Whether you’re a budding chef looking to expand your repertoire or an amateur in the kitchen who wants to learn the basics, a cookery class is never a bad idea.
With all the options available though, finding the right cooking class can be a challenge – this is where we come in. From classes teaching you tasty tricks to elevate your home cooking, to lessons with a special nutritional or geographical focus, and easy-to-follow baking sessions for little ones, our list of the top cookery schools in Yorkshire will point you to the right places to perfect your culinary skills.
The Cookery School at The Grand
State-of-the-art facilities, expert tutors and a fabulous variety of classes, The Cookery School at The Grand in York has it all. It’s attached to one of the most prestigious hotels in the city, so you’re guaranteed quality at every one of their sessions.
You can choose from full-day masterclasses teaching technical dishes, hands-on half-day demonstrations and express classes where you learn to perfect a specific dish like paella or Thai green curry. What’s more, most classes end with a tasting where you get to sit down with a glass of wine and enjoy your creations. Bon appetit!
Where is it? The Cookery School, The Grand, Station Rise, York, North Yorkshire YO1 6GD.
How much? Classes start at £85 per person.
Look out for: The parent & child sessions and special experiences such as the Chef’s Table.
Bettys Cookery School
Want to blow your loved ones away with beautiful home-baked goods? The best place to learn is at Bettys Cookery School. The award-winning institution has a host of classes where you can learn to make the irresistible delights the tea room is famed for.
Don’t be intimidated by the name though – they cater to students of all ability levels and their courses make for great gifts and bonding activities to share with family, friends or colleagues. So, what’ll it be? Artisan breadmaking, the secrets of cake decoration or a session where you learn how to entertain effortlessly? Whatever you go for will be a day deliciously spent.
Where is it? Bettys Cookery School, Bettys, 1 Parliament Street, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG1 2QU.
How much? Classes cost £225 per person.
Look out for: Seasonal sessions such as Bettys Christmas Classics and Easter Baking classes.
Grill and Ember
Budding grillmasters of West Yorkshire, this is the cookery school for you. Grill and Ember founder Andrew has a passion for all things BBQ. Alongside his friendly team, he’s dedicated to delivering a warm and inclusive space where you can learn to sear, smoke and sizzle your way to sensational culinary creations.
Perfect for complete beginners and seasoned BBQ bosses alike, the classes introduce you to the equipment, provide a selection of quality, fresh ingredients and invite you to get hands-on as you cook up a delicious feast. With a menu spanning steaks, seafood and Argentinian meats to roast vegetables and wood-fired pizzas, it’s an experience to savour.
Where is it? Grill and Ember, 7 Fairfax View, Horsforth, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS18 5SZ.
How much? Classes start at £195 per person.
Look out for: Women-only Girl & Ember classes and Golf & BBQ Classes where you can tee up then tuck into a perfectly grilled T-bone.
Get Cooking
Credit: Get Cooking Esholt
Run by passionate foodie Emily Carey, Get Cooking is a laid-back culinary school that offers some brilliant cooking classes. Their informative sessions cover a range of cuisine types, encouraging you to be more adventurous with your home cooking.
You can take your pick from Mediterranean, Latin American-inspired and even festive focused classes. Whichever you go for, you’ll make three hearty meals in one half-day workshop, with full-day options also available. Everyone gets their own worktop space, so you can spread out as you follow Emily’s demonstrations to make a memorable meal.
Where is it? Get Cooking, Esholt VIllage Hall, Main Street, Esholt, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD17 7QZ.
How much? Classes start at £85 per person.
Look out for: Fermented food and gut health lifestyle days where gut-friendly cooking, reconnecting with nature and relaxation combine.
Twiddle Food
Credit: Nikoletta Lees: Branding Fotos
Another great option for health-conscious cooks, Twiddle isn’t a cookery school in the traditional sense. Instead, the founder and qualified Culinary Medicine and Nutrition Coach, Viki, travels to you, delivering classes that help people build better relationships with food in their own kitchens.
She does everything from team building cooking workshops to children’s birthday parties, favouring a hands-on approach where you get to learn tricky techniques like pasta making with a colourful creative twist. Her Let’s Ferment workshops teach the ins-and-outs of gut health and the secret to making great sauerkraut, kefir and kombucha.
Where is it? Twiddle Food is based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire but Viki can travel to you to deliver workshops.
How much? Classes start at £45.
Look out for: Seasonal classes like Christmas chocolate bonbon making and special health-focus workshops like the ‘Nourish your body through change’ sessions.
Cook Stars
This is one for the mini cooks out there. Cook Stars North West Leeds aims to give kids of all ages the skills they need to feel confident in the kitchen. It’s owned by Laura, a lifelong foodie who’s passionate about crafting classes that are as fun, exciting and creative as possible.
They host hands-on cooking classes, workshops and parties where the next generation of chefs can discover the joys of healthy eating while learning how to prepare wholesome meals, gaining confidence and developing vital teamwork skills. They have different classes for various age ranges that take place in Horsforth – if that’s your neck of the woods, treat a young person in your life to some essential life skills!
Where is it? Cook Stars North West Leeds run classes in St. James Parish Centre, Low Land, Horsforth, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS18 5QW and Welcome In Community Centre, Cookridge, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS16 6DJ.
