About

Welcome to Leeds Cookery School.

Old Fire Station at Gipton

In 2014, the West Yorkshire Fire Service decommissioned its Gipton fire station. From the ashes and with thanks to the Leeds Community Foundation and the late Jimi Heselden, the space was renovated into a Community and Enterprise hub. Leeds Cookery School first opened its doors at The Old Fire Station in September of 2017 and has been delivering mouth watering dishes and happy customers ever since! Let’s face it, if you set off a smoke alarm at one of our workshops, you're in the right place! This beautiful and practical setting has provided many enjoyable days out for corporate activities, private parties and kitchen hires. We really do have something for everyone. Parking is free and ample. There are even several EV charging points! We are also fully licensed if you would rather get a taxi.

Classes at Gipton

Kirkgate Market

Launched in January 2024, our purpose built kitchen is designed with community at its very core. This new venue is made in partnership with charity and our stakeholder Zest. Zest’s projects will also run from the kitchen, bringing people together through food. Located in the heritage part of Leeds Kirkgate market, we are surrounded by wonderfully fresh and diverse ingredients. All you need to do is come along and put it all together. Much like our venue in Gipton, Leeds Cookery School will also offer corporate away days as well as offering up the space to hire for product launches, training and focus groups.

Classes at Kirkgate Market

Our Social Objectives

  • All profits made at Leeds Cookery School fund Zest activity (see Supporting Communities).
  • Our passion & industry knowledge build skills & confidence.
  • Immersive workshops with a 'feel good factor' at its heart.
  • We endeavour to source, eat and dispose ethically and sustainably.

Supporting Communities

Zest, a Leeds based charity, is shareholder and key partner of Leeds Cookery School. Zest carry out a large number of projects including running social groups, helping families to access food during school holidays, developing cooking skills and lots more in between!
As well as donating profits to Zest, Leeds Cookery School has committed to running affordable cooking activities throughout the year, in partnership with Zest’s Community Development Team. These sessions enable low-income families and vulnerable people to access basic cookery skills and cookery groups which address social isolation.

Visit the Zest website

Ingredients

Where possible, our ingredients are sourced ethically and locally. We are proud to use Sykes House Farm butchers from Wetherby and Neils Fruit & Veg from Leeds Kirkgate Market. We endeavour to minimise plastic usage and source recycled sundry products where available. We also run seasonal classes based on the maximum use of fresh local ingredients and discuss alternatives within the class. We order only what we need and if there is any food waste we compost.

FIND OUT MORE

Zest

Find out more about Zest and the great work they are doing in Leeds.

Find out more

Awards