South West College’s Erne Campus proudly marked the relaunch of the Erne Restaurant with a special gourmet lunch event, showcasing the skills and creativity of its Hospitality and Catering students.
The event, held at the College’s state-of-the-art restaurant, featured a menu packed with contemporary and delicate gourmet bites, prepared and served by students under the guidance of their tutors and two distinguished professional chefs — former South West College students, Marty McAdam and Glenn Wheeler.
Both Marty and Glenn, internationally renowned chefs, returned to the College to support and mentor the next generation of culinary talent. Working alongside lecturers, they provided students with hands-on experience in every aspect of professional kitchen service — from food preparation and plating to teamwork and time management.
The relaunch offered guests and staff the chance to experience the impressive standard of cuisine that South West College students are capable of producing, reflecting the high level of training delivered through the College’s Hospitality and Catering programmes.
Tanya Purvis, Acting Deputy Head of Department for Commercial and Business services, expressed her pride in the students and highlighted the value of such practical experiences:
“The relaunch of the Erne Restaurant is a wonderful celebration of our students’ skills and dedication. Practical experience like this is essential for their development — it gives them the opportunity to put their learning into action in a real working environment. Seeing their professionalism and teamwork today truly signifies South West College’s vision which is Inspiring Learning and Empowering people. They have produced food of an exceptional standard, and events like this truly demonstrate the bright future that awaits them in the hospitality industry.”
The Erne Restaurant, which serves as a live training environment for South West College students, will continue to host regular lunch services and gourmet evenings throughout the academic year, giving students the chance to refine their culinary techniques and front-of-house skills while providing the local community with a high-quality dining experience.
The relaunch event not only marked a milestone for the College’s Hospitality and Catering provision but also reinforced South West College’s commitment to supporting industry-led learning and nurturing talent that contributes to the region’s thriving food and tourism sectors.
The Erne Restaurant will be open to members of the public on selected Wednesdays during term time for a counter-service lunch between 12:30pm and 1:15pm and on selected Thursdays for full table service. For booking and information email erne@swc.ac.uk or contact 028 66 342299. Dates for Gourmet Dining evenings and Christmas Lunch service will be made available soon.