Tennent's brewer sets up first pub academy

The new academy will offer a wide range of courses from pulling pints to preparing food

The drinks firm Tennent's Lager is to open Scotland's first pub academy to train staff in the hospitality industry.

The company has invested £1m in a training academy at the site of its Wellpark Brewery in Glasgow.

A derelict building has been converted and now houses training rooms including a bar, beer cellar and a kitchen.

The new facilities will train people from across the industry from bar workers to management staff.

Managing director of Tennent Caledonian Breweries, Mike Lees, said : "The facility is for people who want to know everything, like how you pour beer or prepare food or the business aspects of running a pub."

He added: "Scotland's on-trade has had a very challenging few years, and we are committed to doing what we can to provide positive support and investment in our shared future."

An industrial kitchen will hold courses for young chefs looking to gain new skills.

Courses will be offered training in a variety of different areas, including mixology, customer service, wine and spirit training, cellar management, door security, a cook school, health and safety and business management.

The industrial-size kitchen will hold courses for hospitality staff looking to gain more skills.

Martin Teplitzky, head chef and lecturer, said : "For young chefs the value will be very much in learning a few skills because a lot of them aren't getting these skills in their training.

"Perhaps they go straight into kitchens at a young age and this will give them an opportunity to pick these things up and make it a bit more interesting for them."