Gordon Ramsay Academy to replace Tante Marie Culinary Academy

The Gordon Ramsay Academy will be replacing the Tante Marie Culinary Academy facility in Woking, Surrey, and is expected to open this autumn, it has been revealed.

The new academy will open on the first floor, and Ramsay’s first Street Burger outside of London will open on the ground floor. The Academy will offer a “vast range” of educational, technical and fun courses and training programmes for home cooks and aspiring professional chefs. SurreyLive reported that the new academy would occupy the former Tante Marie space.

A statement on the Tante Marie website said: “Our fabulous facility in Woking is now under new ownership. Tante Marie Culinary Academy is no longer running courses. However, we still act as an important champion of our graduates who enjoy successful careers in food around the world.”

The Tante Marie Culinary Academy, Britain's oldest private cookery school, was once co-owned by Ramsay, who teamed up to buy it in 2008 with caterer Lyndy Redding and former deputy principal Andrew Maxwell; however, he later sold his shares.

The academy was founded by cookery writer Iris Syrett in 1954 and named after Ann-Marie Taride, the author of the 1925 French culinary bible La Véritable Cuisine de Famille.

Ramsay said: “I am beyond excited to finally confirm the Gordon Ramsay Academy will be opening in Woking later this year. It has been a long time in the planning and I truly believe, not only will we offer guests of all ages and abilities the chance to learn in what I hope will be fun, relaxed and also really informative classes, but to me this academy will go even further.

“I know how important mentors are, how important it is as a professional chef to sharpen your skills, to be guided in your training and to gain valuable workplace experience in a professional kitchen environment. Through my network of restaurants and the incredible teams who work with me, I have the ability to offer hands-on, practical, career-changing opportunities that will hopefully inspire, motivate and develop a new generation of talented chefs for the future.”

Councillor Ayesha Azad, leader of Woking Borough Council, which owns the building, said: “This is a major coup for the borough. Gordon Ramsay has renowned restaurants all over the globe so we’re absolutely delighted he has chosen Woking as the place for his next big venture. Not only is it enormously exciting for everyone, it’s also hugely positive for everything we’re doing to make Woking town centre a vibrant and interesting regional destination. We look forward to welcoming him and his team.”

Gordon Ramsay Group includes 18 restaurants in London, 17 restaurants internationally, including in the US, France, Dubai and Singapore, and with further openings planned for the UK and internationally this year. Across the group’s portfolio, its restaurants hold seven Michelin stars, including the three-Michelin-starred Restaurant Gordon Ramsay.