Hix Academy in Weymouth and Portland

A great experience once again. 5th time at The Avenue and it never fails to deliver first class food and service. The students are a credit to the college. Their enthusiasm and attention to detail make the experience a real pleasure. We thoughally enjoyed the lunch and experience as usual and can't wait to return in the very near future.

We had Christmas lunch with a group of friends today, provided by the catering students at Weymouth College. The whole experience was hugely enjoyable, from the welcome by the front of house students and the friendly service, to the beautifully cooked and presented lunch. Well chosen wine list. Pleasant sitting area for a drink beforehand. Great value ( £20 for 3 course lunch and coffee). This is one of Weymouth’s best kept secrets. Get in touch and go.

A delightful setting was complimented by the students of Weymouth College serving a Festive Dinner in December 2019 to a group of 12 of us. Although a little tentative at times they were very helpful and provided a greeting at the door. The quality of the food was excellent and well presented. Thanks to the Restaurant Manager Cathy and all the teaching staff in the Kitchen.

The review given by Ralph T is very unfair. I was part of that party. 16 of us had booked and pre-ordered. Ralph arrived univited as a +1 and without a booking. The 16 of us who had pre-ordered were served well by the students and in good time. Ralph had to wait because the kitchen did not know he was coming. I think he was very lucky that the maitra d' ran around trying to accommodate him. Most places would have just sent him away. Well done students. The rest of us really enjoyed our meal.

Tasty food at a reasonable price for a three course lunch. Several items on the lunch menu. A group of twenty resulted in slow service delays between courses.

We have now been both to the taster and Jazz event. On both occasions we were very impressed with the young servers. It was a shame that the taster evening took so long but the end result was perfect, the food and presentation being similar to a top class restaurant. We felt by the time we had finished our dessert it was late so we did not stay for the cheese course. But by that time we had enough to eat as the helpings were quite large. We also enjoyed the jazz night though the first part was a little loud for me the second just right. The food came out much quicker than last week but was to the same high standard. We felt both nights were good value. Cathy who is in charge of the front of house for the young servers is so professional and welcoming while encouraging the students to greet the guests and open the door for them when they leave. Well done to everyone thank you.

We went to the Taster Event. We got ther before 7.00 and we were seated just after. It seemed to be going well to start with, then we rearlised that it was 10.15 and we had only just started our pudding course. At this point a member of the kitchen staff said that the reason for the long wait between courses was because the Head Chef wanted everthing to be perfect and that the cheese course would be wonderful. But by this time we just wanted to eat, not what it looked like. The food was wonderful and we have been there before without any trouble, but o the long wait.

Spent thr evening at the Avenue, food was fabulous, Luciano did not disappoint. Students did very well, professional and courteous. Will definitely be back.

Went to jazz evening last night.. the final event of this season.. what a lovely happy atmosphere.. the jazz band were excellent.. lots of smiling faces from the chefs, customers and training students. I was surprised with a delicious birthday dessert.. the bar provides lots of relaxed seating and the wine selection is very good. There are many event evenings throughout the year.. I suggest you get on the Avenue mailing list to find out when they are.

I went to a themed Gin evening and the food and drinks were excellent, the service was also warm and professional. I will definitely be going again.

We had dinner at The Avenue for the first time on Thursday 25 April 2019 and it was superb! The restaurant is lovely with a good attention to details (eg. the tables are set nicely with shiny cutlery, pure white napkins etc). On that particular evening it was a themed dinner cleverly designed around various gins from start to finish. No wines involved but four different gins chosen ingeniously for each course in order to complement and enhance the food (eg. Arber rhubarb gin, ginger and apple to match the main course of pork and rhubarb). And those Sipsmith chocolate orange gin truffles, oh so good! Let’s not forget that this is a teaching college so all the dishes are prepared by students under the supervision of fantastic chefs. Our waitress was lovely (I forgot to ask her name). To summarise, the restaurant and the service were lovely, the food was delicious with original dishes cooked and presented to perfection, well worthy of any top London restaurant.

The restaurant is tastefully furnished and spotless. We arrived at 6pm but there was no service or music until 7pm so don’t go too early. Food was disappointing with a small vegetarian pie only containing a few mushrooms and leeks, the same contents were in the chicken. We were served by several students who were all pleasant and polite but only one placed the meal on the correct side and removed from the opposite side. It was all a bit hap hazard. The music by the Acadamy Jazz Band ( not students) was excellent. I would have preferred to have the same waiter/waitress for the evening.

