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he likes of Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsay have spurred on a renaissance in English food and drink, and if you’re looking to flex your own skills in the kitchen, there’s an increasing number of cookery schools ‘catering’ to all abilities.

Take  Ashburton Cookery School in Devon , for example. There’s a whopping 40 classes to choose from, including bread-making and easy canapés – and even one aimed at men wanting to get handy in the kitchen (you’ve got no excuses now), where guys learn to cook a Sunday roast with Eton mess for pudding. 

There are exciting vegetarian courses, too. At  Cordon Vert , you’re taught how to make a meal that will have meat-lovers asking for more. Forget your archetypal nut roast, and think spicy Singapore Laksa, seaweed tempura and Champagne risotto instead. Dee-licious. Of course, you’ll need something to wash it all down with, too, and that’s where Gerard Basset comes in. 

Aside from being the Best Sommelier In The World 2010 – fact – Gerard runs wine master classes from his new venture, the  Hotel Terravina , in the heart of the New Forest . As well as getting a tour of his cellars, you’ll find out how to avoid paying too much for a vintage, as well as learning how to match wine with your food (or is it the other way round?). Now that will impress your dinner party guests…