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Cooking ItCookery School and Party Room

Frequently asked questions

The things people ask most often, before and after booking. If yours isn't here, get in touch.

Before your class

  • What time should I arrive for the class, party or event?

    We ask everyone to arrive no more than 5 minutes before the class is due to start, so 5:55pm at the earliest for a 6pm class. This gives you time to get ready.

    We start on time and finish as close to the advertised end time as possible, so we can't accommodate early or late arrivals and we can't recap what you've missed. If you do find yourself in Bishopston early, there are bars, restaurants, pubs and cafes along Gloucester Road: we'd point you at the Blue Lagoon, Palomar Bar or El Diablo.

  • What do I need to bring?

    All our courses and classes include tuition and the ingredients. We're trying to be as sustainable as possible, so please bring your own apron (ours need washing at 90° even when they're clean) and a Tupperware or sturdy container to take away any leftover food.

    Other than that, just yourself. We don't supply printed recipe cards, but we'll email them to you if you email us after the class.

  • Will there be snacks and refreshments during the class?

    We sell beer, wine, cider, soft drinks and hot drinks during class, payable by debit or credit card. On some classes you may be able to snack on what you've made before you finish cooking, but generally you'll eat around 20 to 30 minutes before the end.

    We ask you not to bring your own drinks as we have them available to buy. Otherwise a £5 corkage per person is charged.

  • I have special dietary needs. Can you adapt dishes?

    Sometimes we can adapt menus to suit certain dietary requirements. Please contact us before booking to check, and if we can, tell us in the additional comments when you book. We buy and prepare exactly what we need for each class and don't hold extra ingredients for special diets unless we're told in advance, with at least 10 days' notice. There may be a surcharge for special diet ingredients.

    Because of how we store and prepare ingredients, we can't guarantee the complete absence of any specific allergen or ingredient that may trigger a reaction. Where we do adapt a menu, complimentary snacks or sweet treats may be unsuitable and we can't always offer alternatives.

  • Can I bring my child to an adult class?

    Each class page states the minimum age. We can't accommodate children or babies in adult classes, for insurance reasons and to protect everyone's enjoyment of the session. Please check who each class is suitable for on its own page.

  • Is there parking nearby?

    We're at 37 Gloucester Road, BS7 8AD, five minutes' walk from Redland and Montpelier train stations. There's a bus stop directly opposite, served by the 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76 and 77.

    Off-street parking is available, but not permitted between 8:00am and 9:30am or 4:30pm and 6:30pm, Monday to Friday only. You can park free in the residential streets of Redland any time after 5pm, and free in Bishopston.

Transfers, vouchers & terms

  • I was given a class as a gift but can't make the date. Can I transfer?

    That's not a problem, but we need at least six weeks' notice, as that sometimes gives us enough time to fill your space. See our terms and conditions for more.

  • I'm unwell and can't make tomorrow's class. Can I transfer?

    As per our terms of service, we can't transfer at short notice for any reason, including bad weather, transport delays or cancellations, illness (personal or family) or bereavement. We ask for at least six weeks' notice, as that sometimes gives us time to resell your place.

    We'll already have prepared everything for your attendance, so you're welcome to send a friend, family member or colleague in your place. Just let us know who to expect. If you can't send someone else, it may be worth checking whether your bank or payment card provider includes travel insurance cover.

  • Can I extend my voucher?

    All vouchers are valid for a year, and there are hundreds of classes available during those 12 months. Under no circumstances will we extend a voucher.

  • I have a class-specific voucher. Can I swap to another class?

    Unfortunately not. If your voucher is for a specific class and date, you'll need to attend the class it corresponds to.

  • What are your terms and conditions for class bookings?

    Please use the links on our site to view our T&Cs. If you're buying a class as a gift, we strongly recommend making the recipient aware of these terms. We can't be held responsible if recipients are unaware of our transfer policy when the class was bought as a gift for them.

