Re-launch of award-winning Gallery Restaurant at FVC’s Stirling Campus

Forth Valley College’s award-winning Gallery Restaurant was officially relaunched after an extensive refurbishment this week.

A special drinks reception and evening meal celebration event attracting invited guests and regular customers, was held at the Gallery on Tuesday 15 September, to the delight of everyone involved. The event also doubled as an excellent opportunity for Forth Valley College to launch its exclusive new tartan design.

Funding from the Savoy Educational Trust - matched by Forth Valley College –helped to refurbish the Gallery Restaurant, which helps to train the next generation of Scotland’s hospitality professionals – both in the kitchen and serving front of house.

The award-winning Gallery recently won a top prize at the Scottish Hospitality Awards 2026, landing the Restaurant Dining Experience category prize thanks to a public vote, at a special ceremony in Glasgow in June. The restaurant has also recently maintained its VisitScotland’s Taste Our Best accreditation once again. 

A total of £50,000 was secured from the Savoy Educational Trust, with the College matching the investment to deliver a £100,000 refurbishment of the Gallery Restaurant’s front of house area.  The upgrade has given the much-loved training restaurant its first major makeover since the Stirling Campus opened in 2012.  

The Savoy Educational Trust supports education, training and skills development in hospitality and grants are awarded to projects that enhance skills, knowledge and opportunities for students and professionals. The Trust’s funding aims to drive positive changes for individuals, communities and the hospitality sector. 

The exciting £100,000 project began during the summer of 2026 and enabled the College to update the restaurant front of house area, creating a contemporary hospitality training environment, comparable to the highest industry standards. 

The work focussed on a theme highlighting ‘iconic Scotland,’ featuring new lighting, gallery-style walls, improved décor and modern furnishings. FVC staff and students were invited to a special exclusive preview of the newly refurbished Gallery Training Restaurant at the Stirling Campus, on Thursday 3 September.

Kenny MacInnes, Principal of Forth Valley College, said: “This event marks two important milestones for the College. We are delighted to officially relaunch our award-winning Gallery Restaurant and to unveil our new bespoke College tartan. Both are symbols of who we are as a college: proud of our heritage, ambitious about our future, and committed to creating outstanding experiences for our students and communities.

“I would like to thank the Savoy Educational Trust for its support and belief in the value of hospitality education. I would also like to recognise the many staff, students, designers and contractors whose hard work, creativity and dedication have brought this vision to life.

“The Gallery Restaurant is looking fantastic, and we can’t wait to welcome back regular customers and also attract new diners looking for a truly unique culinary experience.”

Diane Creed, Director of Curriculum, for FVC’s Department of Creative, Digital and Leisure Industries, said: “It has been a real privilege to see the Gallery Restaurant transformed into this exciting new space, and I am incredibly proud of everyone who has played a part in bringing the vision to life. A huge thank you goes to our talented design team and to the staff and students who contributed their ideas and feedback throughout the process. Their input has helped us create an environment that truly reflects the spirit of hospitality, while celebrating our ‘iconic Scotland’ theme.

“We are extremely grateful to the Savoy Educational Trust for their generous support, which, together with the College’s investment, has made this refurbishment possible. The Gallery is so much more than a restaurant – it is an important learning environment where our students can develop their skills, confidence and professionalism in a setting that reflects the standards of the industry they are preparing to enter.

“We are excited about the future of the Gallery and hope our customers will love dining in this new environment as much as we have enjoyed creating it. Most importantly, we want it to be a place where our students can gain the very best hospitality industry training and experience, helping them to take their next steps into successful careers with confidence.”

Karyn King, FVC’s Hospitality Operations Manager, said: “Thanks to the generous support of the Savoy Educational Trust, we’re not only enhancing the experience for our customers, but also enriching our students’ learning journey. This funding empowers us to better prepare our learners for successful careers in the sector, ensuring they leave Forth Valley College confident, capable, and industry-ready. We can’t thank the Trust enough for their generous grant to allow us to complete this project.”

Angela Maher, Chief Executive of the Savoy Educational Trust, said: “Students thrive when their training reflects the pace and expectations of a real hospitality environment. This investment will strengthen learners’ front-of-house skills, elevate service standards, and ensure Forth Valley College students are fully prepared to begin their careers with confidence. Just as importantly, it will provide a space they are proud to learn in - one that builds both professionalism and capability.”

For more information on the Trust visit https://www.savoyeducationaltrust.org.uk/ and to find out more about the Gallery Restaurant visit https://www.forthvalley.ac.uk/venue-and-dining/gallery-restaurant