Sherri Singleton’s culinary background includes 20 years as a caterer, consultant, award-winning restaurateur and executive chef in both her native southern California and in the UK. As a teacher and chef, she has worked tirelessly to promote the revival of the kitchen and table as centres of creativity, community and pleasure.

After several years of running her first restaurant The Stour Bay Café in Manningtree, Sherri decided to take a break and began the Mistley Kitchen Workshops in 2001 to much acclaim.

Featured in several publications, including Waitrose Food Illustrated’s ‘Best Cookery Workshops’ in January 2005 as well as Tesco’s Healthy Living Magazine, BBC Good Food and Woman and Home.

The workshops have continued to develop, drawing keen cooks from all over the country. Needing more accommodation for the workshops, she purchased with her husband David Mc Kay, a run-down hotel opposite The Mistley Kitchen. In March 2004 she launched The Mistley Thorn, a boutique hotel and restaurant specialising in serving locally sourced produce at its seasonal peak.

Within it’s first year, The Mistley Thorn was awarded a Bib Gourmand from the Michelin Red Book and gained inclusion in all the leading UK food and accommodation guides.

The Mistley Thorn has been featured in The Financial Times, Waitrose Food Illustrated, The Week, and The Daily Telegraph, among other publications.


In addition to teaching and cooking at her restaurant, Sherri writes about food related issues for various publications. Sherri also has a sweet little daughter Isla, who already loves to put on her apron and help her mummy cook!