The Hammersley Restaurant is Stoke-on-Trent College’s award-winning, AA -recognised training restaurant run by a team of talented and passionate hospitality and catering students.

Described on TripAdvisor as a ‘secret gem’, the restaurant offers quality dining experiences for guests and a valuable learning experience for students, giving them invaluable, hands-on training that prepares them for the working world.

The aim is to be more than just a restaurant, but rather to create opportunities that change lives.

The students that work in The Hammersley are the head chefs of the future, the budding restaurateurs and the managers that keep service ticking and make sure guests go home happy.

The restaurant offers seasonal menus and themed events that showcase a wide range of students’ talents as well as the locally sourced ingredients.

Over the past two years the college has invested £200,000 in a state-of-the-art, industry standard pastry kitchen, providing learners with access to the latest equipment and preparing them for the varied demands of the modern culinary world. This has enabled the college to offer high-quality pastry training, giving students access to specialised, sought after industry skills.

Since opening the doors of the Hammersley Restaurant in October 2023 the college has seen considerable growth in demand and it has quickly become established as a fine dining mainstay and a hub of hospitality excellence, growth and innovation.

The Hammersley Restaurant has entered the Small Business of the Year category of University of Staffordshire Business Awards.