Courses & Guest Chef events.
"Manor Farm Cookery School ticks all the boxes. The prettiest location, superbly equipped kitchen and excellent value for money. Diana Thompson is a marvellous course planner and host. The School can cater for any occasion, with a number of specialists to fulfil any food request. Learning kitchen confidence is the focus." LH
“Thank you for a superb morning’s cooking and tuition. Please say a big Thank You to Andrea, who was absolutely great - clearly an outstanding Chef and an equally outstanding teacher.” KG
2024 COURSES
Our cookery courses in the East Midlands include a short demonstration followed by "hands-on" cooking with tutoring to your own specific requirements. Recipes and ingredients are all provided. You could eat some of what you cook, with some leftovers to take home, or, you might prefer to take home all of the goodies you make on your course. Whichever you choose - don't forget to bring some containers
Game
Friday 29th November | 10:00 to 14:00 | £155
This course is a seasonal favourite using the best local game to turn into healthy, low in cholesterol, high level new dishes. Some of the recipes may include:
Confit pheasant leg croquette with whole grain mustard mayonnaise; Pigeon breast salad with blackberries, pancetta and toasted nuts; Roasted partridge with Jerusalem artichoke puree; Mixed game terrine
Tapas
Saturday 7th December | 10:00 to 14:00 | £155
By popular demand, we have been asked to repeat our Spanish Tapas course. Tapas is all about variety, and we will be including the delicious and simple traditional tapas as well as creating some of the more complex traditional Spanish dishes. Dishes may include:
Garlic shrimps pincho; Ham and cheese croquettes Smokey Albondigas; Tuna Empanadas; Spinach and sweet potato tortilla; Prawn and avocado escabeche; Manchego cheese and honey; Chicken/Seafood Paella; Patatas Bravas; Courgette Fritters with a Dipping Sauce; Baked Spanish rice with chicken and chorizo; San Sebastian Burnt Cheesecake
The day will finish eating your wonderful creations for lunch with wine, beer and soft drinks in the dining-room. You will go home having a range of cooking skills which will enable you to confidently replicate the dishes for your friends and family.
Christmas Chocolates and Macarons for Christmas (Lyndsay Sadler)
Friday 20th December | 10:00 to 15.00 | £160
During this course you will be guided through the process of making these deliciously delicate and popular French delicacies. Typically made with ground almonds and filled with a variety of delectable fillings with various flavours and colours. They are also gluten free and vegetarian! You will leave with a delicious box of macarons, perfect for a ready-made Christmas present.
Making these handmade chocolates is the perfect way to get in the festive spirit. You will develop the skills and techniques in tempering ganache, piping, moulding, shaping, rolling and coating. The final result will be beautiful and delicious handmade chocolates which can be enjoyed at home or given as a gift.
2025 COURSEs
Adult & Child
Saturday 4th January | 10:00 to 13:00 | £115
As usual with our cookery sessions designed for children and teens the focus will be on fun, with nutritious menu choices. Recipes and ingredients are provided and students will have something to eat for lunch and may have something to take home.
An example of recipes that maybe taught would be, bread, home-made pasta and complimenting sauces, fish goujons, lamb koftas, flat bread, one-pot chicken bake, salmon fillets with sweet and sour crust and a variety of salads, puddings and cakes. An adult does not necessarily need to be a parent or grandparent, other family members, godparent or even friend!
Half-term Junior Chef
Thursday 20th February | 10:00 to 13:00 | £70
These very popular sessions are designed for children and teens where the focus will be on fun, whilst encouraging young chefs to make independent healthy food choices.
Watch their confidence grow in the kitchen as they learn new techniques and lifelong practical skills. Recipes and ingredients are provided and students will eat their creations for lunch.
In previous sessions, we have covered bread, home-made pasta and complimenting sauces, fish goujons, lamb koftas, flat bread, one-pot chicken bake, salmon fillets with sweet and sour crust, sushi and a variety of salads, puddings and cakes.
Sourdough & Artisan Bread
Thursday 6th March | 10:00 to 15:00 | £160
This course will cover Sourdough for Beginners to a class celebrating the versatility of dough. Recipes may include:
Pain d’epi; Poppy Seed Rolls; Simple Focaccia; Potato and Cheese Bread.
Thai Street Food
Friday 28th March (Mothering Sunday, 30th March) | 10:00 to 14:00 | £170
Thai Street food is a feast for the senses and on this course you’ll discover the secrets of Thai cuisine, from the art of balancing herbs and spices to the creation of mouthwatering delicacies. Recipes may include:
Red Thai Curry - A spicy and fragrant red curry loaded with vegetables; Thai Fish and chilli sauce; Fragrant tom yum soup; Stuffed spring rolls; Beef Salad with Red Nahm Jim Dressing; Crunchy Sweet and Sour salad, Thai Sweetcorn Fritters; Panaeng Style Curry with Chicken; Pad Thai with Prawns; Perfect Steamed Jasmine Rice.
