Ellis and Liam Barrie launch crowdfunding campaign for cookery school

Ellis and Liam Barrie have launched a crowdfunding campaign to open a cookery school.

The school, to be located at their Marram Grass restaurant in Anglesey, will offer a variety of classes and courses including butchery and fishmongery.

The Acorn Award winners are hoping to raise £30,000 to help set up the unit with kitchens that will serve as multi-purpose classrooms.

Financial supporters of the school will be able to take advantage of all aspects of the Barrie brothers' business. "If someone donates £100, they will get £100 to spend at Marram Grass, the school or our new venture in Liverpool," Elllis told The Caterer.

As well as paying guests, the brothers will be opening up the school to young people who want to learn cooking skills which will be made available through sponsorship programmes that young people can apply for.

"Unfortunately, not many parents can afford to send their children to these type of courses, so we are offering places. It will cost £200, so any investors can buy into that," he said.

For Ellis, who last night made it to the banquet of Great British Menu with his fish course, the idea for the cookery school came from his memory of spending Saturday morning's at the local community college where he learnt to cook cakes and pies.

"The idea is a no brainer for me, it is something as business we need to start thinking about. We can't rely on government to put money in the next generation of chefs. We need to have a bigger impact. If we want to grow our businesses we need to find talent, and nurture that. It's so very important."

The brothers recently announced they have secured a site in Liverpool’s Albert Dock and will open the second restaurant in 2019. They launched their first restaurant, the Marram Grass, in 2011.

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