Ashburton Cookery School Wins Best Training School at Food Drink Devon Awards 2026

Ashburton Cookery School & Chefs Academy is celebrating after being named Best Training School at the Food Drink Devon Awards 2026.

The award recognises the school’s commitment to inspiring people to cook, from beginners discovering their confidence in the kitchen to aspiring professionals preparing for a career as a chef.

For the team at Ashburton, receiving this recognition within Devon’s food and drink community makes the achievement particularly special.

Darrin Hosegrove, Chef Director, said:

“We’re absolutely delighted. Our expert tutors put a great deal of care into helping students learn, enjoy themselves and leave with greater confidence, whether they are cooking for the first time or training to be a chef.

“This award recognises the whole team, from our chef tutors to everyone working behind the scenes. Being recognised within Devon’s food and drink community makes it particularly special.”

Located on the edge of Dartmoor, with the Devon coast nearby, the school combines practical teaching with access to exceptional local ingredients. Supporting local food producers and helping students understand the provenance of the ingredients they use are central to its approach.

Through its cookery courses and professional training programmes, Ashburton brings together expert tuition, a welcoming atmosphere and an enthusiasm for sharing skills. Whether students visit for a day or undertake a longer qualification at the Chefs Academy, the aim is to help them feel supported, inspired and ready to put their learning into practice.

Darrin added:

“We’re always adding new cookery classes and updating our menus, so we never sit still. This award gives us fresh encouragement to keep improving what we do. Above all, we want every student to leave with useful skills, happy memories and the confidence to keep cooking.”

Explore our cookery courses and professional chef training programmes to find your next step in the kitchen.

www.ashburtoncookeryschool.co.uk