Dom gives football the boot for cooking

Dominic Brett Duxbury’s schoolboy dream to become a professional footballer was kicked into touch when he discovered cooking.

Now his goal is to study world food and open his own high-class country restaurant.

And, at 19 years old, the Blackburn-born commis chef, who lives in Accrington, has already started to pick up awards.

His employer, Joycelyn Neve, managing director of the Seafood Pub Company, was the first to reward him for improvement and performance in the kitchen of the Fenwick Arms at Claughton, between Lancaster and Kirkby Lonsdale.

“Dom came to us with no experience but has real drive,” says Joycelyn. “He’s gone above and beyond what was expected and become a genuine future asset.”

Now his tutors at Accrington and Rossendale College have named him ‘Apprentice of the Year’.

“The improvement we have seen in Dominic is remarkable since he began working for the Seafood Pub Company,” said head lecturer Mr Lee Hyatt.

Head of catering Mrs Sandy Sutcliffe added “the partnership between the students and the Seafood Pub Company has been revolutionary and has grown in leaps and bounds.”

Dom (pictured) left Rhyddings High School at Oswaldtwistle only three years ago. It was there that weekly cookery lessons were to tempt him away from coaching sessions at Blackburn Rovers and steer him towards a catering course at Accrington and Rossendale College.

There he was spotted by the Seafood Pub Company and invited for interview when the Fenwick opened last summer. He is now continuing his NVQ studies during an 18 month apprenticeship there.

“I want to travel, learn different cuisines and cultures and eventually open my own country restaurant,” says Dom. “I’ve been lucky to get this opportunity to learn from very talented chefs and work with a company that believes in encouraging local talent. To get this great start in the food and drink industry was an opportunity I couldn’t miss and I grabbed it with both hands.”

Dom is among a series of young students from Accrington and Rossendale College, and Nelson and Colne College at Barrowford, who have been given apprenticeships and work placements with a view to full time employment at Seafood Pub Company sites.

“Opportunities such as these are imperative to the future of the industry and the development of the students,” said Accrington and Rossendale College principal Mrs Sue Taylor. The Seafood Pub Company has the Oyster & Otter in Blackburn, the Assheton Arms in the Ribble Valley conservation village of Downham, the Fenwick at Claughton, the Farmers Arms at Great Eccleston and the newly-launched Derby Arms at Longridge. Next month the Barley Mow, in the Pendle village of Barley, will become the sixth.

Enjoyed this? Read more from The Seafood Pub Company

Latest news

1

Preston frozen dough brand has new celebrity shareholders Ant and Dec and Amy and Chris Cheadle

Preston frozen dough brand has new celebrity shareholders

18 Jul 2025

2

Wellbeing focused co-working space with its own pub in Burnley gets ready for launch Dave Scholes and Malcolm Ireland

Wellbeing focused co-working space with its own pub in Burnley gets ready for launch

18 Jul 2025

3

UK's pioneering Combat Air Flying Demonstrator is revealed Flying Combat Air Demonstrator

UK's pioneering Combat Air Flying Demonstrator is revealed

17 Jul 2025

4

A fresh brew for The Printed Cup Company The Printed Cup Company

A fresh brew for The Printed Cup Company

17 Jul 2025

5

Joe Diston from Beever and Struthers appointed to new Global IFRS leader for HLB International Joe Diston

Joe Diston from Beever and Struthers appointed to new Global IFRS leader for HLB International

17 Jul 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Preston Tech Connection: Web3 is Dead. Or is It?
July Longer Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
29 Jul 2025 - 29 Jul 2025

Preston Tech Connection: Web3 is Dead. Or is It?

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:30

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July
Longer July Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
31 Jul 2025 - 31 Jul 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – August 14th
Navy--Event Tile.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
14 Aug 2025 - 14 Aug 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – August 14th

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 12:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Header (24).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
21 Aug 2025 - 21 Aug 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Mytton Fold, Langho, BB6 8AB

11:30 - 14:15

Morecambe Bay Walk
Walk.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Awards
30 Aug 2025 - 30 Aug 2025

Morecambe Bay Walk

Arnside, CARNFORTH, LA5

09:30 - 14:00

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

North West Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880456273-4862066883-1-original.20241022-105445.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
24 Oct 2025 - 24 Oct 2025

North West Business Expo 2025

Bolton Stadium Hotel, Bolton, BL6 6SF

09:00 - 15:00

Lancashire Business Day 2025
241122lbvlancashiredaylhp0647web
Networking
27 Nov 2025

Lancashire Business Day 2025

Burnley FC , Burnley, BB10 4BX

12:00 - 17:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV122 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin