Manchester’s best cooking classes: Master global cuisine without leaving the city

Twenty minutes south of the city centre, Chorlton’s Chapattis n’ Curries hosts three-hour classes during which you’ll make your own dough, cook the bread over a live flame and create three complimentary dishes with which to sample it — and only your own pans and tupperware are required.

You can also book private, tailored one-to-one sessions and workshops for parties of up to ten people.

Promising ‘skills to last a lifetime’, non-profit social enterprise Cracking Good Food mark their sixeenth year with a breathtakingly extensive array of ethical, sustainable cooking classes at Freight Island.

Upcoming sessions include specialised introductory classes on South Indian cuisine, in which you’ll make your ownstuffed idlis, Uttapam, flavourful Sambar and aromatic coconut chutney, as well as a gluten free bread masterclass overseen by Molly Grant. Each class is led by an Expert Cooking Leader, who shares their priceless insights into creating delicious, authentic meals from scratch while minimising food waste and encouraging guests to shop locally, organically and seasonally.

All ingredients provided.

Alongside renowned culinary classes on every cuisine imaginable, Food Sorcery’s Cooking Together series offers beginners and veteran cooks alike the chance to create menu favourites with mates, dates and loved ones, all under the tutelage of an expert chef, while making new friends and sampling sumptuous food in a relaxed, inclusive environment.

Featuring sessions on Korean, Japanese, Mexican, American, Sri Lankan, steak and more, as well as Adult and Child classes, Food Sorcery is Manchester’s culinary haven for every ability and appetite.

From two-hour whistlestop supper clubs to street food staples and beyond, The Vegetarian Society hosts a range of private cooking lessons on dim sum, seasonal cookery, African flavours, sauce essentials, mezze boards and more, suitable for groups and individuals alike, promising the perfect bonding session for birthdays, pre-wedding celebrations and corporate excursions.

Promising an accessible and endlessly entertaining culinary experience for friends, company outings and couples, ClassBento offer a dizzying assortment of cooking classes across various locations in the city centre, Salford, South Manchester and Cheshire.

Click below to explore the options and master the basics of truffle-making, dim sum, curries, sushi and more across a regular schedule of events.

Founded in 2017 and shortlisted for the Best for Learning Hoop Award just two years later, child-friendly culinary school Cook Stars has taught over a thousand kids in classes, schools and workshops around the city, earning hundreds of glowing reviews from parents and participants alike.

Cook Stars Minis provides introductory cooking lessons for ages 2-5 with new recipes to try every week, while Cook Stars Juniors draws inspiration from global cuisine to allow budding chefs the change to create their own dishes from scratch, while utilising their newfound technical skill for a variety of preparation methods.

With a new monthly theme and a head baker at the helm, this delightful ongoing series welcomes pastry perfectionists and un-‘proven’ beginners alike to take part in a uniquely entertaining class dedicated to the unifying joy and boundless creativity of baking.

This summer, budding bakers are tasked with crafting confectionery based on a ‘my pet ate my cake’ theme, with ‘enchanted forest’ to follow in September.

Bookings are available for 2-24, with groups separated into pairs (with a remaining group of three if you’re an odd number) to whip up a storm, before one team is declared the winner of the event.

Based in Rochdale, The Foodie Kitchen offers a broad menu of hands-on classes covering everything from indulgent baking and British afternoon tea to Asian brunches, curry and Chinese cooking. Its comprehensive Classic Creations sessions focus on approachable family favourites from around the world, while the longer Seduced by Spice masterclasses delve deeper into two-course menus, with options spanning authentic Asian cooking, fish, meat, vegetarian and vegan dishes.

Classes are designed for home cooks of all abilities, with private bookings also available for groups looking to create a more personalised menu.

Over in Altrincham, The Cheshire Cookery School offers a wide-ranging programme of hands-on classes, with expert chefs guiding small groups through everything from fresh pasta and classic French cooking to dim sum, Mexican, Middle Eastern and Spanish cuisine. The purpose-built kitchen is set up for practical learning, with ingredients and equipment provided before students sit down to enjoy the fruits of their labour with a glass of wine.

There are also Friday Night Kitchen sessions and parent-and-child classes, with sessions starting at £130.