How much? Classes start at £13.50 per child.
Look out for: Themed workshops and events like the Christmas and Easter workshops.
Yorkshire BBQ Academy
The love child of two friends who bonded over their adoration of flame-grilled fare, The Yorkshire BBQ Academy is all about teaching you how to create mouthwatering dishes over the flames. Owners Don and John have over 30 years grilling experience between them, so you know you’re in safe hands.
In the rustic surroundings of their Yorkshire Dales Grillzebo, you can learn everything from the essentials of BBQ set up and maintenance to show-stopping tricks like a BBQ baked sticky toffee pudding. Whether you’re new to cooking over the open fire or a seasoned grill master, their courses are comprehensive and sure to level you up.
Where is it? Yorkshire BBQ Academy, Middle Laithe, Otley Road, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 6DR.
How much? Courses start at £125
Look out for: Their fantastic range of BBQs, from Weber kettles to ceramic Kamado’s, helping you find the grill of your dreams.
Blend Culinary Foundation
If you’re looking for a cookery school with a community conscious focus, Blend is the place to go. Their social cooking classes cater to cooks across the full spectrum of experience, with expert chefs leading the way in teaching you how to create amazing food and memorable experiences.
Their kitchens are purpose-built to accommodate large groups and equipped with easy to use equipment. It’s perfect for their wide range of classes that include different Cooking & Cocktails sessions, bottomless brunch classes, family masterclasses, a curry club and more. All profits made from their classes and events go towards their mission to end food poverty in the community, so you’ll be learning, enjoying and supporting a brilliant cause.
Where is it? Blend Culinary Foundation Cooker School, 1st Floor, Cambridge Street Collective, 11 Blackfields, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S1 4HJ.
How much? Classes start from £33 per person.
Look out for: Their world food programmes like Turning Japanese, K-Krazy for Korean and An Italian Feast.
The Cook’s Place
Where better to hone your cooking skills than in Yorkshire’s food capital? The Cook’s Place in Malton is a freshly refurbished cookery school and one of the market town’s top attractions. It’s run by Gilly Robinson, a fantastic chef, spirited tutor and self-professed ‘dinner fairy’.
Let Gilly and the other tutors work their magic and get you properly acquainted with the joy of cooking. Their classes are creative and collaborative, designed to grow and enhance their students’ skills. From Tots Takeover classes aimed at little ones, to meat masterclasses where you can sharpen your knife skills and sear the most succulent steak, they have options for all types of people regardless of prior experience.
Where is it? The Cook’s Place, 15 Market Street, Malton, North Yorkshire, YO17 7LY.
How much? Classes start at £20 per person.
Look out for: Their special supper club events – you won’t do any cooking but you’ll learn a lot watching a professional cook a delicious meal before your eyes.
Wizooo
At Wizooo in Morley, baking isn’t just a pastime – it’s an exercise in confidence-building. Children step into the kitchen as newcomers and leave with something they’ve crafted entirely by hand, from cracking the first egg to placing the final swirl of frosting.
The sessions are fun and well structured, creating an inclusive space where young bakers can learn real skills while making something they’re proud to share and excited to eat.
It’s ideal for kids who want to build a sense of independence and get stuck into a hands-on experience without leaving a mess for their parents to clean up. If you’re lucky, your little one might even let you have a bite of the delicious treat they bring home.
Where is it? Wizooo Studio, Morley, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS27 8DT.
How much? Classes start at £30 per child.
Look out for: Their Date Night workshops where couples can bond over beautiful bakes.
Penistone Pies and Puddings
Penistone Pies and Puddings is an award-winning cookery school that started in 2010 as a passion project for owner Jaqueline Marsden. Inspired by a beloved family recipe for pork pies, which was passed down from her grandad Freddie, Jaqueline decided to start sharing the secret of perfect pies with people in her community.
Now she runs a range of courses, expanding her repertoire well beyond pies but sticking with her niche of baking. In her Flavours of Italy course, you can learn how to whip up an Italian meal with all the bells and whistles, from fresh pasta and rosemary focaccia to biscotti, tipsy tiramisu, panettone and more!
Where is it? Penistone Pies and Puddings, Gyn Race, Royd Lane, Millhouse Green, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S36 9NY.
How much? Classes start at £90 per person.
Look out for: The brand new gluten-free baking course where you’ll learn how to make perfect pastries without the gluten.
The Yorkshire Wolds Cookery School
At the Yorkshire Wolds Cookery School, you’ll learn how to whip up showstopping dishes from some of the best chefs in the business. Each workstation in their classroom is adjustable for accessibility and decked out with top-quality equipment – and they only teach classes in small groups to ensure you get a unique experience where you feel looked after.
They offer a range of courses to suit all tastes. Whether you go in hopes of perfecting a specific cuisine or developing a particular technique, they’ve got you covered. Their fakeaway classes are very popular, as is their Escape series. If you want to completely immerse yourself in the experience, you can even book a stay overnight and make a trip of it!
Where is it? The Yorkshire Wolds Cookery School, Wold Escapes, Highfield Farm, Southburn Road, Driffield, East Riding of Yorkshire, YO25 9AF.
How much? Classes start at £75 per person.
Look out for: Their cookery demonstrations where decorated chefs treat you to a delicious meal while talking you through how to recreate it step-by-step.
