Gloucestershire College's hospitality and catering students are getting into the festive spirit with Creed Foodservice at The Christmas Fair in the Cotswolds.

The fair is being held at Daylesford Farm, near Kingham, from Monday, November 6, to Wednesday, November 8.

The popular farm shop is set to be transformed into a pop-up marketplace of over 180 stands, offering early Christmas shopping opportunities, free workshops and, of course, delicious lunches prepared and served by talented college students, in partnership with Creed.

All Level 1 to Level 3 students will support Rob Owen, Creed's executive development chef, with preparations on the Monday, before 18 selected students work front of house and in the kitchen mass catering lunch at the event over two days, for over 800 people, with all proceeds raised being donated to WellChild, the national charity for sick children.

Visitors can expect to enjoy a variety of cakes, soups, cheeses, ham, super food salads and coronation chicken.

Rob said: "We are keen to invest in the next generation of chefs and therefore are happy to support and engage with GC's young chefs. It's important for them to gain real life experience, with genuine pressure constraints, time keeping requirements and multi-tasking expectations in a live situation with professional chefs and real customers.

"I'm sure the students will rise to the challenge of this event. They will learn a range of skills, from food preparation, cooking, presentation and using unfamiliar equipment, to experiencing working with a charity, and Daylesford itself, which is an organic working farm."

Eighteen-year-old former Dean Close pupil Jemimah Bareham, said: "I am looking forward to gaining work experience on a project that supports a local charity. It will expose me to a different style of food preparation and service, and enhance my experience as a student in readiness for employment."

Jo O'Connell, head of school, said: "We have a close working partnership with Creed, and are delighted to support them with this charity event. It will strengthen students' employability skills and enable them to understand how an off-site event works.

GC students have benefitted greatly from the college's relationship with Creed, and most recently, have enjoyed full access passes to the Creed Trade Show, a food tour in Bristol, a masterclass on butchering a pig and touring West End Pig Farm - with plenty more planned for 2018.

In addition to a year-round calendar of external events, hospitality and catering students gain work experience at the college's on-site commercial restaurants at the Cheltenham and Forest of Dean campuses.

Restaurant Number 1 at Cheltenham Campus underwent an impressive refurbishment late last year year and is open to the public Tuesday to Friday from 12pm to 2pm, serving up seasonal lunches using fresh, local produce. The contemporary fine dining restaurant provides a realistic training environment for students, whilst offering exceptional customer service for diners.

For more information on GC's hospitality and catering courses, and to see the restaurant for yourself, come along to the Cheltenham Open Evening on Monday, November 13. Register for your place at www.openeveningsatGC.co.uk 

Picture captions: Catering students at a masterclass with butcher Gary Hannis. (top) Rob Owens of Creed Foodservice. (bottom)