Abinger Cookery School, Surrey Hills, receive ‘Centre of Excellence’ Award for their exceptional outdoor cookery facilities and consistent teaching standards.

Abinger Cookery School specialises in cookery courses focusing on fresh regional produce sourced from their extensive range of local suppliers, providing produce for their indoor cookery courses as well as an outdoor cookery experience. The School is owned by Lizzie Marsh and her family.

Offering a wide range of cooking classes and experiences for individuals of all levels of expertise, the school provides a hands-on, immersive learning environment for its leisure and skills based students. A variety of courses and workshops for individuals, from aspiring domestic beginners to experienced cooks. The extensive outdoor cookery facility was created in partnership with Weber UK, delivering unrivalled outdoor cookery experiences in the region.

ICSA accredited cookery schools undergo rigorous assessments to ensure consistent delivery of excellence in cookery skills and training, as well as other criteria such as adhering to strict standards of environmental sustainability and continued support for British farmers and seasonal produce.

Accreditation from a recognised industry body such as ICSA is also vital for aspiring chefs to be able to further their professional careers within the hospitality industry and other related culinary professions. Aspiring domestic chefs can also gain new transferrable skills to improve their culinary knowledge and applications in their home kitchens including knife skills, world food courses and nutritional understandings for both young and old.

James Day, Director of Operations at ICSA, said: “The range of cookery classes at Abinger Cookery School are second-to-none. The indoor area is relaxed and facilities are very welcoming with an increasing range of up to date equipment.  I was also particularly impressed with their extensive range of outdoor Weber BBQ’s and smokers, alongside the in-depth knowledge of Head Chef Tutor Jake Pinn who has been training a wide range of courses at Abinger Cookery School for many years.

“During their rigorous 4 hour assessment, covering two separate cookery classes, I was personally impressed by their style and approach to teaching and clear passion and enthusiasm for fresh seasonal produce, fire cooking and of course the welfare and enjoyment of the attending students. So much so they qualified for our newest accreditation as ‘Centre of Excellence for Outdoor Cookery Teaching and Facilities’.

Their teaching style is passionate, informative, and fun, with a clear focus on depth of flavour. Tutors Jake and Maddie displayed a clear depth of knowledge and passion for the industry and transferring their extensive skills. Delivering a memorable learning experience for students of all levels.“

Teaching standards are key to an ICSA accredited cookery school. High levels of teaching provided by the Chef Tutors and their team are essential. Jake was extremely approachable, knowledgeable and able to blend professional teaching with a relaxed atmosphere. The feedback from the students was very positive, many sharing the transferable skills they had learned and had clearly enjoyed their day, as did I. We are delighted to award the team our coveted ‘ICSA Centre of Excellence Award’, specialising in Outdoor Cookery Experiences.

On receiving his award, Jake Pinn {pictured with  Maddie Hatton} commented “We are delighted to be recognised by ICSA for our quality teaching standards and facilities. It is always daunting when you are being assessed, but James and the team at ICSA have been very approachable and  supportive in recent months, and we welcomed their visit and valued feedback. We are honoured to be amongst the first to receive this prestigious accreditation of ‘Centre of Excellence for teaching and outdoor cookery experiences’, joining  some of the greatest and most respected accredited cookery schools in the UK.”

Alongside their professional teaching standards, all ICSA accredited cookery schools practice sustainability, sourcing seasonal and regionally produce where possible, and aim to teach zero waste principles in foods and packaging. Through ICSA, they aim to help shape Britain’s culinary landscape by championing chefs and schools who work to the highest standards, sharing professionally trained transferrable skills to a wider market of food consumers. Consumers seeking a professional cookery experience should aim to seek out an ICSA accredited cookery school, displaying their up to date kite mark as a seal of quality consistent teaching standards.

For more information on their assessment and a link to their courses https://icsacookeryschools.org/abinger-cookery-school-surrey/

ICSA Cooks ClubHUNGRY FOR MORE NEWS ON COOKERY SCHOOLS?
Sign up to our FREE ICSA Cook’s Club, for instant cookery savings, offers, recipes & news here

Join us! Would you like to apply for your cookery school to join ICSA? Details here