Rick Stein's Cookery School

We operate a four week cancellation policy if you do have to cancel or change the date for your booking and we require at least four weeks notice, prior to arrival, in writing. In the unfortunate event of you having to cancel or change the date of your booking within the required four weeks of the course starting date, the School reserves the right to charge a cancellation fee, amounting to the total value of your reservation. The School will at all times endeavour to avoid cancellation fees becoming necessary by trying to re-sell the course place to enable the course date to be transferred. We would strongly recommend that you take out insurance to cover you not being able to attend, or complete, a course for any reason such as illness or travel problems. If you already have travel and holiday insurance, we would recommend that you check the policy covers you for cancellation/termination of your course.

FAQs

Does Rick Stein teach any of the courses?

Unfortunately, Rick is unable to teach the cookery courses himself due to work commitments. However, all of our chef/lecturers are very experienced and have worked in the restaurants for a number of years.

On occasion, Rick presents demonstration evenings at the school. Details of these are posted on the website as soon as the dates are confirmed, so please keep checking or sign up to our newsletter to receive regular updates.

Do I need a certain level of cooking ability to attend one of your courses?

None of our courses demand any particular standard of cooking; all that is required is enthusiasm and an interest in food. We have students that range from complete beginners to professional chefs, and our chefs are more than happy to accommodate any individual standards. The only pre-requisites for the course are enthusiasm and an interest in food. There is no need for any practical skills; we will provide all the tuition required.

How much practical work will I be doing?

All our courses are mostly ‘hands-on’ with demonstrations to clarify details. Students generally work in pairs on all of our courses, with four practical dishes each day on one day courses and three or four practical dishes each day on our two day courses. The only exception is the fish market day where one practical bouillabaisse dish is prepared by the students when they arrive back from the fish market visit.

I have special dietary requirements / allergies - are you able to accommodate my needs if I attend the course?

We are able to accommodate special dietary requirements on some of our courses, but we do need to be made aware of them at the time of booking. For most of the planned dishes it will be possible to substitute items from the recipe to accommodate your requirements, but where this isn’t viable then an alternative dish may be provided. If you do not eat fish or meat, we will also need to know whether you would still like to prepare and cook with fish or meat. We cannot guarantee an allergy-free (nut/shellfish/etc) environment as we run a variety of courses in the school.

If you have a dietary requirement or an allergy please contact us on 01841 532700, we can then discuss your requirements and find the most suitable course for your needs.

Do you accept students under the age of 18?

Unfortunately, children and teenagers are unable to attend the day courses due to the pace of the day, but children from 8 to 16 year olds are welcome to attend the Children's cookery courses.

What happens if Rick Stein's Cookery School need to cancel my booking?

In the unlikely event that we need to cancel your booking with us you will be offered a range of alternative dates or a full refund. We can not be held responsible for any bookings with third parties, such as accommodation or travel arrangements.

What should I wear when attending a course and is there anything I need to bring with me?

We advise students to wear something comfortable, preferably covering their legs. Jackets and aprons will be supplied for the day in the kitchen. Students spend a lot of time on their feet and so we would advise bringing some comfortable and practical flat shoes with a non-slip sole. Please note, shoes or sandals with an open toe are not suitable to be worn in the kitchen. Those with long hair are advised to tie their hair back whilst they are cooking. The school will provide all of the equipment required for the course.

Where are you situated and is parking available?

The cookery school is situated in the large wooden building on the South Quay and the entrance is on the opposite side to our delicatessen and fish & chip shop. Directions and local information are available on our website. Please note that there is no parking at Rick Stein's Cookery School, but it is situated in a pay and display car park.

Are friends and family able to watch what’s happening in the school whilst I attend the course?

Unfortunately we are unable to accommodate friends and family wishing to watch students whilst they are in the school due to limited space. There are plenty of activities available in the area for your family and friends to enjoy whilst you are attending the course.

Is it possible for friends and family to join me for lunch? Or is there a set lunch break?

Unfortunately friends and family are unable to join students for lunch due to the size of the dining table. There is not a set lunch break during our courses as you will be spending the whole day cooking and tasting dishes, which take varying lengths of time to prepare.