Delicious food with an excellent service. We will definitely be booking a table when they host their next event😊

We visited last week, to experience the A La Carte menu. Our party had different options, including Confit pheasant on a warm salad, fish soup, and goats cheese for starters. Followed by a gorgeous fish pie, pork dish, and chicken dish. The food was amazing and we all thoroughly enjoyed it. Excellent value and generous portions. A lovely evening , and will be visiting again soon

I was stunned by the quality of food. Shellfish bisque was delicious (rediculously underpriced for the quality at only £3.50 ), Spatchcock chicken was so succulent and the aromatic couscous the perfect accomplice. The portions were too big for me (I’m a 6’2” fella), but our ever helpful student waitress, Katya, packed the leftovers to take home.

The food and service at the restaurant was top notch and I can wholeheartedly recommend. I had pork belly which was the best I have had in a long time! Also good value wines to go with the delicious food. A big thank you to our waitress katya

A lunchtime Xmas meal with my Walking for Health friends turned out to be loads better than I imagined.

It was our first jazz evening and we thoroughly enjoyed the entertainment from the four piece jazz group. The food was really good and the tapas came out like a tasting menu. There was something for all tastes and this was much enjoyed. Front of house and service was excellent and we were well looked after by the students. We look forward to the next event.

We had an excellent dinner for 32 people in November which is our annual dinner. It was so good this year, that we have already booked again for next year (2019). Having members from all over Dorset, The Avenue Restaurant is central to our catchment area with plenty of free parking. The menu of freshly prepared food with home-made dishes was outstanding and the large number of front of house staff make for an excellent evening. I couldn't fault the evening and the attitude of the students made it a relaxed and enjoyable evening for all.

Really enjoyed the evening at The Avenue last week. Tapas and jazz - excellent and unusual tapas choices and good live jazz made for a good evening. We'll be back.

Now renamed from Hix Academy to ‘The Avenue’ , this lovely restaurant had a themed evening of tapas dishes. We had various dishes including sharing platters of calamari, whitebait, chorizo, and spicy potato, washed down with some lovely red wine. The students make a great atmosphere and buzz to the evening and it is interesting to see them interact with the Customers. A live jazz band with pianist added furthermore to the atmosphere . We had a lovely evening, really tasty food . Will be back soon ..

We had made this booking a long time in advance and sadly some of our group had to drop out. However we were given fantastic service for our group of 13. The service was perfect especially since they were students only just starting. The food was exceptional. Everyone had a good time and many of us will be back. There was great interest shown in the over 55 lunches once a month on Thursdays. This college restaurant has now changed its name to The Avenue.

We have been here a few times but were invited to come to their open evening with an offer on the food. We each had the seafood pasta to start, arrived quickly & warm, the pasta was lovely but the sauce was a bit bland. For main I had the gunard and my husband had the lamb, the side dishes were cheesy veg & ratatouille, some simple steamed veg would have been lovely. The fish was cooked lovely but was lacking a sauce & my husband said the lamb was nice. For desert we had a creme brulee & a trio of chocolate & ginger dishes. The creme brulee arrived cold without crispy warm crust we'd normally expect, although had a charred top it appeared to have been grilled/blow torched sometime before it was served hence it arriving very cold, this really was a disappointment as it a nice size dish. The ginger with the chocolate was too overpowering for me. The choice of drinks was very good with a great selection of wine. The students were all polite and it was obvious they were learning in the art of customer service. We really would like to continue to support the restaurant but i'm afraid we wouldn't return at the full prices that would be charged.

We were greeted as soon as we arrived by Cathy who impressed us with her hospitality. We were shown to a table and soon after our food arrived. I had ordered gluten free and I was very impressed with the sandwiches and variety of cakes involved. I also prefer decaff coffee and was given a pot. My husband did not have gluten free and also enjoyed his afternoon tea. We were impressed that my husband was offered more coffee. This afternoon tea equaled others we have had before. The young waitress who brought our food was very informative telling us what our cake were and she was very friendly and happy. We think she has a great future ahead of her.

We booked for a special evening when the Hix Academy linked with Nigel Bloxham of the Crab House Cafe and Billy Winters Diner. The result was a fantastic fish tasting menu with local beers and ales. The food was delicious and beautifully cooked and presented. Service was excellent and everyone clearly worked hard as the restaurant had a full house. Many thanks to everyone concerned- we had a wonderful evening and look forward to our next visit.

We went to the curry evening. A superb selection of Indian cuisine , with a set meal of starters, main and deserts. The students did a first rate job and we really enjoyed entertainment from Weymouth college dance students. An excellent evening.

