Collage shows students plating up food in the kitchen, the restaurant ready for service and a student serving a meal to a diner

Aspire Restaurant

Our student run training restaurant offers a superb and affordable dining experience

Aspire restaurant logo

The finest sourced ingredients are freshly prepared each day and used to create a range of exciting lunch and dinner menus which are planned, prepared and served by City College’s hospitality and catering students.

Whether it’s dinner for two, a business meeting or a group celebration, Aspire Restaurant offers guests a truly unique and memorable dining experience complete. We cater for all dietary requirements so please ask if required.

Plate with beautifully presented salmon salad

 

Artistically presented desert with sauce piped into a design on the plate

For reservations
Call 023 8057 7377
or email aspire@southampton-city.ac.uk

Please make us aware of any allergies or dietary needs prior to your event. 

 

Winter Menu - available on Thursdays and Fridays from 22nd February - 21st March  12:00pm - 1:15pm

2 courses for £13.95 and 3 courses for £16.95

To start

Cream of Vegetable Soup

root vegetable crisps

 or

Baked Smoked Haddock Smokies

sourdough bread

 or

Fig, Bocconcini Mozzarella & Serrano Ham Salad

peppery rocket, honey & mustard dressing

 

 

 

Parties over 10
We can cater for larger groups and parties including private functions. A £5pp non-refundable deposit is required for parties over 10. Please contact us for information.

How to Find Us
City College, Chapel Rd, Southampton SO14 5GL

Aspire Restaurant - Google map (new window)

 


Main Course

Chicken Chasseur

sauteed chicken pieces, chasseur sauce, roast parsnips, chateaux potato

Prawn & Monkfish Fricassee

aromatic shellfish sauce, sauteed courgettes, braised rice, coriander relish

Crisp Polenta

mediterranean grilled vegetables, rocket, pesto & balsamic glaze

Dessert

A selection of freshly prepared desserts will be available on the day

Training Facilities

Aspire Resaurant

Aspire Restaurant ready for service

Waiting staff carry plates of food in the busy restaurant

Bar and coffee machine ready for service

Our contemporary Aspire Restaurant seats up to 40 people and is open to the public during term time. Aspire has a licensed bar and a dedicated barista area for guests to enjoy while dining and for students to develop their front of house and bar skills.

Kitchens

Overhead view of students working in a busy restaurant kitchen

Students preparing food at different stations in training kitchen

Student places food into eye-level grill in training kitchen

Our three training kitchens are each fitted out with advanced industry-standard equipment enabling students to gain the up-to-date knowledge and practical skills needed to develop an exciting career in this fast-paced industry.

Student Success

The renowned Paul Ainsworth originally trained here before going on to cook for Gary Rhodes and Gordon Ramsey.

Paul is now a Michelin-star restaurant owner, managing No. 6 and Rojano's in the Square, both located in Padstow, Cornwall. He was winner of BBC2's The Great British Menu (South West region) in 2011 and now also runs Padstow Townhouse, providing beautiful accommodation to his guests.

Headshot of Paul Ainsworth