Senara Restaurant in Penzance has been crowned the AA Hospitality Award’s College Restaurant of the Year 2025, with Spires Restaurant in Truro achieving the runners-up award.

The training restaurants, used by around 250 professional Cookery and Hospitality students at Truro and Penwith College, were two of only three national finalists, including third placed The Classroom, a training restaurant at Cardiff and Vale College.

Hospitality lecturers Dean Bungay and Elly Owen travelled to London to collect the coveted award on behalf of Truro and Penwith College at a glitzy ceremony hosted by TV and radio broadcaster and Celebrity MasterChef winner Angellica Bell at the Grosvenor Hotel, on Monday, September 23.

Having not one, but two, college restaurants make the final is the icing on the cake for associate director for Occupational Studies at Truro and Penwith College, David Izzard who said: "Consistently winning prestigious industry awards like this gives the students belief and confidence and fills employers and future students with the knowledge our courses are delivering the excellence in training the sector is looking for.

Paul and John from the Ainsworth Collection teaching students
Paul and John from the Ainsworth Collection teaching students (Submitted)

“This is not just a triumph of hospitality excellence, but a beacon of inspiration for our learners and a testament to the relentless dedication of our staff, whose efforts have cultivated an environment for growth, innovation, and the blossoming of future opportunities for our learners, showing that they can look, reach and go further.”

What’s amazing for the students is the Awards are judged by industry experts and run in partnership with two of hospitality’s leading awarding bodies, AA Hospitality and People’s 1st International.

The finalists produced a presentation on how to attract and retain future staff for the hospitality industry.

Congratulating the hospitality team at Truro and Penwith College, Andy Doyle, partnerships manager at People 1st International, said: “Your commitment to developing the future talent of the hospitality industry is inspiring!”

Army and Students outside Senara
Army and Students outside Senara (Submitted)

Truro and Penwith College is home to the Paul Ainsworth Academy and previous students have gained employment with companies such as the Paul Ainsworth Collection, Nathan Outlaws, Rick Steins, St Moritz Hotel and Tom Kerridge. 

Spires reaches the final for the first time but it’s the second time Senara has been crowned the best in the country, as it received the prestigious AA College Restaurant of the Year Award in 2022.

Visit the College website at truro-penwith.ac.uk to learn more about the professional cookery and hospitality courses available or visit one of their open events at Penwith College on October 12 or at Truro College on November 9 to find out more.