prestigious Cumbria Food Awards), private functions and wine dinners.
The airy restaurant is comfortably appointed, complete with Lakeland scenes, and uses a bespoke range of attractive tableware made by Churchill China. Not surprisingly, the restaurant is a popular venue with about 40 covers, so book well in advance!
The Experience
I won’t describe the dishes in detail here, save that they are both ambitious and delicious! The photography collages below feature some of those dishes I’ve enjoyed over the past six months and tell the story without needing too many breathless descriptions. However, each dish is described below according to how it appeared on the menu, and I’ve grouped them into Starters, Mains and Desserts. This menu changes regularly according to the season, with vegetarian and vegan options.
They even have a bakery and patisserie as part of the state-of-the-art kitchen. In addition, a fully equipped bar offers a carefully chosen wine list, including wines available by the glass. On my visits so far, I have been particularly impressed with a white Rioja from Bodegas Tobía – here’s the review of that wine.
In short, the cuisine is exceptional, complemented by enthusiastic service from the front-of-house students. As the menu says, “Learning is our Main Ingredient”. You can afford to tip!
Starters, clockwise:
Swede and Bacon Velouté, Caramelised Granola;
Crispy Chicken Wings, Katsu Curry, Cardamom Yoghurt;
Fennel Soup, Buttered Peas, Lemon Pangriatata;
Smoked Mackerel and Brown Shrimp Paté, Pickled Cucumber, Horseradish Créme Frâiche.
Kendal College Restaurant – Starters
Mains, clockwise:
Beef Suet Pudding, Horseradish Mash, Caramelised Onion Gravy;
Griddled Pork Loin Steak, Black Pudding Hash Brown, Cider Sauce;
Fish Cake, Mussels, Leeks, Mussel Sauce;
Braised Pork Belly, Black Pudding, Anna Potatoes, Artichoke.
Kendal College Restaurant – Mains
Desserts, clockwise:
Stem Ginger and Blackberry Delice, Blackberry Sorbet;
Lemon Posset, Passion Fruit Sorbet and Gel;
Ginger and Lemon Cheesecake, Ginger Jelly, Mascarpone Ice Cream;
Rhubarb and Vanilla Ice Parfait.
Kendal College Restaurant – Dessert
And Finally
Before visiting Kendal, dining at a catering college training restaurant had never been on my radar. Since then, I’ve become a regular visitor and a proud member of the Diner’s Club; it’s a great value fine dining experience.
The students are the future of the hospitality and catering industry – and so fully deserve your support. Additionally, seeing them develop their confidence and skills as they progress towards their qualifications is also a pleasure.
And if you still don’t want to take my word for it, journalist and restaurant critic Jay Rayner said, “Kendal College is home to one of the most influential cooking courses in the country.”
Meanwhile, there’s probably a catering college restaurant closer to your community. Why not search it out and make a reservation?
Notes
1. The Economic Contribution of the UK Hospitality Industry, 6th Edition, Ignite Economics, June 2023. Statistics based on ONS (Office of National Statistics) data. UKHospitalty.
2. Michelin Guide 2025.
Location
Kendal College Restaurant
Milnthorpe Road Campus
Milnthorpe Road
Kendal
Cumbria
LA9 5AY