Our Story

Michael & Philippa Vine have converted an old grain store on their farm into The Bluebell Farmhouse Kitchen in East Sussex.

The Bluebell Farmhouse Kitchen is located at Bates Green Farm (home of the famous Arlington Bluebell Walk for the last forty years).

Michael, has been farming at his family’s 5th generation farm whilst Philippa, the cook, trained at Eastbourne College of Domestic Economy.  She appeared on Masterchef in 2001 and was the cookery writer for Farmers’ Weekly for 12 years, championing locally produced and seasonal ingredients.

Our passion is food

We are passionate about seasonal and local food.

They have been selling their own farm reared meat at local farmers markets for over 15 years.  Michael produces chicken ‘the old fashioned way’ – the best quality additive free, slow growing chicken plus grass fed, dry hung Sussex beef, Southdown lamb and free range pigs.

We are very fortunate to have teamed up with a British company ESSE who make cast iron stoves.  After falling in love with their woodfired ESSE range cooker which was installed into the farmshop, were so impressed with how it cooks and produces great dishes every time they want to spread the benefits to other people.

When you come and cook with us we will be using ingredients from the farm or local where possible. We welcome you to our farmhouse kitchen where you will learn how to cook stylish seasonal cooking – farm to fork.  It will be fun, relaxed and welcoming and aimed at everyone who enjoys good food or would like to expand or learn how to use a cast iron range cooker.

Cookery
Great range of cookery classes for beginners to experts, practical and demos.
Baking
How to bake cakes, tarts, biscuits as well as professional cake decorating.
Kitchen Crafts
Meat preparation, living food, foraging and food presentation.
Crafts
Flower arranging, centerpieces, how to forage, and more.