A popular food and drink hub in Coventry has celebrated its first anniversary in style by winning two awards.
Metropolis Bar and Restaurant received the Food Hero Community Award at the Foodie Awards – held at Fargo Village, Coventry – and one of its employees, Kevin Prior, was named Employee of the Year.
The popular bar and restaurant operates under the auspices of PET-Xi, a leading regional training provider, and is focused on supporting people who are not in employment, education or training (NEET) with the job opportunities that enable them to develop their hospitality skills.
Metropolis, the result of a partnership with Historic Coventry Trust, first opened its doors in July 2021, and is now an award-winning bar and restaurant with 20 staff – with 50% of all profits going to community projects which restore buildings in Coventry.
Kevin, 34, joined the Metropolis team as a kitchen porter after completing PET-Xi’s Level 2 Customer Service course, funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).
While training, Kevin was given CV support, tips on how to create a professional first impression, advice on how to develop customer relationships and shown different techniques to call upon when dealing with customer feedback.
Fleur Sexton, CEO and Co-Founder of PET-Xi Training, said: “Coming away from the esteemed Foodie Awards with both the Food Hero Community Award and Employee Of The Year prizes is a really special way to celebrate our first year as a bar and restaurant.
“When we first opened last June, our aim for Metropolis was to establish it as a casual, relaxed dining and drinking experience for all, while also providing a platform for young people to gain qualifications and some welcome hospitality experience.
“We’re really proud to have been recognised by the Foodie Awards for our efforts.
“Metropolis Bar and Restaurant is all about the community. We want to provide life-changing opportunities for young people in Coventry and Warwickshire who are looking for education, employment and training – helping them make the very best of themselves.
“It’s especially rewarding to see Kevin, a valued member of our Metropolis team, who first secured employment with us after attending our training courses, get the recognition he deserves. We’re incredibly thankful to the West Midlands Combined Authority for their ongoing support, which allows us to train and employ talented people like Kevin.
“Metropolis has established itself as a go-to venue for people of all ages from across the region, and we’d love to welcome more of you this summer for chilled out drinks, fun nights out and amazing food.”
