Founded in 1980, the Academy of Culinary Arts is a professional association of head chefs, head pastry chefs and restaurant managers.

The Royal Academy of Culinary Arts’ Annual General Meeting took place on 21 September via Zoom where Academy members discussed the year’s successes and challenges. Invested Academicians who are awarded the Fellowship of the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts are known as Fellows.

Every year a number of senior Academicians are selected to be invested in a formal chair of their chosen mentors in recognition of their ‘significant contribution’ to the Academy and its activities. The Royal Academy of Culinary Arts announced Frances Atkins was invested in the chair of Jane Grigson.

Atkins spent 40 years as a chef working in five of her restaurants- most prominently the Yorke Arms in Ramsgill which gained a Michelin star in 2003. During lockdown Atkins launched an Airstream Food Wagon with two former Yorke Arms colleagues in the grounds of a Nationally Acclaimed Nursery.  

As an Academician Atkins has been an active member within the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts northern branch. Atkins has hosted a number of guest chef dinners to raise money for Adopt a School and she also works closely with Middlesbrough College.