Private cooking parties in Bristol
Have the place to yourselves. Hen dos, stag dos, birthdays, baby showers and children's parties. Exclusive use of the kitchen, a cuisine you choose, music throughout and a fully licensed bar on site.
Tell us what you're planning
Give us a rough date and a rough number and we'll come back with what fits. Nothing is fixed until you say so.
Cooking is the activity, but eating together is the celebration. Unlike venues where guests bake in pairs and leave with a cake in a box, our parties are built around cooking, eating and dancing together. You don't take the food away in a box: you sit down at the long communal tables and celebrate.
Every group is different, so we build each party around your group size, your chosen cuisine, competitive or non-competitive format, dietary requirements, and how much you want to party. No pressure, no awkwardness.
Download the hen & stag brochureDownload the celebrations brochureMenus, cook-off formats, every package with prices and the add-ons, in one document to share with the group (PDF, 6 MB and 5 MB).
Download the children's party packDownload party invitationsDownload the booking form & waiverDownload the 14–21 party packThe children's pack covers packages, prices, timings and house rules (PDF, 5 MB); the invitations are printable, with space for the date, time and RSVP. The booking form includes the terms and the parental consent waiver, complete it on screen and email it back at least a week before the party. The 14–21 pack has the teen and young adult party formats, menus and prices (PDF, 3 MB).
Packages at a glance
Hen & Stag Parties
from £50 per person
Private cookery parties for hens, stags and everything in between. Nothing we enjoy more than a large gathering cooking a good meal together.
Birthdays & Get-Togethers
from £50 per person
Birthdays, baby showers and other adult events. Fun, informal and relaxed, but well structured, with a mix of demonstration and hands-on cooking.
Under 6s Party
from £300
A bespoke party built around younger children, at a pace that suits them. Ninety minutes, and every party starts with the children baking fresh doughnuts that become the birthday cake.
Over 6s Party
from £300
Ages six and up. Ninety minutes with a choice of cupcake decorating or a pizza party, finishing with birthday tea around the long table.
How the session runs
- Welcome drinks and introductions
- Hands-on cooking together, guided by our chefs
- Optional games, challenges or friendly competition
- Sit down and enjoy the food you've made
- Time to relax, chat, drink and celebrate
Popular hen party menus
- Italian feast: fresh pasta, sauces and tiramisu
- Spanish tapas and sangria
- Thai or Sri Lankan street food
- Bao buns and Asian small plates
- Luxury canapés and sharing plates
- Friendly cook-off challenges (optional)
- Bake Off challenge: bake your own afternoon tea, then sit down to it with bubbly
Stag cook-off formats
- Spanish tapas cook-off
- Taco and Mexican street food battle
- Burger, sides and sauce challenge
- Sri Lankan or Thai street food
- Pizza and dough masterclass
- Mystery ingredient cook-off
What we build it around
- Your group size
- Your preferred cuisine or challenge style
- Competitive or relaxed format
- Dietary requirements
- How lively you want the session to be
Teen and young adult parties, 14 to 21
- Groups of 8 to 20, aged 14 to 21
- Two hours at £40 a head or three hours at £50, including ingredients, chef tuition, equipment, the music system, hosting and clean-up
- Competitive or non-competitive, whichever the group wants
- Competitive parties split into two teams, which is where most of the noise comes from
- Led throughout by our chefs, who keep it relaxed, inclusive and moving
- A bar on site serving soft drinks, mocktails and, where legally appropriate, alcohol
- Party games between cooking rounds or during judging: The Slogan Game, Teen Feud, What's On Your Phone?, True or Fact and quickfire food challenges
- Finish by dancing it out on our sound system, with a playlist tailored to the group
- Extra 30 minutes of cooking time £75
Teen party cooking themes
- Fancy Dinner Party: a more grown-up celebration, cooked and then eaten sitting down together
- Build Your Own Taco Bar: colourful, interactive and always a hit with fast, high-energy groups
- Spanish Tapas Party: cook lots, taste lots, share everything. Good for grazing and chatting