The largest venue available for us meant a tough night for sure beckoned the staff with 120 + hungry and thirsty triathlete guests. The student caterers and chefs excelled themselves. The venue was great, some decent local beverages on offer and well organised table service after some pre drinks in the bar area. We'll be back I'm sure!

Had experienced this type of restaurant service in the Swindon college but the hix academy far outclassed them in food,service and quality. 1st time eating here slight blip on arrival felt slightly awkward as time we had arranged was not what they had but they explained the error and dealt with it effectively. We had the Christmas menu . The starter of beetroot salad was a delight of various beetroot’s with blue cheese yum yum. The turkey meal was equally scrummy moist and tender.loved the lattice crisp and vegetables. We had chocolate mousse for pudding with honeycomb and that didn’t disappoint either. Finished with coffee but never saw a mince pie which I thought was coming with the coffee?? Again slight blips but excellent food well recommended will be coming again. Well done to all

This is the second time the Dorset Submariners Association have used the Hix Academy for their President's dinner, which again proved to be an excellent experience for all. The academy is well placed for us being in the centre of our catchment area and there is plenty of free parking to be had at the college. 34 of us sat down to an excellent dinner, with plenty of choices which we had pre-booked. Before the meal had finished we had already decided to book the venue for our next dinner in November 2018. I have not received any complaints or adverse comments about the meal, every one was so happy with the night. This is excellent value, as we had one volunteer trainee member for every three of us, so that is a ratio of three to one, which we could not afford if everyone was paid at restaurant prices.

We went for dinner at this restaurant. Food delicious, staff friendly, cocktails wonderful! Would highly recommend it. Well done to the students.

Mi novia y yo reservamos para cenar en la Academia hix el viernes el 9 de junio. Decidimos que íbamos a probar las tapas, ya que era una oferta muy razonable de dos tapas y dos cócteles por sólo £10! Nos quedamos encantados con la selección de las tapas y el tamaño de las porciones eran muy acertadas. El servicio era bueno y durante la cena nuestra camarera era atento. En general nos lo pasamos de maravilla y esperamos volver para probar algo más!

La comida maravillosa a Hix Academy. Tuve los cerdos mejillas para mi y mi compañero principal, tenía el cordero y dijo que estaba delicioso.

We ate at the Hix Academy this evening and it was absolutely first class. Polite and courteous staff, excellent menu and delicious food. We will certainly visit again!!

Acabamos de realizar un evento de jubilación en este lugar, pedimos una selección de Tapaz del menú para 60 personas.

I booked a table of 19 for my husband's 40th birthday - and while everything started off okay (starters were a mixed bag, bread was too dry to eat), I was so disappointed with the mains.

26 de nosotros están en un grupo de caridad y decidimos pasar una noche en la academia presentación hix. En el transcurso de unas pocas semanas mi marido ha estado en contacto regular con cathy, tratase de una comida de tres platos con opciones para cada plato, asientos, etc. Ella ha sido increíblemente servicial. Esta noche por fin tuvimos nuestra comida. Fue servido por estudiantes que eran muy cortés y eficiente. La comida era fantástica. La relación calidad precio fue muy buena y sin duda volveremos

Many thanks to everyone for making our evening so special! This was the ideal venue for our party. The background music and lighting created the perfect ambiance and the staff were very attentive and coped admirably with the 60+ guests of family and friends. Really loved the horseshoe bar!

Had a meal at Hix last week as a guest and private party. Exceptional food great selection of items and very good service considering it is run by students under supervision of lecturing staff. Will return again.

We had an excellent evening with very good food from a menu with a Autumnal them, which started with Pumpkin Soup which was followed by pan fried fillet of red mullet with crispy bacon and creamed leeks. The main was a real treat of roast Guinea fowl with a cider gravy, glazed onions and button mushrooms, served with thyme courgettes and fondant potatoes. The dessert was poached autumn fruits with a sweet rice pudding. Followed by tea or coffee. It turned out to be a very good meal and well worth the cost of £22.50.

We went as a group of 20 to celebrate my husband's 50th. Even though it was a large group and there were other diners at the restaurant, service went without a hitch. Everyone got served their orders at the same time by unobtrusive and very attentive staff. The food was of good quality, well presented and excellent value for money.at £15 for two courses and £20 for three including coffee. The front of house was excellent and the waiting staff charming, hard working and extremely professional. The restaurant is very pleasant and beautifully decorated and would make an excellent choice for any kind of dining, including larger group events and romantic meals.I would like to thank all of the staff for a very enjoyable evening.

Well done folks! We were delighted to have a very enjoyable lunch prepared and served by the students. What better way to encourage young talent than to let them practice on the public in a real restaurant. Great and we'll be back I'm sure. PS. Byron, you should be a Sommelier!

Very good three course meal with a group. Very tasty courses of prawn cocktail with bread,turkey or hake with vegetables/ roast potatoes , Christmas Pudding. Very good sauces. Quick service from students. Large quality wines/ciders and beers.

I organised an evening at the Hix Academy for 19 girls for my best friend's hen party and it could not have gone better. Cathy, Matt and the team were helpful throughout the organising process (including accommodating my requests for a seating plan and some decorations) and absolutely wonderful on the evening itself. The food and drinks were delicious and the bride was touched at the lengths everyone went to to make it an evening to remember. Moreover, the set menu was great value. Thank you Hix!

Fantastic front of house.. excellent food.. students excelled..Our waiter, Nathan, was one of the most helpful and courteous people we have met in a long time.. the restaurant was trendy and clean with a good bar, great drinks selection. The students were extremely organised, polite and a credit to the restaurant. Food was non fussy , bringing out the great taste of freshly cooked dishes. The head front of house was a lovely lady, knowledgable.. and I can't wait to visit again with my family and friends..

As a venue for a dinner, the Hix Academy proved to be excellent. It is easy to find with plenty of free parking. Once we arrived we were met at the door by the students who looked after us so well and so confidently. The dinner for 25 people proved to be delicious, complete with a well thought out menu, and the personal touch of an edible submarine floating on top of the pudding. The thing I thought was best is the value for money, as we had at least 14 students and staff looking after us, and to get that kind of service you would expect to spend much more.

The Hix Academy helped make our fund raising evening in aid of the charity Facing Africa a very special occasion. From helping us plan an unusual, African themed menu to accommodating our requirements for a projector and DJ, the front of house manager could not have been more helpful. The dining room and bar are elegant and the students who served us on the night were charming and did an excellent job for our 60 guests. Thank you Hix Academy for a great evening.

On a short weekend trip to Weymouth we were pleasantly surprised to stumble upon this hidden gem. Although a training college with the famous Hix name above the door, this restaurant did not disappoint. The menu (and decor) has a Hix twist and delivered to the table was delicious food. Please do bear in mind that the service needs to be taken with a pinch of salt - the staff are all students learning on the job. But all of them were fantastic on our visit. It was a pleasure to voluntarily leave a 10%+ tip... They deserved it.

Weymouth colleges Hix Accademy is The place to Eat.If you have a taste for good food this is the place to visit!Excellent value for money for outstanding quality food served by professionally training waiters/ waitresses.All these young students are training to the highest standard for meeting your needs as a diner.The only downside to the Accademy is that it is closed during college holidays! Give them a ring to book a table and let your tastebuds have a treat.

We went here for a meal for the first time on Saturday 11/06/16. We were impressed with the quality of the food and the great service, my wife and son had the cod and I had the jambonette of chicken which was cooked perfectly and you wouldn't believe the food was cooked by students, it was like fine dining without the price tag, we will definitely be booking again.

What a fantastic venue with very talented young people!We recently had our wedding reception at the Hix Academic at Weymouth college and it did not disappoint! We were made to feel at ease from the very start of negotians and planning with the team designing a package to suit our budget and our menu needs. We were given free reign to design the room as we wanted but it didn't need much as the rwstauarant is both stunning and modern in design. On the day, the training staff were professional and more than accommodating even when we had made a mistake on numbers the team were swift to alter the room with minimal fuss to accommodate all of our guests!!The day went amazingly and we were made to feel very special, two of our friends are still telling a tale of how the manager let their children pay for soft drinks with chocolate money which they found very amusing and are still telling everyone that will listen.I cannot recommend the venue enough and will definitely be revisiting.

What a lovely way, it turned out to be, to spend a Saturday lunchtime with our young sons at the HIX AcademyWe had only found out about the academy courtesy of an article in The Times a few days before our family trip to Weymouth, destination of childhood holidaysRight from the start it was charming, the door was opened by a smiling youngster and that smile stayed put right through our dining experienceWe were a little early and so were seated on the sofas next to the baby grand piano adorned with Mark Hix books and from where we could admire the decor of the bar and restaurant, not forgetting the inspiring artwork of other students at the collegeI took advantage by ordering a Dorset Donkey cocktail, I think, very nice, and my youngest son a Shirley Temple, served by a trendy youngster who with his 'Shoreditch Samurai' haircut, so I'm told by my son, would fit into the Shoreditch set perfectlyMy other son and husband also enjoyed their drinks but the names weren't so memorableThen we were seated, luckily for us, right by the window looking into the kitchen, where we saw the 16/17 year old youngsters hard at it, cooking up a dream or two.Only my husband ordered a starter, which we all regretted once we had tasted his Fettuccine with Portland Crab, especially him. Will make sure that we all order one next timeThe main courses, we all had different, were scrumptious and the service impeccable, with the help of a mentor in the kitchen and a calm and patient one front of house, is that what they call it in restaurants like they do in the theatre? Anyway, whatever, bravoAll was washed down along with puddings for all, by a nice bottle of white burgundy, very niceJust like the young man that greeted us, we left with a smile on our faces and a bottle of Hendersons Relish for my husband

