Chef Tutors
Our Chef Tutors are accomplished chefs with a wealth of professional catering experience between them. They are also qualified tutors with experience in teaching to NVQ3 level. They are reknowned for delivering exciting, fun cookery training that will inspire you, and they are the reason why our students keep coming back time and again.
The Chef Tutors

Darrin Hosegrove
Chef Director
Darrin began his career at Gidleigh Park Hotel working under the guidance of Michelin starred chef Shaun Hill. He has worked in many acclaimed fine dining restaurants in the UK and also held positions as a College Lecturer and Development Chef before joining the Ashburton Cookery School in 2004. As well as regularly teaching at the School, Darrin also oversees the development of new courses, recipes and menus.

Rob Dawe
Chef Manager
Chef Manager of the Cookery School since July 2005, Rob spent the previous two years as Chef Lecturer at Exeter College. He has also worked in several fine dining establishments including as Senior Sous-Chef at the RAC Club in Pall Mall and Head Chef at the Puffing Billy restaurant at Exmouth.

Stuart Fowles
Senior Chef Tutor
Stuart joined us in September 2006 from Aramark, Contract Caterers for the South West, where he was Executive Chef. Prior to that he taught as Associate Lecturer at Exeter Catering College delivering NVQ courses. Stuart also has a wide range of restaurant experience as Head Chef in local restaurants and hotels.

Joe Bartlett
Chef Tutor
Joe has worked at some of the coutry’s finest restaurants, and was most recently Head Chef at the Holne Chase Hotel before joining us at the start of 2008.

Phil Oram
Chef Tutor
Phil’s career began at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane followed by the RAC Club, Pall Mall returning 6 years later to do a ‘stage’ at Gidleigh Park under Michelin-starred chef, Michael Caines. Before joining Ashburton Cookery School in 2010, Phil was Product Development Chef at The Ark Chicken Company and previous to that he was Chef Lecturer at Exeter College teaching students to an advanced level. He now combines the two; his enthusiasm for inspiring students with his passion for cooking local produce.

James Knight-Pacheco
Chef Tutor
James learnt his art at some of the country’s finest restaurants including Gordon Ramsay at Claridges & The Square in Mayfair. He came runner-up with friend Alasdair on the BBC television show ‘The Restaurant’ and was subsequently offered a year long position at Raymond Blanc’s Le Manoir where he worked every station. After filming a follow-up TV series 'Out of the Frying Pan' for BBC 2 (airs March 2010) he joined the Cookery School at the start of 2010.

David Beazley
Chef Tutor
An expert on wild fungi and wild food, ex-restauranteur David has had a distinguished career beginning with The Horn of Plenty and The Carved Angel, and was Head Chef at Holne Chase Hotel and Dartington Hall. He has been lecturing since 1993 and still works part-time at Plymouth College.