Ashburton beat hundreds of other UK cookery schools to win the titles of Best English Cookery School and Best Large Cookery School, which were announced at the British Cookery School Awards ceremony at the Vintners’ Company in the heart of London.

With more than 250 cookery schools now operating in the UK, the British Cookery School Awards – sponsored by Kenwood – were set up this year to honour all those excellent cookery schools that go above and beyond to deliver a first-class cookery school experience.

The awards aim to celebrate the important role cookery schools play in driving Britain’s passion for cooking good, homemade food.

The judging panel consisted of BBC Radio 2’s food and drink presenter Nigel Barden, who also hosted the show, Michelin-star chef Martin Blunos and Kenwood’s development chef Martin Johns.