Guest Chef nights

Our popular guest chef evenings happen on a monthly basis. We have been lucky enough to welcome chefs from around the country, from Galvin at Windows, Park Lane, London, to the  Michelin starred The Masons Arms, Knowstone, to a little closer to home Crowcombe Court amongst others.

We are always looking to work with more employers and chefs so if you would like to be part of our team even just for one day then please do get in touch.

The visiting chefs bring a taste of their restaurant to ours with a 4-5 course set tasting menu. These are priced around £32 per head depending on the menu and we will confirm all details with guests who have made reservation about four weeks before the event.

These evenings are sold out at least four months in advance so as soon as the dates are released we suggest you reserve a table.

We are looking forward to welcoming guest chefs in the next academic year, and throughout 2024. We will confirm dates soon, please check back regularly for updates or contact us.

To book, email tomlinsonr@btc.ac.uk or call 01823 366497.

Menus

• September – November 2024 Menu
• September – November 2024 Breakfast Menu
• Christmas 2024 Menu
• Drinks Menu
• Afternoon Tea Menu

We usually change our menu termly with the addition of a Christmas menu. We use as many local suppliers as possible and sometimes we may need to change items due to availability.

Please let us know if you have any special dietary requirements and you cannot see anything suitable, as all of our dishes are cooked from scratch in-house. We can usually make any adaptations needed.

We always have vegetarian dishes on our menu and have vegan substitutes which can be used.

We ask that parties over 10 provide us with a pre-order to ensure availability on the day.

Opening times

Our students welcome guests during term time when students are not completing exams, if in any doubt please call us to check opening times. If you are thinking of popping in and visiting us then please do give us a call before you leave home.

• Morning coffee and brunch
  Wednesday – Friday, 10.30am – 11.30am
• Lunch
  Wednesday – Friday, from 12.30pm
• Dinner
  Wednesday – Thursday, from 6pm

Our restaurant follows the academic calendar so please bear in mind we will not be available on the following dates due to exams and term breaks.

• Monday 28 October – Friday 1 November
• Thursday 19 December – Thursday 9 January
• Monday 31 March – Friday 25 April
• Monday 26 May – Friday 30 May

Please do let us know if you have any dates in mind, the last day of the academic year is on the Friday 20 June 2025.

It is advisable to book lunch or dinner. To book email tomlinsonr@btc.ac.uk or call 01823 366497.

Please note opening times may vary.

About us – Preparing the Next Generation

Our professional hospitality courses offer students a vast range of experiences to prepare them for the industry within our state-of-the-art facilities in Taunton.

As a restaurant guest, employer, teacher, supplier, mentor, parent or friend, you have the chance to support the hospitality stars of the future.

Student experience is at the heart of everything we do. Working alongside our employers enables us to provide a realistic working environment within an academic setting.

The monthly gourmet evenings are a chance for our students to work with guest chefs from a variety of organisations, many of whom have achieved AA Rosettes for their work. This opportunity, alongside our visits to prestigious organisations such as The Dorchester Hotel, is invaluable to our student experience. Not only does it raise aspirations but it reinforces the learning that takes place within our department.

Our students have the opportunity to take part in regional and national competitions. They are credited with supporting those who enter as we host many throughout the year including local heats of The South West Chef of the Year, of which Michael Caines MBE, is founder and head judge.

All of our students have the opportunity to hone their skills within our realistic working environment in The Quantock Restaurant and showcase their learning during our work placement programme which may include working locally, nationally or internationally.

Opportunities to work with a wide range of employers from local business such as The Shed, Mr Miles Tea Rooms, Augustus, The Castle Hotel and Crowcombe Court to employers further afield from Saunton Sands, Lympstone Manor and Galvin at Windows amongst others.

Our students’ success goes from strength to strength and we are lucky enough to still work with previous students in a wide range of organisations, in managerial roles, from the RAF to The Dorchester Collection, from remote rural retreats to working in the big smoke!

Not only do our students have the opportunity to build excellent working relationships with each other and employers, they can also showcase their skills at numerous food shows and events throughout the county. We work closely with our colleagues in Cannington and our students can see the farm to fork process from harvesting the potage in The Walled Gardens to preparing and serving the items in our restaurant.

If you are a student who would like to find out more about completing a taster with us, or a teacher that would like to bring your students to see us or an employer who would like to work with us, then we would love to hear from you.

Email Rebecca Tomlinson for more information via tomlinsonr@btc.ac.uk.