Stephen and Joanna Bulmer are closing the Brook Hall Cookery School at the end of December 2011 and will be integrating their skills into the 10in8 Group’s cookery school and Fine Dining Academy.

Stephen will teach regularly at the cookery school but has also been appointed as Head Chef at 10in8’s Restaurant Angélique in Dartmouth. Joanna will become 10 in 8’s Head of Marketing. Joanna Bulmer commented: ‘We are delighted to be joining the 10 in 8 Fine Dining Group. We share in its values and ambitions and look forward to playing a significant part in their development and growth.’

Richard Pursey, Chairman of the 10 in 8 Group commented: ‘We are delighted to have reached an agreement to bring Jo and Steve into our Group. Developing talent is crucial for our long-term sustainability and is core to the Fine Dining Academy’s rising star apprenticeship programme. Steve and Joanna bring to 10 in 8 specialist skills that complement our existing talents. Our Fine Dining Academy has probably the strongest teaching line up of any restaurant-based cookery school in the UK and as such, provides a unique offering to customers and apprentices alike.

Stephen will expand this offering further while Joanna will help us to build and maximise the potential of our customer base across the Group.’ Stephen Bulmer is widely acknowledged to be one the UK’s leading cookery school teachers. His combination of top-level expertise with a relaxed, light-hearted teaching style has built a significant customer following. Before opening Brook Hall he ran the Raymond Blanc Cookery School at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons following in the footsteps of 10in8’s Executive Chef, Alan Murchison. Joanna Bulmer has a blue-chip advertising and direct marketing background as well as top-level hospitality management experience, also gained at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons.