Opening as a classroom for the day, The Three Chimneys’ kitchen will welcome local children as part of the latest programme of educational activities led by head chef Paul Green and his team.
Different groups of nine- to twelve-year-olds from Dunvegan Primary School will visit the kitchen this year, where they will handle local ingredients featured on The Three Chimneys’ menu and learn about front-of-house service.
They will also experience life inside a professional working kitchen while discovering the provenance and seasonality of the ingredients used.
“We’re delighted to have been involved in this project,” says Mrs MacGregor, class teacher from Dunvegan Primary School.
“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.”
Sam Muir, head teacher from Dunvegan Primary School, adds: “What better place for our pupils to gain insight into the thrill and excitement of a career in the food and beverage industry.
“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.”
A long-standing partnership
Following the success of its 2025 pilot initiative, The Three Chimneys continues its long-standing partnership with Dunvegan Primary School to offer more youngsters the chance to hone their cooking skills and learn more about Skye’s local produce.
The latest school groups to visit included making several dishes under the supervision of head chef Paul Green, such as cullen skink, parker house rolls and the Three Chimneys’ signature marmalade pudding.
“I had the best day ever being a chef,” says Dunvegan Primary School pupil Eli Varvey.
“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.”
Commitment to fundraising
The open day experience is part of the restaurant’s ongoing commitment to annual fundraising and support for local communities and charities on the island.
Each year, the team votes to select a local community group or charity to support with funds raised through voluntary guest donations. This year, its chosen community partners are Dunvegan Primary and Carbost Primary, located on the shores of Loch Harport.
“Our continued partnership with Dunvegan Primary School really has been a recipe for success,” says Kieran Walker, general manager at The Three Chimneys.
“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 go some way to inspiring the next generation of hospitality professionals on the island and connecting them with their local environment.”
Over the years, The Three Chimneys has also supported Portree Food Bank, Skye Mountain Rescue, RNLI Portree and the Scottish Ambulance Service Station at Dunvegan and three of its chefs were recently drafted in to help cater for the Dunvegan Primary School Christmas party lunch.
The Three Chimneys opened in 1985 and is included in the Michelin Guide for Great Britain and Ireland.