Ayrshire College is celebrating outstanding success after securing top honours at the prestigious TUCO Competitions 2026, held at University of Warwick. 

 

Representing the College in the highly competitive Mixology category, Declan Sloan, an SVQ Level 5 Food & Beverage student, achieved an exceptional gold medal, while Ffion Chambers, Restaurant Operations Coordinator, secured an impressive silver medal. 

 

The competition challenged participants to demonstrate creativity, technical expertise and composure under pressure. Competitors were tasked with designing and presenting both a signature cocktail and mocktail, as well as preparing a classic drink selected by expert judges. 

 

Declan’s gold-winning performance impressed judges with its innovation, balance of flavours and confident execution, while Ffion’s silver award recognised her professionalism, creativity and refined mixology skills. 

 

Speaking about his achievement, Declan said: 
“The gold medal wasn't only just won by myself but by all the lecturers and people within the college who helped me along the way and pushed me out my comfort zone by building my confidence and pushing me to do these sort of events and showcase what hard work and dedication can do.” 

 

Angela Sheridan, Head of Learning & Skills – Creative, Hair, Beauty, Complementary Therapies & Make Up Artist at Ayrshire College, added: 
“We are incredibly proud of both Declan and Ffion for their fantastic achievements at a national level. Their success is a testament to their dedication, passion and the high standard of training and support provided at Ayrshire College. Competing at TUCO offers invaluable experience, and to come away with gold and silver is truly outstanding.” 

 

The College also had strong representation in the Chef’s Challenge category, showcasing the depth of talent within Ayrshire College’s hospitality programmes. 

 

This success further reinforces Ayrshire College’s reputation for excellence in hospitality training and its commitment to providing students and staff with opportunities to excel on a national stage.