Exclusive Last-Minute Christmas Cookery Classes from the UK’s Best Cookery Schools

What to do when the luxury hotel restaurant you wanted for Christmas Day dining was fully booked months ago; or taking your extended family out is going to be a trifle expensive. Help is on hand – it’s not too late to take a crash festive cooking course and put the finest fare on your Christmas table, and at a fraction of the price from £58.50.

See the Luxury Restaurant Guide’s pick of festive courses at the four best UK cookery schools, with exclusive Christmas offer for Luxury Restaurant Club members:

The Raymond Blanc Cookery School, Church Road, Great Milton, Oxford, OX44 7PD

Traditional Christmas Lunch Course
Dates: 9th & 18th December 2019
Time: 9am to 4.30pm/5pm
Cost: £365 (£315 for Luxury Restaurant Club members for bookings by 30 November 2019)

Description: Make Christmas entertaining easy and fun for a stress free festive season.

Course dishes:

Cold starter
Parfait of Rhug Farm Chicken livers
Mackerel salad, soy lime and ginger dressing

Main course
Roasted Rhug Turkey with seasonal vegetables and roasting juices – inc. cranberry compote; pan fried parsnips; chestnut, walnut and fig stuffing; braised red cabbage; roast potatoes; caramelised brussels sprouts; parfait of chicken livers

Dessert
Chocolate truffles
Christmas pudding and Brandy butter

Course includes: Course tuition, completion certificate, tea and coffee, informal lunch (the Mackerel salad made as the cold starter) in the cookery school. See details here.

To book call: 01844 278881

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The Kitchen, Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa, New Forest, Hampshire BH25 6QS

Stir-up Sunday 
Dates: 24th November 2019
Time: 2pm to 4pm
Cost: £65 (£58.50 for Luxury Restaurant Club members quoting LRG10, not transferable to other courses)

Description: Get ready for the big day with Chef Tutor Steve talking you through the process of making the pudding of all puddings and better still, all you need to do is steam at home when you’re ready to eat! As well as the traditional pud you’ll learn to create a Glace Nut cake for a truly festive selection:

Course dishes:

• Christmas pudding
• James Martin’s Glace fruit and nut cake
• Mince pies

Course includes: Course tuition, completion certificate, tea and coffee, informal lunch in the cookery school. See details here.

To book call: 01425 282212

Festive Baking
Dates: 28th November 2019
Duration: 9.30am to 3.30pm
Cost: £175 (£150 for Luxury Restaurant Club members)

Description: When gingerbread biscuits and mince pies just won’t do, it’s time to expand your festive offering with this special class. Learn to bake some of the most delicious creations such as Game Pie, Chocolate Yule Log and Christmas Crumble Muffins. We’ll teach you how to prepare fig and mincemeat, plus hazelnut and raisin bread for the most exquisite spread of festive delights for all the family.

Course dishes:

• Hazelnut and raisin bread
• Game pie with variations
• Chocolate yule log
• Fig and mincemeat “three kings crowns”
• Christmas crumble muffins

Course includes: Course tuition, completion certificate, tea and coffee, informal lunch in the cookery school. See details here.

To book call: 01425 282212

Festive Breads 
Dates: 3rd December 2019
Duration: 9.30am to 3.30pm
Cost: £95 (£85.50 for Luxury Restaurant Club members quoting LRG10, not transferable to other courses)

Description: Festive treats go further than mince pies, gingerbread and chocolate logs; this cookery class will introduce you to a selection of festive breads filled with flavours the whole family will love.

Course dishes:

• Cinnamon tear-and-share bread
• Brioche rosette with brie
• Polish poppy seed bread
• Breadsticks

Course includes: Course tuition, completion certificate, tea and coffee, informal lunch in the cookery school. See details here.

To book call: 01425 282212

Festive Desserts
Dates: 7th December 2019
Duration: 9.30am to 3.30pm
Cost: £175 (£150 for Luxury Restaurant Club members for bookings by 30 November 2019)

Description: From the perfect parfait to the most delicious of Panefortes, it’s time to truly impress this festive season with a selection of new recipes to delight your dinner party guests this Christmas. Whether you’re hosting or attending a dining event this year, our Chef Tutor Steve will teach you how to make and bake the very best of festive desserts from Pear Charlotte to Chocolate Crisp.