- Pizza & Tiramisu Party: hands-on and creative, with friendly rivalry over the best toppings
- Bake Your Own Afternoon Tea: elegant with a playful twist, for more relaxed groups
- Sushi Feast or Ramen: a reliable winner with young people
- Something else entirely: we build bespoke menus around favourite foods, dietary needs or a theme
Ages 14 to 17
- Energetic, structured and fully supervised, with a strong focus on teamwork and confidence
- Fully hosted by our professional chefs at all times
- A clear structure of cooking, games and social time
- Competitive or non-competitive formats available
- Age-appropriate games and music playlists
- Soft drinks, mocktails and non-alcoholic options only
Ages 18 to 21
- More grown-up, relaxed and social, while still expertly hosted
- More independence in the kitchen, with chef support on hand
- Competitive cook-offs or relaxed shared cooking
- Music, dancing and social games encouraged
- Access to our onsite bar, ID required
- Mocktails, soft drinks and alcoholic options where legally appropriate, served responsibly and in line with licensing laws
- No parental supervision required
- Ideal for 18th to 21st birthdays, uni friendship groups, sports teams, or any excuse to get together
Children's party times and slots
- Standard parties run 105 minutes, under-7s and Saturday Value parties 90 minutes
- Daily slots: 10:00am to 11:45am, 1:15pm to 3:00pm, 4:30pm to 6:15pm
- Please arrive no earlier than 10 minutes before your slot
- The venue must be vacated on time so we can set up for the next booking
- Parties cannot start until all guests arrive, and late arrivals shorten the cooking, not the birthday tea
- Editable invites are free to download from our website
Children's party extras
- Catered party food £10.50 per child: pizza, crisps, hummus, cucumber and carrot sticks, mini tomatoes, garlic bread and biscuits
- Sundae bar or hot chocolate fondue bar £8.50 per child
- Special diets £5 per child: vegan, gluten free, dairy free, nut free
- Ice cream making £4 per child
- Willy Wonka and edible treats £2 per child
- Extra 30 minutes of cooking time £75
- Dedicated assistant or washing-up helper £25
- Karaoke machine for the whole party, plus an extra 15 minutes, £60
Supervision and house rules
- Cooking parties are a children-only venue, so guest parents drop off and collect unless they are staying as helpers
- Under 7s need one adult for every two children, to help with weighing, chopping and mixing
- Under 9s, or any group over 10, need one additional helper: a parent, or a Cooking It assistant at £25
- Parent hosts help with washing up in the back kitchen, or book an assistant at £25 instead
- No adult alcohol or snacks on site unless agreed in advance
- Decorations are welcome as long as you take them home. Strictly no glitter or confetti
- Children with long hair need it tied back
Booking and payment terms
- A booking is not confirmed until full payment reaches us by BACS within 3 days of reserving. Use the child's name as the payment reference
- Confirmed bookings are not refundable, but the date can be moved freely to any available date within 2 months
- A completed booking form and a signed health and safety waiver for every child must be emailed at least a week before. Children without a signed waiver cannot take part
- Tell us about every allergy, dietary requirement and emergency medication on the booking form. Picky eating cannot be catered for individually
Frequently asked
Is the kitchen safe for teenagers?
Absolutely. Our kitchen is professionally designed and our chefs are highly experienced at working with young people.
How is safety managed?
A clear safety briefing at the start, age-appropriate knife skills and equipment, constant chef supervision, guidance throughout, and strict hygiene and food handling standards.
Are parents required to stay?
Ages 15 to 17: parents do not need to stay, but a responsible adult must be the main organiser and point of contact.
Ages 18 to 21: no parental supervision required.
Do you have insurance?
Yes. Cooking It is fully insured and operates under comprehensive health and safety procedures.
How many people can attend?
Up to 20 participants per party, with a minimum of 8.
Can we bring our own cake?
Yes, absolutely. We can serve it at the end of the session.
What should guests wear?
Comfortable clothes and closed shoes. Long hair needs to be tied back.
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.