The team behind The Three Chimneys has announced plans to re open its kitchen classroom experience for local children in 2026 following the success of a pilot programme held on Skye this year.
The initiative will once again see the world renowned restaurant work in partnership with Dunvegan Primary School to give pupils aged between 9 and 12 a hands on introduction to cooking, hospitality, and local produce.
The kitchen classroom open days form part of The Three Chimneys ongoing commitment to giving back to the Skye community through education, fundraising, and long term support for local growers, crofters, producers, and charities.
As before, the restaurant kitchen will be transformed into a classroom for the day under the guidance of head chef Paul Green and his team.
Groups of pupils will visit throughout 2026 to learn what it takes to run an award winning restaurant on the island.
The experience allows youngsters to handle a range of ingredients featured on The Three Chimneys menu while also learning about front of house service and the realities of working in a professional kitchen.
Children are guided through the importance of provenance and seasonality while exploring how Skye’s landscape and coastline shape the food served at the restaurant.
The programme is designed to reconnect young people with their local environment while showcasing the sustainable ethos that underpins the restaurant’s approach to sourcing produce.
During a recent visit, pupils prepared and shared lunch together around the kitchen table, making dishes including Cullen Skink, The Three Chimneys signature Parker House rolls, and marmalade pudding.
Mrs MacGregor, class teacher at Dunvegan Primary School, said:
“We’re delighted to have been involved in this project.
“It’s been amazing for the children to see the link between locally grown food and its uses.
“The children have been really excited at the prospect of being involved in the preparation, cooking and serving of this meal for community members they know.
“It gives them a real behind the scenes look and first hand experience of hospitality, a major sector on the island, which many of them will be involved in in their teenage years and beyond.”
Sam Muir, Head Teacher at Dunvegan Primary School, said:
“What better place for our pupils to gain insight into the thrill and excitement of a career in the food and beverage industry.
“They developed skills for learning, life, and work with hands on experiences in the kitchen and front of house.
“Our pupils were truly inspired in experiencing hospitality at the highest level, and we hope this partnership can continue to grow.
“Opportunities like this help prepare our young people for their future lives and for meaningful contributions to our local community, where hospitality and tourism play such a vital role.”
Eli Varvey, a P6 pupil, said:
“I had the best day ever being a chef.
“I was making marmalade pudding, and it involved a lot of mixing and moving about.
“My favourite thing was tasting the food and the excitement of it all.
“Overall, it was a wonderful time, thank you Three Chimneys.”
Cailean Bandall, a P5 pupil, said:
“I had the best day ever.
“I was a chef, and I made bread and got to eat it so thank you so much.
“Five stars.”
Kieran Walker, General Manager of The Three Chimneys, said:
“Our continued partnership with Dunvegan Primary School really has been a recipe for success.
“Creating a fun, hands on space for budding young chefs to learn about cooking and local Skye produce is such a rewarding experience for everyone involved, and we hope it will continue to thrive in 2026.
“We’re confident that our kitchen classroom open days will help inspire the next generation of hospitality professionals on the island and connect them with their local environment.”
Kieran Walker added:
“Thanks to the generous donations of our guests, we’re committed to providing ongoing fundraising support to local charities and community groups on the island.
“We’ve just raised a further £571.62 with visiting youngsters from Dunvegan Primary for Northwest Skye Shinty Club as part of our latest fundraising activity.”
The Three Chimneys has supported a wide range of local causes over the years, including Portree Food Bank, Skye Mountain Rescue, RNLI Portree, and the Scottish Ambulance Service station at Dunvegan.
Since opening in 1985, the restaurant has played a central role in putting Skye on the global food map while remaining rooted in the island communities it serves.
For more information on The Three Chimneys and The Three Chimneys at Talisker, go to https://threechimneys.co.uk and https://talisker.threechimneys.co.uk
For more information on Dunvegan Primary School, go to www.dunveganprimaryschool.com
