Richard Hughes of Richard Hughes Cookery School and The Assembly House, Norwich, has been awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award, sponsored by Alliance East Anglia, at the Norfolk Food & Drink Awards 2023.

In a career that has taken him from a hotel pot wash to a Michelin-starred kitchen, and from his first restaurant opened with £200 in the bank to director of The Assembly House in Norwich, Richard Hughes’ impact on the Norfolk food and drink industry cannot be underestimated. 

Beginning his career in the kitchen as a 15-year-old at The Imperial Hotel in Great Yarmouth, Richard opened his first restaurant - Number 24 in Wymondham – in 1991. 

During his 11 years in Wymondham he also taught at the Hotel School at City College Norwich. In 2002, he opened The Lavender House at Brundall to national acclaim, and very shortly after founded the Richard Hughes Cookery School, winning the inaugural British Cookery School of the Year award. 

In 2017 he relocated the school to the Grade I listed heritage site that is The Assembly House. This larger, purpose-designed cookery school allows Richard to share his lifelong passion for food with an ever-growing audience of all ages and abilities. 

With numerous awards and accolades to his name, Richard is still as passionate, enthusiastic and dedicated as ever and continues to inspire a host of cooks, as well as offering advice to a host of food-related businesses, including care homes, tourist attractions, pub chains, school meal contractors and the county’s biggest hospital services provider. 

The judges said Richard is like “the daddy of food” and they also praised his dedication to using local produce and supporting other local businesses, such as when he let Norwich Theatre Royal use The Assembly House kitchens following a fire.

“He’s always the first to say yes, and his staff stay forever – that’s got to say something for him,” said the judges.

Unfortunately, Richard could not attend the awards evening, but he had these words to share on his win: “The Norfolk food and drink scene has never been so vibrant and I am truly honoured – and more than a little surprised – to have been given this award.

“It’s been 46 years since I started at the Imperial at Great Yarmouth and every day of the week a well-meaning soul asks: ‘When are you going to retire?’ Well, the truth is, I never will. I absolutely love the business, all day, every day.

“I truly love my fantastic team, our brilliant suppliers and, rather bizarrely, the customers. 

“It’s a terrific trade and a vocation, something that we can all be proud of.

“Our job description is to make people happy and, all being well, I hope to keep making people happy for a long time to come.

Thanking the judges, the Norfolk Food & Drink Awards sponsors, the team at The Assembly House and his family, Richard added: "On a personal note, I’d like to honour my first chef and employer Roger Mobbs – who we lost this year. He was such an inspiration to me and so many others in the county. Without his enthusiasm, guidance and strong hand I wouldn’t be where I am today."

To find out more about all the winners, please click here.

For more information on the Norfolk Food and Drink Awards, please visit norfolkfada.co.uk