CHEFS from an award-winning Tynedale restaurant have teamed up with their local school to create a new cookery school.

The Feathers Inn, at Hedley-on-the-Hill, has joined up with Ovingham Middle School to create the Feathers Inn Cookery School, which they say is the first of its kind in the North-East.

The sessions offered will allow up to 20 people to take part in cookery classes and courses taught by professional chefs – all who either work or have worked at the Feathers Inn.

Head chef and owner Rhian Cradock has taught countless numbers of chefs, from complete beginners to a professional level, at the kitchen at the Feathers Inn, and has held hundreds of demonstrations.

He said: “Setting up this cookery school is the next logical step for us; we love to spread our passion for great food.

“Making cooking approachable and the chance to deliver hands-on courses in a beautifully-equipped classroom kitchen was something we jumped at.

“We are really looking forward to opening the cookery school doors to those who are complete novices and those who have good cooking abilities.”

The courses and classes, which are initially aimed at adults, will be taught at Ovingham Middle School and are designed to give people the skills and confidence to make the dishes at home.

There will be a demonstration area and students will have their own work spaces, and all ingredients will be provided.

Every session involves tasting all the food that has been made and there will be opportunities for questions.

Rhian’s wife and business partner, Helen, is a school governor at a local first school and strongly believes in supporting schools.

“Hopefully we will get the chance to work with children too,” she added.

“Classes and courses are currently for adults in the evenings, although we will hopefully be running classes and courses though the holidays with a family focus.”