The University of Derby’s Buxton Campus has secured a place in the semi-finals of the prestigious UK Young Restaurant Team of the Year 2026 competition, cementing its reputation for producing outstanding culinary and hospitality talent, at its renowned Harpurs Bistro.
The announcement, made on 24 January, sees the University of Derby – Buxton join six other leading colleges and academies from across the UK to progress to the next stage of the national competition. The semi-finals will take place on 11 March 2026 at Lainston House, a luxury hotel situated in Winchester, where teams will compete in a high-pressure restaurant service challenge designed to test both kitchen and front-of-house excellence.
Leona Ko, FE Lecturer in Catering, who is leading the UODB team in their competition entry said:
“We are absolutely delighted to have made it through to the semi-finals of such a prestigious competition. This achievement reflects the dedication, passion and hard work of our staff and students in making Harpurs Bistro at the Buxton Campus a go-to destination for fine cuisine and outstanding service.
“I would also like to recognise the incredible contribution of Richard Greensmith, UODB (Estates) Operations Manager, for his front-of-house expertise and support with our students, alongside Matteo Frau, our FE Catering Lecturer, whose commitment has been vital to this success, and our Curriculum Lead, Ruth Nuttall, for her continued leadership and support of the team’s work.
“Together, our dream team has worked tirelessly with our amazing FE learners — and this is just the start.”
University of Derby’s Harpurs Bistro, based at the Buxton Campus, is a student-led fine dining restaurant located within the historic Devonshire Dome. Launched in January 2024 the bistro is fully operated by hospitality and catering students from Levels 1 to 3 under the guidance of industry-experienced tutors.
The restaurant offers seasonally changing, freshly prepared three-course lunches using locally sourced ingredients and provides a real-world training environment for the chefs and service professionals of tomorrow. Harpurs Bistro has already received recognition from the Craft Guild of Chefs and holds an AA College Rosette for its high-quality cuisine and service.
To find our more or experience dining at Harpur’s Bistro, visit here
