Our History

• Winner of Best Learning Experience 2018

  Nov 2018

  A Gold Award for the Best Learning Experience from South West Tourism Excellence Awards. Read More

• 2018

  Relaunch of Chefs Academy Courses

  Mar 2018

  We relaunch our Chefs Academy accredited courses to make them even better value.

• Winner of Best Tourism Experience 2017

  Nov 2017

  We are thrilled to win the Gold Award for the Best Tourism Experience at the Herald Express Business awards.

• 2017

  Award Winning start to 2017

  Feb 2017

  Awarded Best Cookery School 2017 by readers of Food Magazine.

• 2016

  New Courses

  2016

  We redesign many popular courses and launch Cook To Go courses and Demo & Dine events.

• 2015

  New 4 Week Chef Foundation Course

  Mar 2015

  We launch a new 4 week Certificate in Professional Cookery.

• 2015

  Course Finance

  Feb 2015

  We become the first independent cookery school to offer finance on our cookery courses.

• 2015

  Patisserie Diploma Launched

  Jan 2015

  Our 20 Week Diploma in Patisserie is launched. One of the highest practical qualifications available.

• 2014

  Founder Stella receives M.B.e.

  July 2014

  Founder Stella West-Harling receives an M.B.E. for services to hospitality. Her book 'A Cooks Book' is also published.

• Academy Campus Expanded

  June 2014

  After 6 months construction, new dining rooms are added to the training kitchens at the cookery school to enhance the learning experience.

• 2013

  Chefs Academy Patisserie Department Launched

  Nov 2013

  We add a new dimension to the Chefs Academy with exciting new Patisserie Certificates and Diploma.

• Winner of Small Business of the Year 2013

  Oct 2013

  We are proud to be named winner of the Western Morning News Small Business of the Year 2013.

• Buckland Kitchen Relaunched

  Sep 2013

  We relaunch our Buckland Kitchen at our East Street Campus for our 1 day and new half-day courses, with smaller group sizes of 8 students. Total capacity is now 60 students per day over 5 kitchens.

• Award Winning end to 2013

  Sep 2013

  Named People's Choice Best Cookery School at the British Cookery School Awards 2013 and winner of Cookery School of the Year for the second year in a row at the prestigious Food & Travel Reader Awards.

• Accredited by British AccreditatIon Council

  Aug 2013

  The cookery school is accredited by the British Accreditation Council as a Short-Course Provider reporting that we 'provide an excellent professional environment
  for course participants and staff'.

• 2012

  Best English Cookery School Award

  Aug 2012

  Named Best English Cookery School and Best Large Cookery School Winner at the 2012 British Cookery School Awards and Cookery School of the Year at the Food & Travel Magazine Awards.

• Ashburton Chefs Academy Launched

  Jan 2012

  We launch our Chefs Academy with our flagship 6 month Professional Culinary Diploma.

• 2011

  Accredited by Confederation of Tourism & Hospitality

  Mar 2011

  Named Best English Cookery School and Best Large Cookery School Winner at the 2012 British Cookery School Awards.

• 2009

  New Cookery School Opens

  Oct 2009

  Our purpose built facilty at Old Exeter Road opens with world-class training kitchens and facilities.

• 2007

  Kitchen 2 Opened at 79 East Street

  Aug 2012

  We open a new kitchen at 79 East Street for 8 students.

• 2005

  GArden Kitchen Opens

  We open Our first dedicated training kitchen built at 76 East Street, the Garden Kitchen is a wonderful retreat for up to 10 cookery students.
• 2004

  New Chef Director

  

  Chef Darrin Hosegrove is appointed Chef Director, responsible for course and teaching development.

• 1992

  Ashburton Cookery school Founded

  

  Stella-West Harling launches the Ashburton Cookery School running organic, vegetarian cookery courses to small groups.