Enhancing dining with innovation as BSDC welcomes BellaBot

Burton and South Derbyshire College (BSDC) has recently welcomed an advanced smart delivery robot to enhance the service in the College’s Mulberry Bistro. 

Designed to improve the dining experience, BellaBot assists students by making food service more efficient and accessible. With its cutting-edge technology, the robot supports catering and hospitality students without replacing the social aspect of dining. Students will continue to engage with customers by serving food directly from the bot, blending innovation with human interaction. Additionally, the new equipment enhances inclusivity by providing greater accessibility for individuals who may find carrying multiple items challenging.

The Mulberry Bistro is a contemporary café run alongside the Mulberry Restaurant at the College’s Town Centre Campus. All food and drinks are freshly prepared by Catering and Hospitality students under the close supervision of expert tutors, as they develop professional skills for their future careers.

Calibrated to The Bistro’s layout, BellaBot allows servers to input table numbers, guiding them effortlessly to each destination. The robot also introduces itself before delivering food and drinks, creating a friendly and engaging experience for customers.

BellaBot will be integrated into various courses, giving students hands-on experience with innovative service solutions and preparing them for the evolving hospitality industry. Students will learn how to operate the robot, explore new service styles and experiment with how robotics can enhance the dining experience.

John Beaty, Principal and Chief Executive at Burton and South Derbyshire College, said: “It’s incredibly important that all our learners understand how technology is changing the sectors they aspire to work in. BellaBot gives hospitality and catering students a unique insight, allowing them to focus on adding value to their customers’ experience.”
Louise Tanner, Hospitality and Catering Course Leader at BSDC, also said: “ We’re excited to introduce BellaBot, a state-of-the-art service delivery robot, to The Mulberry Bistro. BSDC is proud to be the first college in the UK to integrate this technology into hospitality and catering training, providing students with hands-on experience with the latest innovations in the service industry.”

Join us in embracing the future of hospitality with BellaBot!