The Edinburgh New Town Cookery School has announced its transformation into the Edinburgh Food & Drink Academy, marking an important new chapter for one of Scotland’s most respected culinary education providers.
As an ICSA-accredited Academy, the school has long been recognised for its professional teaching standards, structured cookery training and commitment to raising confidence, skills and opportunity across the food and drink sector. Its new identity strengthens that position, reflecting the growing breadth of its work across professional training, leisure cookery, food and drink experiences, events, producer collaborations and sector leadership.
Based in the heart of Edinburgh, the Academy describes itself as the home of food and drink with both a UK and international outlook. It welcomes students and visitors from around the world, while championing Scotland’s outstanding larder, culinary heritage and hospitality culture.
The Academy’s mission is clear: Create, Connect and Elevate.
It aims to create skills and confidence, connect people through a shared love of food, and elevate careers, cooking ability and curiosity. This sits closely with ICSA’s own focus on consistency, excellence and quality assurance in cookery skills and training.
The Academy has already helped shape impressive culinary careers. Its alumni include Sam Yorke, whose restaurant Heron holds a Michelin star, making him the youngest Edinburgh chef to lead a Michelin-starred kitchen. His success reflects the strong technical foundations, professional discipline and confidence that high-quality cookery education can provide.
The relaunch also comes at a time when practical kitchen skills remain under pressure. Research shared by the Academy suggests that while many adults feel confident cooking everyday meals, more technical skills are declining. Almost half of Brits say they are not confident with butchery techniques, a third lack confidence preparing fish, and many struggle with core methods such as poaching, sautéing and braising. Nearly a quarter admit they have thrown away ingredients because they did not know how to cook them.
For ICSA, this underlines the continuing importance of accredited cookery schools and academies that teach practical, transferable skills in a structured, accessible and inspiring way.
James Day, Head of Operations at ICSA, said:
“Edinburgh Food & Drink Academy represents exactly the type of forward-thinking, quality-led cookery education that ICSA is proud to support. Their teaching standards, professional approach and commitment to inclusive learning have made them a valued ICSA Academy. This new chapter builds on an already strong reputation and positions them perfectly as a leading food and drink education ICSA ACADEMY for Edinburgh, Scotland and beyond.”
Inclusivity and accessibility remain central to the Academy’s work. Its courses are designed to support people of different ages, abilities and dietary needs, helping learners build confidence whether they are pursuing a professional career or simply wanting to cook better food at home.
Its 12 Week Diploma in Professional Cookery offers students the skills needed to enter the culinary sector, including professional kitchen techniques, business awareness and catering for special diets. The course provides a fast-track route into kitchens, hospitality, food entrepreneurship and wider food and drink careers.
Alongside professional training, the Academy offers leisure cookery experiences across a broad range of cuisines and skills. These classes help curious cooks gain confidence, explore new ingredients and enjoy shared food experiences with friends and family. The Academy also delivers bespoke private food and drink events, demonstrations and experiences for visitors to the city, including modern and heritage Scottish recipes.
The rebrand is supported by a new visual identity inspired by the expressive character of food and drink. Its colour palette — Watermelon, Chickpea, Olive and Merlot — draws directly from natural tones associated with food, wine and ingredients.
Lucinda Bruce-Gardyne, Chair of the Edinburgh Food & Drink Academy, said:
“This rebrand is a statement of intent. Food connects us in ways few other things can, and the Academy exists to harness this power. We are a home for food and drink, a place where people build culinary and life skills, grow confidence and turn ambition into opportunity.
We are committed to making the world of food and drink more inclusive and accessible, and to creating an environment where innovation thrives. This new brand captures who we already are and the impact we are here to make.”
As Edinburgh Food & Drink Academy enters this next phase, it does so with clarity, ambition and strong foundations. For ICSA, its continued evolution demonstrates the vital role accredited cookery schools and academies play in developing skills, supporting careers, championing producers and keeping food education relevant for the future.
