From macarons to meze: our favourite cookery schools in the South West

Perfect a family favourite or try something new

Whether you’re a sophisticated home cook or a self-confessed novice, the South West is home to some of the best cookery schools and courses in the UK. With a collection of child-friendly options on offer, there’s ample opportunity to plan a fun day out with family or friends. Varying from French patisserie to a taste of Italy, discover a few of our favourite cookery schools.

Le Frog, Devon and Somerset

Wonderful for family events or celebrations, Le Frog offer several unique courses. Pipe truffles and crush cocoa beans in a chocolate masterclass or embark on a fully fledged experience, perfecting quintessentially French dishes such as cauliflower soup and confit duck leg.

Sourcing ingredients from Britain’s best suppliers, Le Frog pairs classic dishes with a delicate French twist. Incorporating local produce where possible, many vegetables are picked from National Trust gardens while the eggs are from free-range Devon farms.

Courses start from £35 per person.

Where to stay: Upcott Farm

Rick Stein’s Cookery School, North Cornwall

Inspired by global travels, Rick Stein’s Cookery School cover an eclectic mix of cuisine. From Asian street food to squid, cuttlefish and octopus cookery, the workshops are either season-focused or themed around worldly flavours, including Singapore, India and Mexico.

Several of the courses are holiday-centred to tempt the little ones, with pumpkin cupcake classes for Halloween and yule log workshops during the festive period. If you’re on the lookout for a more intense affair, the school also offer four day courses in Rick’s speciality – fish, shellfish and seafood.

Courses start from £45 per person.

Philleigh Way Cookery School, South Cornwall

Inspired by recipes handed down over the generations, Philleigh Way offer evening dining demonstrations and immersive courses to get stuck into. Home to ten state of the art workstations, each student will be well equipped to create something delicious.

Whether you’re rolling out the dough in a family pizza workshop, learning about the world of spices with an Indian Cookery Masterclass or elevating your butchery skills with a Game course, there are plenty of ways to inject something new into your go-to recipes.

Courses start from £49 per person.

Where to stay: Daymarker, Lantic Barn and Little Polkerris. 

The Olive Tree, Dorset

Featuring a collection of one-day speciality courses, The Olive Tree cater to all levels of expertise and cuisine preferences. Take a trip to Sicily with a culinary tour of family favourites, such as arancini and ricotta cassatelle, or simply scrub up on your pasta making skills.

Budding bakers will want to sign themselves up to the Pasta, Pizza and Italian Breads course where you'll make classic pizzas, foccacia and grissini. 

Courses start from £80 per person.

Ashburton Cookery School, Devon

Ashburton Cookery School is one of the South West’s top cookery schools with a friendly team of expert chefs and an impressive alumnus, including celebrity Masterchef winner Liz McLarnon. From a half-day of creating canapes to a week-long fine dining excursion, let your creativity run wild on the plate.

Those with a sweet tooth will love creating a beautiful box of macarons, while keen foodies can roll their own sushi with a hands-on masterclass or perfect the key elements to a Greek meze platter, including tzatziki and lamb meatballs.

Courses start from £99 per person.

If you're staying in one of our homes, make the most of our inclusive concierge service and let our team plan the perfect foodie getaway to the South West.