UWTSD’s Arwen Garland wins Wales Young Waiter of the Year 2025
The University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) Events and International Festivals Management student Arwen Garland has been crowned Wales Young Waiter of the Year 2025 at the prestigious Young Chef Young Waiter Young Mixologist Wales 2025 competition, held at Swansea.com Stadium. The 19 year old from Swansea impressed the judges with her professionalism, skills, and passion for hospitality, securing the top title in the waiter category.
A fluent Welsh speaker from Swansea, Arwen’s passion for hospitality began at the very same venue on her 16th birthday, when she worked her first shift during the Elton John concert. Since then, she has risen through the ranks, gaining experience in conference and events teams, set-up crews, and matchday hospitality. Today, alongside her studies, she is also a bar supervisor at the Swansea Building Society Arena.
Arwen chose to study Events and International Festivals Management at UWTSD because of the course’s strong emphasis on hands-on learning and industry engagement. She has already logged over 100 hours of work experience, including helping to deliver the ITT Annual Conference and travelling to the World Travel Market in London with her classmates.
Reflecting on her victory, Arwen said:
“Winning this award is such an incredible honour. My course at UWTSD has given me so much – from gaining service and wine qualifications to exploring sustainability and event management – and I’ve been able to put those skills into practice in real industry settings. One of the challenges in the competition was to respond to scenario-based interview questions, including what’s currently changing and challenging within hospitality. Thanks to what we’ve learned about sustainability and the industry’s ongoing evolution, I felt prepared and confident in my answer.”
Forging strong links with businesses and industry partners to build networks that elevate students and communities, the University was delighted to host the competition once again to expand this network to incorporate the wider Welsh Hospitality sector.
Jacqui Jones, UWTSD’s Programme Manager for the International Travel, Tourism, Events and Festivals Management portfolio, said:
” We are extremely proud of Arwen winning the Young Waiter Wales Final. Arwen is a 2nd year Events Management student who is passionate about Events and Hospitality, having worked at Swansea.Com Stadium since she was 16. As part of UWTSD’s partnership with Swansea Arena she completed her 1st year placement experience at the Arena, working at a wide range of events, enabling her to become Bars & VIP Supervisor.
“Arwen’s success showcases the employability focus of the Events and International Festivals Management course and how it prepares our students for future careers within the sector. We wish Arwen every success representing Wales, & we look forward to cheering her on in the World Finals.”
Dr Jayne Griffith-Parry, Academic Director of Hospitality and Tourism Management at UWTSD, added:
“Within the YYY competition Wales are renowned for securing a place on the winning podium; for a small but perfectly formed principality, showcasing Welsh produce and the skill set of young Welsh hospitality professionals, the ethos of UWTSD and YYY are intertwined in achieving successful careers for our contestants. I look forward to working with the category winners in preparation for the World final which will be held in London, February 2026.”
Arwen celebrates alongside Rob Griffiths of Penmaenuchaf Hotel in Dolgellau, winner of the Young Chef category, and Ellen Budd of Penny in Cardiff, winner of the Young Mixologist category. Their outstanding abilities and exceptional skills have set them apart, earning the winners a place in the World finals to represent Wales on the global stage in London, showcasing their talents to world-class chefs, hospitality experts, and mixologists.
YYY Chairman Robert Walton, MBE said:
“Now we know the team that will represent Wales at the World Championships in London. Let’s see how they do again on the World stage with other chefs’ ,waiters, and mixologist from around the world, it’s always an incredible experience for these young stars of tomorrow.
“ For the last three times, Wales have been on the podium, so no pressure for anyone here tonight. We thank Jayne, we thank Wales, we thank the University for all of their support, it’s just brilliant to be here.”
The panel of judges for YYY Wales 2025, for the Chef category were Hywel Griffith of the Beach House, Oxwich; Tom Simmons of Thomas, Cardiff; Arwyn Watkins, President of the Culinary Association of Wales and Cindy Challoner from Coleg Gwent, with Swansea FC Executive Chef Martyn Guest managing the Kitchen and pass for the competition.
The judges for the Waiter category were Lola Villard- Coles UWTSD, James Thomas from Compass Cymru; Andy Downton from Burnt Chocolate and Antoinette Milne UWTSD as specialist wine judge.
The Mixology judges were Christopher Wilkin UWTSD, Paul Robinson, Chief Creative Officer of Neft Vodka, and last year’s Wales YYY Mixologist winner, James Borley.
Surplus produce from the event was delivered to Matthew’s House in Swansea, whose aim is to provide a ‘home’ in the heart of Swansea for those who are most vulnerable. A building that is known for unconditional hospitality and hope – providing a lifeline for the homeless and others who need it.
Established in 1979, the competition has solidified its presence as a fundamental event in the UK hospitality industry calendar, showcasing groups of exceptionally talented young chefs, waiters, and mixologists, each competing for the prestigious title of the Young Chef, Young Waiter, Young Mixologist winner. The competition is open to all chefs, waiters and mixologists working in Wales who are under 28 years old, from any background.
UWTSD’s long history of Higher Education in Wales includes a well-established school of Hospitality and Tourism, bringing enhanced opportunities to the people of Wales.
The University offers a wide range of leading Hospitality and Tourism Management courses alongside hosting the World Young Chef Young Waiter competition. These industry-focused courses, which include International Gastronomy Management, Hospitality and Hotel Management and Events and International Festivals Management can be taken at undergraduate and postgraduate level, with options for in-person or distance learning, and full or part-time study.
Thanks to sponsors, Neft Vodka, Compass Cymru, Castell Howell, Mor Ladron Rum, Swansea Fish, Towy Fish & Game and The Village Hotel, Swansea.
Looking ahead, Arwen plans to continue gaining as much experience as possible during her studies, with the ambition of progressing into a management role in the hospitality sector. For now, she celebrates an outstanding milestone – being crowned Wales’s Young Waiter of the Year 2025.
Further Information
Lowri Thomas
Principal Communications and PR Officer
Corporate Communications and PR
Email: lowri.thomas@uwtsd.ac.uk
Phone: 07449 998476