Looking for the perfect wholesome activity to do with friends and family now that the days are drawing in and the weather is getting colder?
Well, look no further, Wandsworth; The Avenue Cookery School is here to help you level up your culinary skills and impress your guests.
We caught up with one of the three family owners Sophie to find out more about “The most fun cookery school in London”.
What inspired you to open a cookery school in Wandsworth?
We wanted to have a place where people could actually learn to cook in a relaxed and homely setting. We were originally down the road in Putney, but Wandsworth felt right. It’s got that buzzing community vibe, and it’s still easy for everyone to get to. Plus, as a family who has lived in Wandsworth for over 15 years, we saw the potential and growth here and wanted to open something close to home.
Are your classes suitable for everyone?
Absolutely! Whether you’ve never boiled an egg properly or you’re the next Nigella, we’ve got you. The key is making cooking fun and approachable. Everyone leaves our kitchen having cooked something delicious and feeling like a kitchen hero. Oh, and we welcome all ages too, so bring the kids, your granny, or even your partner who “hates cooking.”
How do you make cooking accessible and approachable for kitchen novices?
Every class kicks off with a relaxed demonstration where we break it down, step by step, and keep things super relaxed. It’s all hands-on; you make mistakes, laugh at them, and learn by doing. We want people to leave feeling confident in the kitchen, not glued to a recipe book. And yes, in some classes we might encourage a glass of wine or two along the way. Confidence and having fun over perfection is the name of the game!
What makes The Avenue Cookery School different from other London cookery schools?
We’re family run and stepping into our school feels like stepping into our home. We don’t just teach recipes; we teach you to understand what you’re doing and why. It’s hands-on, personable, and full of laughter. People often comment on how warm and homey it feels, and we love that! We’ve even been labelled “The most fun cookery school in London”, which we wear as a badge of honour.
What’s your most popular class?
We have quite a few! With over 80 different classes and 2-3 running every day of the week, there’s plenty to choose from. But the ones that always top the charts are Bao, Tapas, Italian, Korean and Mexican. Bao in particular is a favourite – soft, fluffy, fun to make, and a little addictive. People love the hands-on experiences and that they can recreate everything at home and show off to friends and family.
Do you have a signature dish that you make with classes?
Diana’s Bread is a big favourite. It gets taught on our Bread Class but also gets served at the beginning of most evening classes. It’s legendary! Another Avenue staple is our delectably gooey brownies – we use them as a “hook” at fairs, and they’ve developed a bit of a cult following.
Do modern dietary trends like plant-based meals and sustainability influence your classes?
Totally! We’ve got some banging vegan classes – from Vegan Indian, Vegan Mexican to Vegan Baking. We also champion a no-waste policy, especially in our 1-and 2-week courses, where we teach the foundations of cookery and show students how to use everything they’ve got to cut down on food waste. Learning and saving the planet? Win-win. We also do our best to accommodate dietary requirements across our everyday classes: gluten-free, lactose-free, vegan, vegetarian, nut-free – wherever possible, we adapt.
How has the community responded to what you do?
People have been amazing. Our regulars, families, and groups come back again and again – it’s really turned into a proper little community. We also welcome local businesses for team building, kids for birthday parties, and local clubs for events. The feedback has been incredible and we feel really lucky to be such an integral part of Wandsworth life. We hope to continue to be for many more years.
Do you work with local suppliers to source your ingredients?
We source our beef from Dovecote Park who are a fantastic supplier of British beef and we use our local fishmongers, Ocean Catch and Earlsfield Fishmongers & Deli for all fresh fish and seafood however, one of our fundamentals is that our customers can easily obtain the ingredients we use when recreating dishes at home so we specifically source ingredients from our local supermarkets in order to make this possible.
Are there any new classes on the horizon?
Absolutely! We are always thinking up new and delicious menus, whether they are based around food trends or recreating our favourites from a family trip abroad! In discussions at the moment is a Bottomless Wings Workshop and some other new street food-inspired classes. We are always open to ideas and sometimes ask our followers if they have any preferences – if anyone has any suggestions we’d love to hear from them. You can email us at [email protected].
What’s your favourite thing about Wandsworth?
Wandsworth is a hub of creativity and energy – it’s just a fun place to be. Since we moved here as a family over 15 years ago and opened our Wandsworth kitchen in 2016, it’s been incredible to see how much the area has grown and changed. We feel proud to be a part of that story and love being surrounded by such a vibrant community.
The Avenue Cookery School can be found at 3 Enterprise Way, Wandsworth, SW18 1FZ. Give them a follow on Instagram, and download the Wandsworth Town app to keep up to date with the latest offers and events. Email The Avenue Cookery School directly for more information and to get in touch about booking classes – [email protected]
