Tante Marie Culinary Academy to move in 2015
The Tante Marie Culinary Academy is set to relocate to a new state-of-the-art premises in central Woking.
The independent cookery school, which claims to be Britain's first, has been running for around 60 years and counts the likes of Lyndy Redding, founder of Absolute Taste, TV chef Harriet Eastwood, Neil Rankin, founding member of the Pitt Cue restaurant concept as well as John Salt and the Smokehouse among its alumni.
It will move to Alexander House in the centre of Woking in early 2015 to an 8,000 sq ft site that includes a demonstration theatre, six student kitchens, lecture rooms and a training restaurant serving the public.
Tante Marie will also be the first to launch a brand new professional qualification, incorporating a hospitality business management component as well as extending its range of Lifestyle [and Gap Year] cookery courses.
Commenting on the move, Tante Marie's managing director and principal, Andrew Maxwell said: "We are thrilled to announce the evolution of our cookery school with a move to larger and more impressive facilities, in this our 60th year. By 2015 we will have outgrown our current home and the new premises is almost double the size of our current base. We have really exciting plans for the further development of the academy that will not only enhance our courses and qualifications, but will also offer applied experiences for our students through their work in the training restaurant.
"Our professional courses and Cordon Bleu Diploma qualification have put Tante Marie on the map as a leading international cookery school. It has been the spring board for thousands of chefs who are now running successful businesses and enjoying careers in food and gastronomy around the world.
"We are looking forward to welcoming diners to our restaurant to experience for themselves the very best that the graduates of Tante Marie Culinary Academy have to offer in terms of skill and service."
The Tante Marie Culinary Academy is currently housed at Woodham House in Woking.