Such an amazing evening spent enjoying amazing food and cocktails, great service and spot on advice when ordering our tapas. Thank you!

Located on the college site at Cranford Ave.this restaurant offers quality food good service at a reasonable price. The menu is varied and changes each term. Although a training venue this will also cater for small groups, business lunches etc. The service is excellent, the layout of the venue is smart and can change to suit all types of service

The restaurant is very welcoming, a lounge area, a superbly shaped bar, tables laid with shining cutlery, glasses and material napkins.We enjoyed a delicious three course lunch for a very reasonable price. There were 2 or 3 choices for each course. The food could not be faulted and it was served to us by youngsters who ensured we were happy and didn't require anything else.

We had a super three course meal in lovely surroundings. I was part of a large group and all our meals were served in a timely fashion. Every course was well presented and tasted delicious. Thank you staff and students.

Valentine's season prompted a visit to the Hix Academy to assault the palate, among other senses. A rich, complementary chocolate cocktail, introduced a balanced, delicate and beautifully presented assortment of first and second courses, concluding with (obviously) chocolate fondue...lashings of it.This was clearly one for the chocoholic; but, we shall be returning in time to see what else these cheery students are serving up next time - under the guidance of their inspired and inspiring teachers.Washed down with fine wine all at an astonishingly keen price, this pool of national excellence is well worth a further visit, and, if you're fortunate enough to live locally, several.

It was a filthy night weather-wise in early Feb and we had to travel from Swanage, but hey it sounded interesting.So we turn up to at an institutional looking building and run through the rain. Once in it was a different experience. The décor was first rate. We were told my the manager that it was to the same standards of Mark Hix's other places. She gave us some background on the academy and that the waiting staff were mainly 1st year students.We couldn't judge the atmosphere as there was just us and a table of 4 in that night.Bearing in mind that our waiter wanted to be a chef more than front of house and he did forget a couple of things the food and the whole evening was great and all for the price of a gastro-pub.The menu had a large selection of starters/pasta/mains & deserts plus a dedicated veggie menu.We will certainly return.

Went as a party of four, We had tapas for starters which consisted of a mixture of whitebait, cuttle fish balls,mixed fish etc all were fresh crispy when necessary and served beautifully. Mains were lamb tender and tasty, burger delicious and two fish dishes again served to perfection. Desert was creme brûlée which was the best we had ever tasted.Overall this was a delicious meal and the service was first rate.

We visited Hix Academy again for a birthday celebration and were just as impressed with the menu and quality of the food. It is a really lovely venue and the extensive menu is varied and well priced. Delicious food and attentive service. We will return for sure. Thank you for a lovely evening.

I went here for a friends birthday meal. I really enjoyed my food. Despite a few mistakes by the service team they were friendly attentive and eager to please which made it a really enjoyable experience. They was also a good range of options for the person in our party who is a coeliac. We would go again. The only negative is I feel its a little overpriced when it is an academy. We would recommend it and would go back again.

Attentive staff, nice clean surroundings and the food was ample, fresh and well presented. A training academy but I have to say some other restaurants could learn a thing or two from them. Look forward to next years programme of special events!

Visited the Hix Academy on a Saturday for the Christmas Lunch Menu. Very good service from the trainees. Food was lovely and the Chef had made the menu as Slimming World friendly as possible for us.Will certainly be visiting again.

A group of us had dinner at Hix academy last night and we thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience; we cannot believe that we have not visited before. We were greeted very warmly by a senior member of staff and then well looked after by the young trainees. The menu had a superb choice of meat, vegetarian and side dishes. The food arrived in good time, was really well presented, and was truly fresh and delicious, particularly the desserts! All members of our party were impressed by the standard of service and wonderful food. We are planning to return for the Christmas menu as this is definitely one of the best restaurants in the area. Thoroughly recommend.