  • We're having a hen, stag or children's party. Can we bring decorations?

    We're happy for you to decorate the space as you wish, but we ask that you take away everything you brought with you, including all the rubbish. Please don't bring confetti, anything with glitter, or balloons filled with bits inside. Please don't leave anything behind: we can't be held responsible if anything goes missing.

  • How long are gift vouchers valid for?

    Gift vouchers are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase.

  • Can vouchers be used on any class?

    Yes. Vouchers can be redeemed across all our cooking classes in Bristol, subject to availability.

  • Are vouchers valid for children's classes?

    Yes. Vouchers can be used for children's and teen cookery classes as well as adult classes.

  • How do I redeem a voucher?

    Enter the voucher code at checkout when booking your chosen class online.

Corporate & team building

  • How many people can you accommodate?

    Most team building events work best for 10 to 30+ people, but larger groups may be possible.

  • Do participants need cooking experience?

    No. Our corporate cooking events are suitable for all abilities.

  • Can you cater for dietary requirements?

    Yes. We can accommodate vegetarian, vegan, halal, gluten-free and other dietary requirements with advance notice.

  • Is alcohol available?

    Yes. We have a fully licensed bar with alcoholic and non-alcoholic options.

  • How long does a team building event last?

    Most events last 2 to 4 hours, including time to sit down and eat together.

Kitchen & venue hire

  • Do you provide equipment?

    Yes, all standard cookware and equipment are included. Let us know if you need specialist items.

  • Can I use the space as a ghost or dark kitchen?

    Yes. Many clients use the venue for delivery-only food businesses.

  • Do you allow filming, photography or content creation?

    Absolutely. The space is used regularly for recipe shoots, product photography, social content and YouTube cooking videos.

  • Can I hire just the room without the kitchen?

    Yes. The room can be booked independently for meetings, tastings or training sessions.

  • Do you offer long-term or regular hire?

    Yes, daily, weekly or monthly recurring slots are available depending on the schedule.

  • What is the guest capacity for a supper club?

    We can comfortably seat up to 26 guests around our two large communal dining tables. For standing events or grazing-style pop-ups, the space takes around 50 people comfortably.

  • Can we bring our own alcohol for a supper club?

    Yes, we're happy for supper clubs to run on a BYOB basis, with corkage of £6 per person. We provide glassware and bottle openers as part of the hire.

  • Is cleaning included in the hire fee?

    We ask that you leave the kitchen as you found it, clean and tidy, and that you clean the floors and dining area afterwards so the space is ready for the next day.

  • What is the hygiene rating of the prep kitchen?

    We hold a 5-star Food Hygiene Rating and the facility is fully compliant with Bristol City Council standards, so it's a safe and professional environment for food business production.

  • Can I book the prep kitchen for a one-off batch cook?

    Yes. We love regular bookings, but we also offer flexible hourly and daily rates for one-off production runs, product testing, or prepping for a weekend market stall.

  • Do you offer cold storage?

    We have fridge and freezer space available during your hire period. For longer-term storage between bookings, get in touch about monthly storage options.

  • Is there enough natural light for food photography?

    Yes. The space has large windows that flood it with soft natural light through the day, and a dedicated central island that suits top-down filming and wide-angle lifestyle shots. There are ample power outlets and floor space for lighting stands, tripods and small crews.

  • Do you provide Wi-Fi and presentation equipment for meetings?

    We provide high-speed fibre Wi-Fi throughout the venue. There's no projector, but there is a 32-inch TV screen, plus plenty of wall space for post-it sessions and creative planning. Many businesses book a Meeting + Meal format: business agenda in the morning, guided cooking in the afternoon.

  • Can we brand the space for a product launch?

    We're happy to discuss temporary branding such as pop-up banners or vinyl decals, so the kitchen feels like an extension of your brand for the event. The large central island works as a stage for live demos.

Full booking terms are in our terms and conditions.