The Artisan Kitchen Featured on James Martin’s Saturday Morning
The Artisan Kitchen Featured on James Martin’s Saturday Morning
From Michelin-starred kitchens to award-winning preserves, the story of Chef Sarah Churchill and The Artisan Kitchen.
What happens when a classically trained chef swaps fine dining for fruit preserves? You get Sarah Churchill, the award-winning jam and marmalade maker behind The Artisan Kitchen in Gloucestershire.
Featured on James Martin’s Saturday Morning, Sarah shared her journey from London’s most iconic kitchens to crafting small-batch preserves that have taken the Great Taste Awards by storm.
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Watch the episode on ITVX here
A Passion Rooted in Fine Dining
Before jam came into the picture Sarah was firmly rooted in high-end cooking. She trained at
Westminster College
and worked in some of London’s most respected restaurants including The Square under Philip Howard, L’Escargot and Mirabelle.
“It was hard work, but an amazing experience,” she recalled. “It really shaped my love for seasonal ingredients and flavour.”
Even James Martin and fellow chefs Tom Kerridge and Atul Kochhar were impressed as she casually name-dropped kitchens that helped define modern British cuisine.
A Sweet New Direction
After moving to Gloucestershire and starting a family, Sarah shifted into product development at
Daylesford Organic,
where she discovered a love for jam-making.
That spark led to the creation of The Artisan Kitchen. She built a small kitchen and began producing preserves exactly as she would at home — in small batches, by hand.
“I still do everything myself,” she said on the show. “From sourcing fruit to cooking, jarring, labelling, even packing and posting.”
Jam That Stunned the Chefs
On the programme Sarah presented two standout creations:
Blaisdon Red Plum Jam
and
Sorrento Lemon Marmalade.
“This plum jam is unreal,” James Martin said. “It’s not overly sweet, the acidity is perfect.”
“It’s like getting punched in the mouth by a lemon — in the best possible way!”
Keeping It Local and Authentic
Sarah sources local and heritage fruit wherever possible. The Blaisdon plums, for example, are rare and grown by private orchard owners she connected with personally.
“There are no commercial growers left,” she explained. “So I posted on Facebook asking if anyone had trees in their garden.”
That message sparked lasting relationships with growers who care deeply about preserving traditional fruit varieties.
Awards and Recognition
With more than 188 Great Taste Awards, including 49 three-star awards, Sarah’s preserves are among the most celebrated artisan jams in the UK.
Yet The Artisan Kitchen remains proudly small and hands-on.
“I’m not trying to go big,” she said. “I just want to make something really good.”
Where to Try It
Explore the full range of award-winning jams and marmalades online:
Perfect for breakfast, cream teas, cheeseboards — or simply enjoyed by the spoonful.
📺 Watch the full episode featuring Sarah Churchill:
👉 Watch on ITVX