This is a catering academy set up in Weymouth College by the renowned chef Mark Hix. All the cooking and service is carried out by the students under the supervision of professional staff. It only opens on Fridays and Saturdays during term time and is therefore one of the advantages of being in Weymouth outside school holidays. It is a little out of the main town but a visit is well worth the effort. The food is high end, but not at high end prices, well prepared by the students and one receives the impression that nothing leaves the kitchen wiithout the full approval of the resident chef. Because of this the service can be a little slow and eratic but the food when finally served is excelent. The students who serve table can also be a little eratic and miss out on some basic service points but all in all they are very good for their level of experience. So if you want a very good meal plus a bottle of wine at a very reasonable price served by slightly eratic but enthusiastic staff then make the effort and try this restaurant.

We have just returned from another excellent night at The Hix Academy. Yet again the students have surpassed themselves with the choice and quality of the food served this evening. The level 3 students design, cook and serve the food as part of their course, under the guidance of Chef Kelly and front of house manager Cathy. From our canapés on arrival, starters, mains, and desserts, the food was excellent. You are served a little taster menu from each course....with 3 little desserts to finish your meal....paradise..!! The food is well balanced and delicious. To be honest the only disappointment is the lack of support for these students doing their best to please....there were only 6 of us there tonight. Come on Weymouth, this venue is such good value and deserves our support. Jazz night is next week again....well worth a visit....We will definitely be there again....

Had a lovely dinner out, went out the way to make my drinks order a lime & soda with fresh lime cordial, which was very nice of them as I had ordered a drink most of them had never made before . The food which was the Feast Menu was very nice, each course was good, even though a lot of salt was put on the Potato Croquet side. The dessert was very good a chocoholics paradise! The water jugs were very nice and a nice touch as well.

Our first visit. Yes, it's a "training academy", but you can forget that aspect. Once you are through the door you are in one of the smartest restaurants in Weymouth (probably the smartest in fact). Service was faultless and the food was excellent - absolutely superb. Excellent value for money too.We will be back, and very highly recommended. Note that it has limited opening times.

We had an excellent Hix meal in the training restaurant, which we really enjoyed. Cuttlefish starter was excellent, as was mixed fish main course. Desserts too were delicious, especially the elderflower/strawberry jelly.

We have just arrived home from our second visit to this restaurant in the last two weeks. Although we recognise this is a training Academy for students we have been delighted with both meals. Excellent quality and value for both. For the Jazz Night we were entertained by an excellent pianist who played a varied choice of music. Food and service was excellent. Tonight we were treated to an excellent array of Italian food. Service and food were top quality. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone who likes value for money. Can't wait for the next Jazz Night on the 21st October and a Retro evening of food on the 4th November .....Thanks guys

A bit off the beaten track but well worth a visit. Situated in Weymouth College campus on Cranford Avenue, it's a training venue for prospective chefs, waiting and bar staff, from around the region. Run by the students and supported by the HIX Academy staff the welcoming reception coupled with a very high standard of decor has the ambience of a fine dining restaurant. The quality of food and wines is superb and enhanced by the locally sourced ingredients.The bar looked a wonderful place to have some drinks if you didn't want to eat. Many 'fine dining' restaurants in Weymouth could learn a lot from this one. The only disappointment is that its opening hours are limited to term time. Well worth a try.

This is a great training academy for those wanting a future in the hospitality industry. Remember that this is a training academy so things won't be totally perfect but my goodness what a team effort. The tutors are fully committed and an excellent example for the students. This is a real gem of a place and was superb and that's why we booked it the same night for the following weekend. The food was truly outstanding and the best of its kind that I have had anywhere in the UK. Without these places how will the future chefs and front of house staff ever gain experience? Top quality ingredients and served with flair. I can't recommend this place highly enough. I will definitely return whenever I am in Dorset. This should be a model for the rest of the UK.

e came for something different, service was very good, the girl who served us was very shy though and she was a second year student. We had some tapas to start, super portion sizes at £2.50 each then we had the pigs cheeks for mains and the trio of fish, it didn't mention it was deep fried though in the menus but it was a version of fish & chips. The desserts were very good. We had a magnum of red wine great value at £31 and very tasty. Overall it was a great experience, only a few tables though so atmosphere was lacking, the lighting could have been a bit dimmer, with candles on the tables. Cocktails very nice and again reasonable.

It was my second visit to the student run Hix Academy and I thought that the first time couldn't be surpassed, well it was! There were 21 of us all having 2 cocktails and 3 tapas each. The choice of cocktails was fab and I chose an espresso martini followed by a mojito, both very different and both absolutely delicious. The tapas were brought out on large wooden platters, beautifully displayed and presented and they just kept coming, the selection was incredible and the quality of the produce unsurpassable. I could rave forever, but you need to try this high quality, incredible tasting food for yourselves, it is really something else. I lived in Spain for 16 years, so I think I know what a tapa should look and taste like, this is taking it to a whole new level! ALL visitors to Weymouth, local or otherwise, should pay a visit to our best kept secret. Fabulous!

