Meet the team behind Middlesbrough College’s commercial training restaurant: Clare, David, and Beverley!
The Waterside Brasserie is a fully licensed restaurant operated by Middlesbrough College’s Catering and Hospitality students. However, it wouldn’t be possible without the support of their dedicated tutors, who work with the students to turn the training facility into a thriving restaurant.
Clare Sanderson, Head Chef at the Waterside Brasserie, works closely with Level 2 and Level 3 students, providing them with a real-life working environment to prepare them for the industry. Clare has extensive experience in Back of House, Front of House, and Head Chef roles in hotels, restaurants, and industrial catering across the UK. With 14 years of teaching under her belt, Clare is a fantastic tutor who inspires and motivates her students, just as she was inspired by her own tutor 40 years ago.
She said, “I had a fantastic tutor when I was a student, who I’m pleased to call a friend to this day. If that hadn’t happened, I don’t know where I’d be, so my aim is to inspire and motivate students in the same way.”
David Thorne, Instructor Demonstrator Assessor (IDA), joined Middlesbrough College in 2021 to support the development of customer service skills within our students, building on them daily with the restaurant’s customers. When asked about his favourite part of the job, he said, “I love working with the students and helping them develop their skills. I worked as a manager in pubs for 12 years, and training the team was my favourite part of the job, so working at the College seemed like the perfect career move for me. The aim is to teach students in a scenario that mirrors a real-life, industry-standard bar and restaurant, and the Waterside Brasserie allows me to do that.”
Beverley Murphy, IDA, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the team, with a degree in Business Management from University Centre Middlesbrough and decades of industry experience working in event catering at places like Teesside University. She prepares students for a career in the industry, covering a range of fundamental topics such as barista duties, allergens, and serving.
She said, “I’ve always wanted to get into teaching, but it’s so much better than I imagined and it’s really rewarding to support students inside and outside the classroom. I had one student that was incredibly shy and quiet in class but, by the end of term, they’d opened up and were like a new person – being able to make a difference like that is lovely.”
When asked about working at the Waterside Brasserie, Beverley said: “It’s wonderful – we all get along so well and support each other, which makes it a great place to work.”
The Waterside Brasserie offers great cuisine at fantastic prices, from homemade scones and morning coffee to a la carte menus for your lunch or dinner.
Contact the team to book your table!
Call: 01642 333 271