ARTISAN chocolatier Ben Axford is to run a chocolate masterclass at a country house hotel, restaurant and cookery school in the Vale of Evesham.

Ben, who has been a BBC Masterchef finalist and seven times Academy of Chocolate medallist, will be demonstrating his skills at Eckington Manor on Thursday March 30.

While many children acquire a taste for chocolate in their early years, Ben almost grew up with it running through his veins. He spent much of his childhood in Brussels where he enjoyed raiding his parents’ stash of luxury chocolate.

He now makes his own handcrafted luxury artisan chocolates using only natural ingredients. Based in the Cotswolds, Ben will be offering guests a chance to try their hands at perfecting their own bespoke chocolate.

Eckington Manor owner Judy Gardner said: “We are delighted to welcome Ben to Eckington Manor to host this unique event with us. With Easter around the corner, it’s a great opportunity for guests to impress their friends and family as they learn how to make exquisite chocolate that not only looks great but tastes beautiful too.”

Held in Eckington Manor’s cookery school from 1.45pm until 4pm, Ben will demonstrate to guests the essentials of how to create and temper chocolate and how to make luxuriously tasting truffles. Following the demonstration, guests will have the opportunity of coating and decorating truffles and the expert chocolatier will then be on hand to provide guidance to guests who will have the opportunity to create their own bespoke chocolates to take home.

The skills people learn during the class will enable them to make their own truffles and bars, as well as temper chocolate for a variety of applications.

Ben said: “I’m excited to be working with Eckington Manor, it’s a wonderful location with such character. The Chocolate Masterclass will be an exclusive way for guests to learn how to create their own truffles, bars and temper chocolate for a variety of applications, using the finest ingredients.”

Ben is widely recognised as a uniquely talented chef, food writer and chocolatier with accolades from The Times food critic Kate Spicer and Evening Standard critic Charles Campion. He has cooked for former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern at No 10 Downing Street, and for eight Michelin star chefs at the Savoy. He now runs his own dining company and chocolatier business.