A great morning which was very informative and good fun. The school is in a good position and well equipped to enjoy the delights of cooking. Look forward to visiting again.
My husband and I attended the session together. It was a great experience and we learned tons! Highly recommend Introduction to Fermented Food and Drinks!
I ordered two of your Triple Chocolate and Cardamon Christmas puddings in December. I just wanted to say how utterly delicious they were in every respect - texture, colour aroma- totally scrumptious!!
Very much hoping you will be doing them again next year!
My daughter and I enjoyed a fab afternoon baking Christmas logs and learning how easy it is to create tasty pastry treats. Very enjoyable with easy explanations in a relaxed environment.
A great morning at the Chudleigh cookery school saturday morning. A warm welcome waiting for us by both Colin, the owner and Mikael, the chef on the day with an apple mulled wine before starting Christmas recipes & demonstration. The class was fun, relaxed and filled with Christmas cheer. Thank you. I'll book again.
Me and my Mum had such a fun afternoon at the Christmas baking workshop -- it was a fun relaxed atmosphere, with loads of cooking fitted in aswell. We will definitely be back for more.....there was mention of a meringue worship emerging?! Thankyou!
A lovely way to spend a morning with my daughter (age 11). We both really enjoyed making our Christmas pudding and learnt some useful tips along the way. Would definitely return for another course in future.
My daughter and I did the Christmas baking afternoon with Val. We thoroughly enjoyed it. Will be back to do the Easter baking course next. Many thanks.
Thank you so much. Had a great afternoon today. Lovely location. I learnt so much today. Never been brave enough to make my own Yule log its the rolling bit but i made one. Everyone was so friendly and helpful. I went on my own and was a little apprehensive as i didn't know anyone but when you have something in common and enjoy cooking/baking then the conversation flows! I cannot wait to now try making some profiteroles with the wonderful ganache! Thank you again i will be back! 🥰
It was beautifully paced, with a great balance between learning and being entertaining and I'm not a baker at all.
A really wonderful way to spend an afternoon and our group of friends are are already thinking about what other courses we can book in 2026.
We can highly recommend the Ground Up Cookery School's Seashore Foraging and Cookery day. Colin's knowledge of the coastline and it's culinary delights is second to none and we always come away buzzing and ready to put what we've learnt into practice.
We've already booked the Fish and Shellfish Cookery course as an early Christmas present to ourselves. Many thanks to Colin and the team :-)
From off shore to on shore I was completely awakened to just how much plant life we have around us. Colin was incredibly knowledgeable and it was a great experience and a day well spent.
Kitchen School is fabulous and making our own dishes was great, recipes were well explained and made with ease.
Thank you I will be definitely coming back.
Kind Regards
Maggie Gilpin
This short course covered a lot of ground in a short space of the time and delivered all its promises. Colin is a hugely skilled and talented presenter who could definitely talk and cook at the same time and was flexible enough to answer questions which did not strictly follow the programme. The whole experience was entertaining and gave me back some joy in cooking and eating great food. I will definitely be asking my family for Ground Up vouchers for my birthday.
Incredible. Dont think just book it. Colin was great and day was WONDERFUL. The food that we prepared was also incredible. Will definitley do more courses here.
Had a great and informative day!
Join our well traveled chef for a hands-on half-day cookery class exploring the vibrant flavours of Sri Lanka. In this relaxed and friendly session, you’ll discover how to balance heat with...
Forage, Cook, Feast: A Seashore Adventure at Ground Up Cookery School Explore the rich and rugged coastline of South Devon through a full-day experience that blends coastal foraging with hands-on cookery....
Having grown up in a fishing and farming community on the Isle of Coll in the Inner Hebrides, Colin has always been surrounded by the finest seasonal ingredients and driven by the necessity to make the most of them. Over 30 years as a professional chef has seen Colin work in a variety of different roles from charter yachts and boutique hotels to leading catering companies this has given him the opportunity to showcase his skills to the most discerning of guests.
Having grown up in a fishing and farming community on the Isle of Coll in the Inner Hebrides, Colin has always been surrounded by the finest seasonal ingredients and driven by the necessity to make the most of them. Over 30 years as a professional chef has seen Colin work in a variety of different roles from charter yachts and boutique hotels to leading catering companies this has given him the opportunity to showcase his skills to the most discerning of guests.
LOOKING FOR A BESPOKE COURSE?
How about getting a group of friends, family or colleagues together for Your Own Special Event?
Just complete our contact form with as many details as you can and we will get back to you to discuss your requirements.
Looking for gluten free cooking classes that focus on real food and proper technique? Learn how Ground Up Cookery School teaches confident, from-scratch gluten free cooking, plus which courses can be adapted to suit gluten free diets.
What are the benefits of taking a cooking class while on holiday?
Why Ultra‑Processed Foods (UPFs) are a major issue—and what you can do about it.
A summary of Essential Cuisine's Chef Team training day at Ground Up Cookery School. They learned all about foraging, fermentation and reducing waste in menu design from industry leader; Colin Wheeler-James.
Elderflower is a symbol of what’s possible when you begin to see the wild edges of your world differently.
Our top 5 recommended fermentation books,
Food is not just nourishment; it’s an art form, a way to connect with others, and a profession that...
Fermentation, a process that has been an integral part of human culture and cuisine for thousands of years, is...
A great morning which was very informative and good fun. The school is in a good position and well equipped to enjoy the delights of cooking. Look forward to visiting again.
My husband and I attended the session together. It was a great experience and we learned tons! Highly recommend Introduction to Fermented Food and Drinks!
I ordered two of your Triple Chocolate and Cardamon Christmas puddings in December. I just wanted to say how utterly delicious they were in every respect - texture, colour aroma- totally scrumptious!!
Very much hoping you will be doing them again next year!
My daughter and I enjoyed a fab afternoon baking Christmas logs and learning how easy it is to create tasty pastry treats. Very enjoyable with easy explanations in a relaxed environment.
A great morning at the Chudleigh cookery school saturday morning. A warm welcome waiting for us by both Colin, the owner and Mikael, the chef on the day with an apple mulled wine before starting Christmas recipes & demonstration. The class was fun, relaxed and filled with Christmas cheer. Thank you. I'll book again.
Me and my Mum had such a fun afternoon at the Christmas baking workshop -- it was a fun relaxed atmosphere, with loads of cooking fitted in aswell. We will definitely be back for more.....there was mention of a meringue worship emerging?! Thankyou!
A lovely way to spend a morning with my daughter (age 11). We both really enjoyed making our Christmas pudding and learnt some useful tips along the way. Would definitely return for another course in future.
My daughter and I did the Christmas baking afternoon with Val. We thoroughly enjoyed it. Will be back to do the Easter baking course next. Many thanks.
Thank you so much. Had a great afternoon today. Lovely location. I learnt so much today. Never been brave enough to make my own Yule log its the rolling bit but i made one. Everyone was so friendly and helpful. I went on my own and was a little apprehensive as i didn't know anyone but when you have something in common and enjoy cooking/baking then the conversation flows! I cannot wait to now try making some profiteroles with the wonderful ganache! Thank you again i will be back! 🥰
It was beautifully paced, with a great balance between learning and being entertaining and I'm not a baker at all.
A really wonderful way to spend an afternoon and our group of friends are are already thinking about what other courses we can book in 2026.
We can highly recommend the Ground Up Cookery School's Seashore Foraging and Cookery day. Colin's knowledge of the coastline and it's culinary delights is second to none and we always come away buzzing and ready to put what we've learnt into practice.
We've already booked the Fish and Shellfish Cookery course as an early Christmas present to ourselves. Many thanks to Colin and the team :-)
From off shore to on shore I was completely awakened to just how much plant life we have around us. Colin was incredibly knowledgeable and it was a great experience and a day well spent.
Kitchen School is fabulous and making our own dishes was great, recipes were well explained and made with ease.
Thank you I will be definitely coming back.
Kind Regards
Maggie Gilpin
This short course covered a lot of ground in a short space of the time and delivered all its promises. Colin is a hugely skilled and talented presenter who could definitely talk and cook at the same time and was flexible enough to answer questions which did not strictly follow the programme. The whole experience was entertaining and gave me back some joy in cooking and eating great food. I will definitely be asking my family for Ground Up vouchers for my birthday.
Incredible. Dont think just book it. Colin was great and day was WONDERFUL. The food that we prepared was also incredible. Will definitley do more courses here.
Had a great and informative day!
Submit your email to get updates on products and special promotions.