Mark Hix studied at Weymouth College and now has put something back by setting up an academy. As part of this the college's restaurant has been transformed and now opens on Friday & Saturday evenings as a fine dining restaurant. The food is excellent, accompanied by good wines and craft beers, with cocktails available at a reasonable cost.

The academy restaurant is a great place to spend a Friday evening. It's clean and attractive. The bar area is welcoming. The food is delicious and wonderfully served by the students. Would definitely recommend.

reasonable price for great food - cooked and served by students but to Hix quality.Only open Friday and Saturday evenings but well worth a visit. As it gets better known you will almost certainly need to book.Service was a little slow but who cares if you're out for an evening meal.We went with friends for my husbands birthday, and they made a birthday cake too!High quality local ingredients, and nicely presented, too.Fine dining at a mid range price

The food and general desire to do well is enjoyable and the food was very very good. Definitely worth visiting if you're looking for a relaxed and delicious meal.

I have had two lovely meals in Hix restaurant, food was excellent and the students do a brilliant job keeping customers happy. Will visit again.

Took mum and the family to the Hix Academy for a mother's day meal this Sunday. We could choose three courses from a set menu which was priced at £14.95 a head. We all had something different, roast beef and roast pork and all decided that our choice was the best we could have made because it was all just scrumptious! Surroundings are very pleasant and contemporary, students serving the meal are delightful and very efficient. The chef lecturer came and spoke to us, which pleased mum. The drinks menu is small, but sufficient and of excellent value and quality. My son and I shared a Hix ale, which was not to his taste, but something very different to try. The presentation is brilliant and all served up to please the eye as well as the pallet. We shall definitely be back and feel that this is one of Weymouth's best kept secrets.

Been here quite a few times now with friends for lunch and evening meals. Have enjoyed every visit. Food is always amazing, with attentive service.

Knowing we were going to Weymouth for a couple of days I tried to book a table. Emails, telephone calls and even tweets remained unanswered. I note last review is March 14th - has it closed down?? If not I strongly suggest they move reservations/front of house to the top of their training curriculum.

Tucked away in Weymouth College you will find Hix Academy.We had a meal here last Saturday evening with four friends. We were very pleasantly surprised.The restaurant and bar are modern and not overcrowded. The service was very good, all being monitored unobtrusively by a tutor. The door was opened on our arrival and coats swiftly taken. We had a drink and ordered from the bar area. The waiter attending us was very knowledgable about the menu, which was excellent also, using local produce where available. We had a bottle of spakling wine form Dorset which I could highly recommend.The food was really very good. We all eat out a lot and were very impressed by the standard. Very good presentation and great tasting food. My husband and I had the beef rib for two. Carved at the table! Very tasty and can recommend but was slightly chewy. Desserts were great as was coffee. An apple brandy liqueur had a very interesting taste! I would certainly recommend a visit and we will go back next time we are in the Weymouth area.

Saw this place this morning and just popped in for a coffee. Very friendly staff and the menu for evening meals looks delicious. Had some fabulous carrot cake so will be going back.

My wife and I went for a meal at the nix academy on a Friday evening at the end of January 2015. We were pleasantly surprised at the speed and level of service provided by the young staff. The wine we selected was excellent and priced very competitively. Our food, however, was an enexpected bonus. The tiger prawns were large and tasty with a fiery chilli taste to them. The rib of beef was to die for. . . Rare and moist. . . Portions were plentiful and the whole experience was very different from the more profit conscious hotels we have dined in where small portions and quick service to rush you out of the door are the norm. We found the young team to be polite, helpful and keen to serve. This, coupled with the quality of the food and wine. . . . .all at a very competitive price. . . . Made for an enjoyable evening.

Visited here today for the first time and had the most wonderful meal each course was cooked to perfection and the service received from the Staff was impeccable the made us feel so welcome and to be recommended. I would also add how careful Chef was to making sure my egg allergy did not spoil my meal and recommended and prepared food to suit. Well done Students and thank you for a memorable visit. A special thank you to Imogen who looked after us so well.

We had a wonderful lunch today, 28/02/2015. it was prepared and served by the apprentices atthe academy at Weymouth college. The service from when we entered the restaurant and a young lady took our coats and served our aperitif. We had a three course lunch finishing with coffee. Each of the courses was beautifully presented and prepared. All reasonably priced.

