The Greyhound Exclusive Kitchen Experience
Published by The Beacon School on Monday 27th of July 2026
Our Year 6 MasterCook Competition 2026 winners enjoyed an unforgettable behind-the-scenes culinary experience at the award-winning restaurant, The Greyhound in Beaconsfield, where they worked alongside professional chefs before sitting down to enjoy a meal they had helped to create.
Daniel Crump MCA, Master of Culinary Arts and Proprietor of The Greyhound, has once again supported our school’s much-loved annual MasterCook Competition by judging the Year 6 final. Each year, the competition challenges pupils in Years 4–8 to demonstrate their culinary skills, creativity and technical ability through a series of cook-offs, culminating in year group finals.
This year’s competition was the largest to date, with over 150 pupils taking part. As a special prize for the Year 6 winners, Daniel invited four pupils to experience life inside the kitchen of his acclaimed restaurant, topped with a culinary experience.
On Monday 6th July, the four prize-winners visited The Greyhound accompanied by our Head of Cooking & Nutrition, Mrs Kim Rowland. Following a professional kitchen induction led by Head Chef George, the pupils were paired with members of the restaurant’s expert brigade, gaining hands-on experience across a range of kitchen sections as preparations got underway for lunchtime service.
Working alongside the chefs, the pupils helped prepare ingredients, learned professional techniques and assisted with plating dishes during service for Daniel Crump and Mrs Rowland. Popular choices off the menu were the Brixham Crab Spring Rolls with Sweet Chilli as a snack, Green Tomato Gazpacho with Cucumber, Fennel and Pepper Strands to start, the Benson Pork Belly with Sauce Charcutière, Carrot & Coriander Purée as a main and the 70% Callebaut Chocolate Tart with Maple, Sherry, Cardamom Ice Cream was a delicious indulgent dessert to top off the culinary experience.
The prize winners also had the opportunity to plate and present their own dishes before enjoying an exceptional lunch in the restaurant – a fitting reward for an inspiring day in a professional kitchen.
Kim Rowland, Head of Cooking & Nutrition at The Beacon, said:
“We are extremely grateful to Daniel for inviting the boys to take part in this fantastic experience. They had the opportunity to work alongside professional chefs across different sections of the kitchen and play an active role in preparing for lunchtime service. The chefs were patient, kind and incredibly supportive, providing invaluable encouragement and mentoring throughout the day. It was wonderful to see our Beacon pupils grow in confidence while experiencing the pace and precision of a professional kitchen.
To round off the day, we enjoyed a delicious lunch that showcased the incredible food they had helped to prepare. It was a truly memorable experience that the boys will treasure for years to come. Thank you to everyone at The Greyhound for making it so special.”
Daniel Crump MCA, Proprietor of The Greyhound, said:
“Hospitality is all about sharing knowledge, nurturing talent and creating memorable experiences, so welcoming these talented young cooks into our kitchen was a genuine pleasure. Their enthusiasm, curiosity and willingness to learn was fantastic to see.
As a local business, we care deeply about supporting our community and inspiring young people to discover where a love of food can take them. Whether they go on to become professional chefs or simply develop a lifelong passion for cooking, experiences like these can spark something really special. We were delighted to be part of their journey.”
