Welcome to Ground Up Cookery School, Devon
Ground Up Cookery School is an award-winning cookery school in Devon, built around sustainability, seasonality and real, practical cooking skills.
Set in the countryside near Chudleigh and within easy reach of the Devon coast, our purpose-built cookery school is designed to be a welcoming, hands-on space where people can learn, cook and reconnect with food in a meaningful way.
At the heart of everything we do is a simple belief:
Great food starts with understanding ingredients, seasonality and sustainability.
Our Story
After building a loyal following in our early years on Dartmoor, we moved in 2025 to our permanent home in Chudleigh. This marked an exciting new chapter, allowing us to expand our courses, grow our chef training and consultancy programmes, and deepen our sustainability practices.
Today, we are proud to be recognised as one of Devon’s leading independent cookery schools, awarded Food Drink Devon Best Cookery School 2025/26 and the Food Drink Devon Sustainability Gold Award.
We were also featured on Marcus Wareing: Tales from a Kitchen Garden, showcasing our approach to seasonal cooking, foraging and reducing food waste.
Sustainability and Zero Food Waste
Sustainability at Ground Up Cookery School is not an add-on, it underpins everything we do.
Our cooking is shaped by:
Seasonal ingredients
Local sourcing
Preservation and fermentation
Practical waste reduction
We operate a true zero food waste system. Through preservation, fermentation, dehydration, composting and Bokashi, no food waste leaves the site, everything is reused, repurposed or returned to the land.
This is not just theory. It’s how we cook every day, and what we pass on to everyone who learns with us.
What We Offer
Our courses are practical, relaxed and designed to give you skills you’ll actually use.
Alongside our specialist areas of foraging, fermentation and food waste reduction, we offer a wide range of globally inspired and skills-focused courses, from pasta and pizza to vibrant cultural cuisines.
Whether you’re joining us as a complete beginner, a confident home cook, or as part of a private group or gift experience, the focus is always the same: real skills, great ingredients, and an enjoyable day.
Chef Training & Consultancy Services
We also work with professional chefs, hospitality teams and food businesses across the UK and internationally.
Our chef training and consultancy focus on helping kitchens rethink ingredient use, reduce waste, and build more creative, sustainable menus.
Meet The Team
Ground Up Cookery School is a family-run business shaped by Colin and Tasha’s shared passion for food, sustainability and rural life.
Colin - Director of Training and Sustainability
Raised in a fishing and farming community on the Isle of Coll in the Inner Hebrides, Colin developed a deep understanding of seasonal ingredients and sustainable cooking from an early age. With over 30 years’ experience as a professional chef across fine dining, contract catering, hospitality and manufacturing, Colin is recognised for his expertise in foraging, fermentation and zero-waste cooking.
Alongside Ground Up Cookery School, Colin also works as Global Development Chef within the food manufacturing industry, working with chefs and food businesses across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. This industry insight helps ensure Ground Up Cookery School remains current, relevant and forward-thinking.
Tasha - Director of Everything Else!
Tasha leads the business behind the scenes, bringing a strong background in business management, finance, project management and organisational strategy. A passionate home cook with a love of travel and global cuisine, Tasha plays a key role in shaping the direction, experience and growth of the school.
Together, Colin & Tasha have built Ground Up Cookery School into a respected food education business working with individuals, chefs and organisations across the UK.
Kristi - Chef Trainer
Kristi is an integral part of the team at Ground Up Cookery School, bringing over 25 years of experience across the hospitality industry, from AA rosette kitchens to running her own successful catering venture. Joining as an experienced professional chef, she quickly became a key member of the team. With strong technical skills and a natural flair for teaching, Kristi was trained in-house to deliver courses to Ground Up Cookery School standards. She now leads our baking and seasonal classes while helping to shape a growing programme of classic and globally inspired courses, all while fully embracing our ethos of sustainability, seasonality and practical cooking skills. From the outset, Kristi has fitted seamlessly into the business, quickly becoming one of the family.
A true people person, Kristi has a calm, approachable style that puts everyone at ease, whether working with complete beginners, keen home cooks, or younger guests. Her professionalism, warmth and enthusiasm make her a fantastic asset to the team and an important part of the Ground Up Cookery School experience. With her creativity and ideas continuing to influence our evolving range of classes and experiences, there is an exciting pipeline of new courses in development.
Heath & Hedge
Ground Up Cookery School is also home to Heath & Hedge, our small-batch artisan spirits brand inspired by the Devon landscape.
Using seasonal and foraged ingredients, Heath & Hedge reflects the same ethos as the cookery school, sustainability, creativity and a strong connection to place.
Grounded in Devon
Set in a beautiful rural location with far-reaching views, Ground Up Cookery School is deeply connected to Devon’s landscape, producers and food culture.
From foraging in hedgerows to working with local farmers and producers, everything we do is rooted in the surrounding environment.
Whether you're joining us for a course, a gift, or a private experience, we look forward to welcoming you.
Ground Up Cookery School is more than just a place to learn to cook, it's a place to reconnect with food, nature and sustainable living.
Ground Up Cookery School — From the Ground Up.
