We have been re-opened since March 2021 running our Chefs Academy courses. Our Cookery School courses will be running from May 22, 2021.

When you arrive at the cookery school you will check-in at the Arrival Station at the front entrance where you will be registered, asked to sanitise your hands, issued with a face mask and have a quick non-intrusive temperature check (a 2 second check with temperature gun that doesn't touch you). The same procedure is followed by all staff as well. You will then be shown to your own table in the dining room and will be served tea or coffee at your table.

We will be following the mandate government advice regarding face masks. Please bring a face mask with you as you will need to wear one when moving around the cookery school. If you don't have one you will be issued one on arrival. You will be cooking individually at a workstation fitted with a perspex screen.

When you are in the dining room, your dedicated table will be distanced from others and you can eat and drink without a mask, but when you leave this 'safe zone' you would will need to put on a mask to move around the building.

We have outdoor areas where you will not be required to wear a mask.

No. We have reorganised our kitchens so that if you come as an individual on a course you will have your own isolated workstation, equipment and ingredients to work with throughout the course.

If you are coming with someone from the same household you will be able to work together on a workstation, but again you won't be sharing anything with others outside of your nominated group.

Certainly. If you book with someone from the same household or 'social bubble' you will be stationed at the same workstation so you can enjoy the course and the experience together. You will also be seated together in the dining room so will eat together.

Covid-19 Reschedule Guarantee

During the Covid-19 situation we are providing the following guarantee for peace of mind for those whose travel insurance policy doesn't provide Covid specific insurance cover.

If you are feeling unwell with Covid symptoms (high temperature, new continuous cough, loss of taste or smell) before your course, you should not travel to the cookery school for your course but instead you should schedule a Free PCR test immediately.

These are available at drive through centres across the UK and will confirm whether you are positive or negative. If negative, you can take the course as planned if time allows, but regardless of the result simply send us the email to confirm the test has been taken (within 48 hours of your course cancellation) and you will be able to reschedule your course to an available future course date without penalty or if you prefer convert to a CookShop voucher.

At anytime if you have tested as positive for coronavirus within 14 days of the start of your course, send us the test notification and you will be able to reschedule as above without penalty. In all circumstances please contact us to discuss your options with Customer Service.

You will enjoy a sit-down lunch featuring what you have cooked in the morning session along with a glass of wine. Weekend courses (Saturdays) and 5 day courses (on Monday to Thursday) have a lunch and you will take-away dinner to enjoy at home.

Note: On certain courses such as Breadmaking, Chocolate Making we will provide a Buffet lunch.

All of our courses are highly practical and you will spend 90% of your time in the kitchen learning and cooking. We maximise your quality learning time by taking care of time-consuming tasks such as weighing and assembling ingredients and washing up.

This course is at an Intermediate Level. Aimed at the typical home cook. These courses will build your confidence in all areas of the kitchen. You should be familiar with common cookery concepts such as frying, baking, grilling and be able to follow a recipe. No other special skills are required.

The minimum age to take this course is 18 years old unless otherwise specified.

You will need to tell us about any food allergies or special diets at the time of booking. Whilst the course content will stay the same, we will always try and accommodate your requirements with substitutions and alternatives.

We are very familiar with common food allergies and regularly welcome coeliacs, vegetarians and those with gluten-free, dairy-free or religious diets on our courses. Please contact the Customer Service team who will be able to advise you further.

You need to wear sensible footwear with non-slip soles and covered toes. Long hair needs to be tied back; we advise wearing comfortable clothes and not your best outfit. We also recommend wearing trousers.

You don't need to bring anything else with you since everything else is provided. If you wish to bring some containers to take away food you may, but recyclable boxes are provided.

You will receive a Certificate from the Ashburton Cookery School upon completion of this course.

Yes, we have two kitchens that are wheelchair accessible. Please contact us to discuss your needs.

We source as many ingredients from ethical, local suppliers within a 25 mile radius of the cookery school as possible. All our fish, poultry, meat and dairy is sourced from local producers as well as vegetables and English fruit.
We will always prioritise locally sourced, seasonal ingredients and recipes where possible.