Leeds Cookery School

Leeds Cookery School is a cookery school with a conscience. We‘re proud to be a social enterprise agency for the Leeds based charity Zest. Our venues offer professional and award winning:

Fun foodie experiences

Corporate away-day activities

Private kitchen hire

Train the trainer programmes

Work placed health programmes

Food education in schools

Consultancy

100% of our profits are then reinvested to continue with cookery skills education, which brings people together to learn, cook, eat & grow.

Our Vision & Mission

Our Vision is for everybody in Leeds to live in a healthy, fair & sustainable community.

We use food to build
health, wealth, and social change in Leeds. Our table brings people together to learn, cook, eat & grow. Creating social & environmental change that
lasts.

Our Table

Our dining table is symbolic of our vision, it serves to welcome one and all. A place where everyone is invited to share in the warmth of hospitality.

Here, we gather not just to eat, but to celebrate our differences and commonalities alike. A beacon of equity, where every voice is heard, every story valued, and every person served with the respect and kindness they deserve. A space for open dialogue, genuine connection, and heartfelt laughter, where bonds are strengthened and memories are created.

Visit the Zest website

Our Ingredients

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

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