July 7, 2017 3.05 pm This story is over 80 months old

Top chef opens pop-up restaurant in Lincoln school

Great British Menu finalist and owner of Browns Pie Shop in Lincoln Danny Gill set up the city’s first pop-up school restaurant with the aim of inspiring the next generation of food professionals. Danny, 31, formerly a head chef at a two Michelin-starred restaurant in Cambridge, set up station with sous-chef Will Hodson, 24, at…
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Great British Menu finalist and owner of Browns Pie Shop in Lincoln Danny Gill set up the city’s first pop-up school restaurant with the aim of inspiring the next generation of food professionals.

Danny, 31, formerly a head chef at a two Michelin-starred restaurant in Cambridge, set up station with sous-chef Will Hodson, 24, at North Kesteven School, where he was formerly a pupil.

His first job out of school was with Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons under Raymond Blanc aged 17.

The pair shared the challenges of running a successful restaurant with pupils studying GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition.

The pupils then served the food to their family and friends at a pop-up restaurant in the school canteen.

Students made a three course meal consisting of mackerel, chicken and a cake.

Danny told The Lincolnite: “Me and Will were sat having a coffee and discussing the chef shortage in the industry and why less people are getting involved in catering and hospitality.

“We had this idea of a pop-up restaurant within a school by taking what we do on a day-to-day basis by getting kids off their desks, into chef whites and getting them cooking.”

The Lincoln duo hope that by doing these workshops it will encourage more young people into hospitality.

“People need to realise you can do this job full-time and not something to do while you’re looking for something else,” added Will.

Student Will Hammond, 15, said: “It’s good fun because it’s an experience and something you can put on your CV, also it’s helping me build skills for later on in life.”