Course dishes:

• Chocolate feuillantine
• Paneforte
• Hazelnut and Armagnac parfait
• Pear Charlotte
• Chocolate crisp

Course includes: Course tuition, completion certificate, tea and coffee, informal lunch in the cookery school. See details here.

To book call: 01425 282212

Festive Knife Skills and Carving
Dates: 14th December 2019
Duration: 9.30am to 3.30/4pm
Cost: £175 (£150 for Luxury Restaurant Club members for bookings by 30 November 2019)

Description: Learn to slice and dice like the professionals. This class will hugely cut the amount of time you spend chopping away in the kitchen this Christmas. Chef Tutor Steve will show you how to prepare some warm winter dishes and help you refine your knife skills in the process. From rolling to cross chop and concasse to julienne he will sharpen up your knife skills. With these new found techniques you’ll be able to cook up some delicious dishes from Roast Guinea Fowl and the most famous Italian roast pork – Porchetta. If you’re looking for an alternative Christmas dinner this year, then this is the course for you!

Course dishes:

• Seasonal vegetable soup with kale and walnut pesto
• Gravadlax of salmon with cucumber and crème fraîche
• Roast guinea fowl with lime
• The famous Italian roast pork – Porchetta
• Fine apple tart

Course includes: Course tuition, completion certificate, tea and coffee, informal lunch in the cookery school. See details here.

To book call: 01425 282212

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Lucknam Park Cookery School, Colerne, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN14 8AZ

Festive Baking 
Dates: 30th November and 6th December 2019
Duration: 10am to 3pm
Cost: £140 (£126 for Luxury Restaurant Club members for bookings by 30 November 2019)

Description:  Making mince pies, stollen and Yule logs mean it’s a busy but fun time of year for chefs and home cooks alike. Take the pressure off as Lucknam Park Cookery School shows you how to make your own pastry and mincemeat filling, seasonal desserts, centrepieces and festive breads. Using the flavours of the season, you will learn how easy it is to have the wonderful aromas of Christmas spices throughout your home.

Course dishes:

• Hand-made mince pies
• Almond and cherry stollen
• Decorated chocolate Yule log

Course includes: course tuition, recipe folder, tea and coffee, use of apron, Cookery School bag, and informal lunch served in the Cookery School. See details here.

To book call: 01225 742777

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SEASON Cookery School, Lainston House, Woodman Lane, Sparsholt, Winchester, Hampshire SO21 2LT

Christmas Dinner 
Dates: 7th December 2019
Duration: 9.30am to 4.30pm
Cost: £165 (£140 for Luxury Restaurant Club members for bookings by 30 November 2019)

Description: Christmas is the perfect time to sit down with the family to the perfect Christmas Roast. Learn all the secrets to making the most delicious feast along with getting the timings just right so that you too can sit back, relax and enjoy the festivities!

Course dishes:

Salmon | Turkey Crown | Pork Stuffing |Bread Sauce |Roast Potatoes |Honey Parsnips | Glazed Carrots | Braised Red Cabbage | Brussels sprouts with Streaky Bacon and Chestnuts | Cranberry Sauce | Christmas Pudding with Brandy and Vanilla Custard | Mince Pie

Course includes: course tuition, refreshments, ingredients, a meal that you have prepared on your course with a glass of wine and food to take home, plus SEASON apron to take home. See details here.

To book call: 01962 797851

Christmas Chocolate Petit Fours 
Dates: 8th December 2019
Duration: 9.30am to 4.30pm
Cost: £195 (£170 for Luxury Restaurant Club members for bookings by 30 November 2019)

Description: The ultimate chocolate course from the hugely respected Chocolatier Mark Tilling.

Course dishes:

• Mince pie fudge
• Cranberry and fig nougat
• Gingerbread caramel
• Christmas pudding truffles
• Mandarin and Champagne marshmallows

Course includes: course tuition, refreshments, ingredients, a meal that you have prepared on your course with a glass of wine and food to take home, plus SEASON apron to take home. See details here.

To book call: 01962 776088

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Join the Luxury Restaurant Club to enjoy privileges and exclusive benefits at the UK’s finest restaurants and cookery schools.

If you love food and love eating out, or cooking at home, join the Luxury Restaurant Club from £10 per month to enjoy smarter dining.

Download the free Luxury Restaurant Guide app here and follow steps to the Club.