We visited the Hix Academy in Weymouth college on Saturday with friends who live in Dorset and had an amazing meal which had been perfectly prepared and served by the students from thecollege. The whole ambience was exceptionally good, in fact one would never know that we were not eatng in a high end restaurant. It was good to see that Mark Hix is training his students tothe same standard as his great London restaurants. We will definitely be visiting again and hope that the local residents of Weymouth and surrunding areas get to love this delightful restaurantas much as we did.

Just had another fabulous meal at the Hix Academy at Weymouth college. The rib of beef for two was perfect so was the salmon starter and the lightest melt in the mouth Apple pie to finish. It is hard to believe that the food is prepared by students. It's a pleasure to see the youngsters trying so hard to please the customers in every aspect of the restaurant business. The prices are good value, considering the quality of the food and pleasingly the produce is locally sourced. The restaurant is open to the public Thursday, Friday,Saturday lunchtime and evenings, it's well worth a visit, another plus there is free parking right outside the restaurant.

We were invited to a "Thank You" lunch with friends before Christmas and I have to say the atmosphere and food was delicious. My husband had a starter of Jellied Hock which was very pleasant, Steak and Oyster pie which he said was full of meat and very tasty and a cheese board which was varied and more than enough. I had a Mushroom risotto again tasty and flavoured, Salmon with Hollandaise sauce which was actually more than I could eat, the portion of fish was very large, and a Shipwrecked tart which was gorgeously scrummy. Could have eaten it again even though I was very full. The apprentices became a little confused with the accompaniments as it was a large party to cater for and it would have been good if perhaps they had come out after the meal to have a quick chat about how they delivered such excellent food but perhaps that might come with more experience. Truly a lovely memorable meal xx

I've visited the academy twice now, the first time only a few days after they had opened and again before Christmas. I had a different starter, main and dessert on both visits and wasn't disappointed. The food is of an incredible standard, portion sizes good and at a fair price for quality being served. The restaurant is tastefully decorated and spacious. Would have loved for the apprentices to have come out of the kitchen and spoken to us about what they are doing but guess they are busy creating delicious food. Highlights for me include the Portland crab Fettuccine and Shipwreck tart. Why don't more people know about this hidden treasure? A true asset to Weymouth.

We ate off the Christmas menu and we're all very impressed with the quality of the meal. I understand that Hix place an emphasis on sourcing quality seasonal food and you could taste the difference, most notably in the quality of bacon used for the pigs in blankets.It is operated by supervised apprentices, but the service was very good, and the staff catered to all our requests.The next evening I sampled some of the cocktails on offer. They weren't cheap, but you'd have to travel some distance to find better.Where else can you get this quality and feel good about helping the next generation of chefs?!

Four of us went to HIX just before Christmas .The restaurant itself is warm, roomy and comfortable and nicely decorated . The young staff were very polite and helpful . The food was so tasty ,colourful and adventurous .I will be telling all my friends about it .We are going again this weekend ! There is no problem parking .

Had a great evening enjoying superb food and service. Good atmosphere and the meal was top quality. Will be back for more

We went to the Hix restaurant at Weymouth College just before Christmas. The restaurant is run by college students and apprentices who cover all tasks in the kitchen and front of house. The service and food was excellent and considering that the 'staff' are in their first year or so of training the service is very commendable. Well worth a visit!!

Neither the “Weymouth College” engraved entrance sign nor the Hix nameplate outside the restaurant is illuminated but persevere (with plentiful parking) and you’re soon inside, where the welcome on a Saturday evening was warm and hospitable even if the restaurant’s temperature (after several cold days) was decidedly chilly. It’s a bright and airy space, but the lighting is harsh for the evening. Six apprentices man the kitchen and six are front of house. The menus proudly proclaim that as much as possible of the food and drink is sourced from the West Country. A starter of mixed alliums and cheese fritters (with the lightest of crumb) was inventive and superb, as was a mushroom risotto (which I chose as an alternative to the crab fettuccine which had run out). The chicken and butternut squash curry arrived without the squash because the chef had not been happy with it – a good sign about kitchen standards but on reflection we should have asked for an alternative dish as it was clearly significantly different without the squash. The lamb (from Martin Clunes’ farm) was excellent – amazingly tender and full of flavour – as good as I’ve enjoyed anywhere. By contrast, the choice of desserts was underwhelming; we shared a shipwrecked tart which had very good pastry but was otherwise nothing special. Overall, the restaurant’s off to a very impressive start - we’ll definitely be returning.