Eating in is the new eating out…


Chef Graham Funnell was born and raised in Surrey to a family of foodies. As a small child he remembers visiting his grandmother’s house to be greeted by the smell of baking and remembers the taste of caraway seed cakes. Of course back then it was all about home cooking, with roasts on Sunday and cold meat on Monday. Graham says; “Both my mum and dad were keen cooks, at a time when dinner parties were all the rage. Things have changed over the years and although it seems a long time ago it’s not really, it’s just that now that we have so much more choice, and with eating out being so popular, we don’t as a nation seem to be cooking so much at home. Things are shifting back now with more and more people wanting to entertain at home and also with men showing a real interest in the kitchen. These are the main reasons we decided to open a cookery school, a place where I can share my passion for food.”



After leaving school Graham’s career commenced with a four year apprenticeship, working in first class restaurant kitchens gaining a high grade City & Guilds qualification. At the age of twenty five and after having cooked in London for well known personalities, international business leaders and royalty, Graham together with his wife Jaycee decided to venture out on their own and opened Thackerys Restaurant in the historic town of Lewes East Sussex. The restaurant drew people from all over southern England and was renowned for its excellence, producing exciting fresh food using the very best seasonal produce.

Graham had the same vision when he set up his cookery school; He says “Lewes is a haven for foodies, we are so lucky to have fabulous fresh ingredients on our doorstep; with many independent shops selling fabulous local produce which includes, Sussex cheeses, Sussex reared meat and locally caught fish all of which are used in our cookery school”. Graham’s dream was to have a place where people could relax, be inspired and enjoy a fun day of cooking. He feels he has achieved his dream.