Contact details
Please note: This venue is not directly affiliated with ClassBento. Please contact the venue directly to get up-to-date pricing, and for any questions or bookings.
Ground Up Cookery School
taste@groundupcookeryschool.co.uk
Ground Up Cookery School
location_on Grealy Barn, Chudleigh, TQ13 0AA
16 max
label Price TBC
free_cancellation 4 weeks
About this venue
Are you looking for a unique and fully equipped Training Kitchen for your event in Chudleigh, Devon? Ground Up Cookery School offers an exceptional venue for workshops, corporate team-building, private dining, filming, meetings and more. Our cookery school is designed to cater for a wide range of events with high-quality facilities and a welcoming atmosphere.Our FacilitiesA beautifully designed, fully equipped cookery school8 reconfigurable workstations8 x countersunk AEG 4-ring hobs6 Nef ovensDemo station including 5-ring, bridged induction hobCookery equipment for 16 participants working in pairs or 8 individualsA commercial wash-up roomA refreshment/reception areaA flexible 16-seater table (made up of two tables, accommodating two groups of 10). Additional tables and seating are available if workstations are not required.2 toilets, including a disabled-access toiletA grass car park with 17 spacesSocial media/newsletter promotion to our 6,000 interested followersOutdoor SpacePlans are in place to develop a large outdoor kitchen courtyard seating and additional cooking facilities. In the short term, we can offer:A mid-size firepitA pizza ovenA ProQ BBQ/SmokerSeating for 16PricingIndividual requirements can be tailored to your needs and priced accordingly. To gain an indication of prices the following package are available:1. Meeting Space / Workshop AreaIncludes use of the table(s), tea/coffee, reception area, toilets, and car parkWashing up and cleaning before and after included£100 per hour2. Independent Use of Cookery School FacilitiesFull access to the cookery schoolExcludes refreshments, washing up, and cleaning after the eventCleaning/washing up products and facilities provided£450 per day plus £125 refundable deposit (subject to inspection)3. Full Use of Cookery School FacilitiesFull access to the cookery schoolIncludes washing up and cleaning after the eventExcludes refreshments and ingredients£575 per day plus £125 refundable deposit (subject to inspection)Promotion and BookingWe are very happy to share events through our social media and newsletter, provided they do not directly compete with our own courses. We can sell tickets online on your behalf, however, this will incur transaction fees.All prices are exclusive of VATA 50% deposit is required upon booking to secure your date, with the balance due 6 weeks in advance.Cancellations or date changes must be made at least 6 weeks in advance to avoid forfeiting the deposit
Special classes supported
Your host
Ground Up Cookery School
5.0 (2)
Our Story – Ground Up Cookery School
We’re Colin and Tasha Wheeler-James, the team behind the award winning Ground Up Cookery School. What began as a wine-fuelled idea around the dinner table became a life-changing decision: we sold our home and threw ourselves into a dream. In 2019, we opened our first cookery school in Crockernwell, Devon. With Colin’s 30+ years of chef experience and Tasha’s background in business and hospitality, we wanted to create something different—something grounded (quite literally!) in sustainability, seasonality, and real, practical cookery skills.
Now based in Chudleigh, our custom-built space is surrounded by nature, filled with purpose, and designed to help others reconnect with the food they eat—from fermentation and foraging to generic cookery skills and zero-waste principles.
We have just one 2 Food Drink Devon's Gold Awards, Sustainability Pioneer and Training School. Even more excitingly, we were awarded Best Training School, up againstOur Story – Ground Up Cookery School
We’re Colin and Tasha Wheeler-James, the team behind the award winning Ground Up Cookery School. What began as a wine-fuelled idea around the dinner table became a life-changing decision: we sold our home and threw ourselves into a dream. In 2019, we opened our first cookery school in Crockernwell, Devon. With Colin’s 30+ years of chef experience and Tasha’s background in business and hospitality, we wanted to create something different—something grounded (quite literally!) in sustainability, seasonality, and real, practical cookery skills.
Now based in Chudleigh, our custom-built space is surrounded by nature, filled with purpose, and designed to help others reconnect with the food they eat—from fermentation and foraging to generic cookery skills and zero-waste principles.
We have just one 2 Food Drink Devon's Gold Awards, Sustainability Pioneer and Training School. Even more excitingly, we were awarded Best Training School, up against some very famous cookery schools, chuffed doesn't begin to describe the pride we are feeling!
Why We Do This
We’ve both always believed food has the power to bring people together, to inspire change, and to build confidence in the everyday. Teaching is our way of sharing that.
It’s not just about passing on knowledge—it’s about empowering people. Seeing a nervous participant find their stride or a group of colleagues rediscover joy through food is what drives us. There’s nothing better than that lightbulb moment when someone realises that what they thought was “just a weed” can become the star of the plate.
What Makes Ground Up Special
Whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced chef, we offer a welcoming space where learning feels relaxed, hands-on, and rewarding.
What we teach reflects how we live:
Seasonal, local, and wild ingredients
Zero-waste and sustainable techniques
Traditional skills like fermentation, curing, preserving and fire cookery
A strong connection to the land and the joy of slowing down
You can join us for anything from a foraging walk with wild-infused cocktails, to a pasta masterclass, to a chef-focused fermentation workshop. We also run corporate events and offer consultancy to help hospitality businesses build greener, more resilient kitchens. Providing consultancy and chef training for food businesses moving toward Net Zero and sustainable menus
Proud Moments
We were thrilled to be featured on BBC’s Marcus Wareing: Tales from a Kitchen Garden, where Colin joined Marcus to explore wild fermentation and preservation, showcasing techniques like fermented cabbage, brined apples and smoked pear powder.
Our work has also been featured in Food Drink Devon, especially celebrating our Spotlight On... series, where we take a deep dive into one wild or seasonal ingredient—like nettles, wild garlic, or edible flowers—and explore it through demos, tastings, and conversation.
A Few Fun Extras
We make our own Heath & Hedge wild-infused spirits—think Mugolio (Pine-syrup) Rum, Crab-Apple and Rose Petal Gin, Honey & Quince vodka—all available to taste and take home.
Our classes are open to all, making us a hit with families, home educators and young food explorers.
Come and Cook With Us
At Ground Up, we believe the best cooking happens when we understand where our food comes from, why it matters, and how to make the most of every ingredient. Whether you want to grow your confidence, reconnect with nature, or just spend a great day in good company—we’d love to welcome you here. + more
Grealy Barn, Chudleigh, TQ13 0AA
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