Student takeover of Dunston Hall Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort
2nd July 2025 – Tags: Hospitality
Our Introduction to Hospitality and Catering students have rounded off the year with a ‘takeover’ of Dunston Hall Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort.
The 4-day work experience event provided the students with the opportunity to experience what it is like to work in a busy hotel and leisure setting, and to sample the many different job roles available in the industry.
The students rose to the challenge of taking on different job roles within the hotel, guided and supported by the Dunston Hall staff.
Their roles ranged from checking in guests on the reception desk, to servicing the rooms with the housekeeping team, preparing food in the kitchen, working alongside the leisure team in the health club, supporting the events team, and assisting in the golf shop that is attached to Dunston’s 18-hole golf course.
The Level 1 Introduction to Hospitality and Catering course is designed to give students a grounding in all aspects of the industry, which includes gaining experience of preparing and serving food and beverages to students and staff in the college’s Debut Café.
Owen working in the kitchen at Dunston Hall.
The Dunston Hall takeover gave the group the opportunity to apply the hospitality skills they’ve developed in a new setting outside college, to the standards expected by the Dunston Hall team and its guests.
“It’s a nice to be able to communicate with the customers,” says City College Norwich student Tanya Mbasela, who opted to work on the hotel’s reception desk.
This was Tanya’s first time working in a hotel and now she is keen extend the experience by taking a summer job.
“This place is wonderful. It’s big and beautiful. There is a lot here, like the spa, health club, golf,” adds Tanya.
Anna did her work experience with the housekeeping team at Dunston Hall.
It was also Anna Burt’s first experience of working in a hotel. Anna, who had a role with the housekeeping team, commented:
“It’s a lot work, but I’ve enjoyed it. I like the difference you make to a room for the guests. It's satisfying.”
Joe Mulhall, Head of Hospitality, Catering, Tourism, Hair & Beauty at City College Norwich, said:
These students are at the very beginning of their hospitality journeys, and we are grateful to Dunston Hall for giving them this experience of the many different roles that are available to them within the industry.
For most of the students this was the first time they have worked in a hospitality setting away from college. Experiences like this are invaluable to them as they think about what they want to do in future, be that further study, applying for hospitality jobs or an apprenticeship, or indeed moving in another direction.”
Dean Saunders, General Manager, Dunston Hall Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort, comments:
It’s been an absolute pleasure to welcome the students from City College Norwich and support them in the first steps of their journey into the wonderful industry that is Hospitality.
The enthusiasm with which they all approached the takeover, especially those for whom this was their first time experiencing such an environment, was clearly evident. To hear some students saying they want to come and join the team following their time with us is really the icing on the cake.”