Indian
Friday 25th April | 10:00 to 14:00 | £170
This course will give you confidence to use fresh ingredients, herbs and spices to create recipes that truly reflect the spirit of Indian cuisine and can easily be cooked at home. Dishes may include:
Spicy Beef Kebabs; Butter Chicken or Paneer; Jeera Rice; Raita; Tandoori Chicken; Palak; Paneer; Paratha; Aloo Gobi; Chicken Rogan Josh; Crispy Jeera Potatoes
French Bistro
Thursday 22nd May | 10:00 to 14:00 | £170
We will look at some classic French bistro dishes you can cook at home and will want to repeat again and again. Recipes may include:
French onion soup; Pate en croute; Coq au vin; Cassoulet a la maison; Chicken with mustard sauce and bacon; Classic apple tarte tatin.
Father & Child
Saturday 14th June (Father’s Day, Sunday 15th June) | 10:00 to 13:00 | £125 per pair
(This could also be booked as 2 parents and children with cost x 2)
An adult and child ticket all-in-one and a perfect present for Father’s Day! Every family has its favourite meals, but they can be even more special if made together. This class designed for adults and children, will inspire both with some new ideas for family meals which will become regulars at home.
Recipes and ingredients are provided and students will have something to eat for lunch and may have something to take home – so bring some containers for their goodies! In previous sessions, we have covered bread, home-made pasta and complimenting sauces, fish goujons, lamb koftas, flat bread, one-pot chicken bake, salmon fillets with sweet and sour crust and a variety of salads, puddings and cakes.
Flavours of Spain
Tuesday 24th June | 10:00 to 14:00 | £170
The flavours and scents of Spain will be in the kitchen on this course. Recipes may include some of the following:
Tortilla; Prawns with Romesco Sauce (Gambas con Salsa Romesco); Fried Padron Peppers (Pimientos de Padron); Gazpacho; Meatballs in Spicy Tomato Sauce (Albondigas con Salsa Picante); Empanada (A Galician speciality – yeasted pastry enclosing pork, chorizo and peppers).
Italian
Friday 18th July | 10:00 to 14:00 | £170
Get inspired by Italian flavours. Some of the recipes that may be included are:
Bagna Cauda- Piedmontese anchovy dip with roasted red peppers; Grilled apricot salad with mozzarella & prosciutto; Chicken Parmigiana; Patate Arrostite della Nonna - Nonna’s Potatoes; Seasonal Risotto; Arrabbiata - Tomato and chilli sauce; Beef ragu alla Bolognese; Panfried seabass with salsa verde; Tiramisu; Ricciarelli; Torta di Pere e Mandorle – Pear Tar.
Please contact us if there's anything in particular that you would like to learn.
Read some of our reviews below:
"Feeling that I was adequate, if a rather repetitive cook, I enrolled on a cookery course with Manor Farm cookery course. This was by far one of my best decisions, it gave me the confidence to try new and exciting dishes along with some very useful tips on old favourites. The chefs, Robert and Diana, made me feel so comfortable and welcomed. I have joined again this year for more ideas and fun." AB
"I absolutely love this cookery school. We have attended three times - brilliant. Learnt so much and it is a lovely atmosphere, too. Highly recommend." LH
"The day we had at your school lives on in the memory!" John CR
GUEST CHEF EVENTS and DEMONSTRATIONS
Italian - "Thanks for a great morning. REALLY enjoyed it. Am eating my oil-free bread as I speak!! Husband suitably impressed.", Mrs A
Indonesian - “A truly great day, very well hosted & organised & I can now cook some Indonesian cuisine!”, CW
children's & TEENAGERS' cooking
“Just a quick note to say A and S loved the cooking afternoon yesterday. They were very proud of what they had cooked and loved sharing their delicious food and how they cooked it with everyone. They both can't wait for the next one, I've told a few more friends so there might be a bigger gang of us again next time! Thank you again for giving the kids the amazing opportunity and experience to cook and learn about food.” SW
“Thank you so much for last Wednesday - H absolutely loved it! She has come home with such enthusiasm for cooking and wants me to buy her her own cook book! She has asked when she can go again - she doesn’t want to go with me on the adult and child day! Also so impressed by everything, I was interested for myself in joining the cooking club on a Monday morning.” EB
children & ADULT PAIRS cooking
The kitchen is a great place for families to spend quality time together. This hands-on course involves working in child and adult pairs cooking nutritious dishes together, in a relaxed and fun atmosphere. The adult can be parent, family, Godparent or whomever!
"Fabulous morning spent at Manor Farm Cookery School. Excellent facilities in a stunning location, with fabulous kitchens and 5* tuition. My daughter and I are looking forward to practising our newly acquired skills and will be back for more in the future." VM
"My daughter and I have had a wonderful morning with you guys. It's been a fun, full packed morning and we have learnt so much. Look forward to seeing you soon." RC
Gift Vouchers
Don't forget, gift vouchers are available for birthdays, Christmas - or any event! You choose the value, they have a 12-month expiry and can be personalised with your own wording.
