If you're searching for cookery classes in Belfast, the class you book is only ever as good as the kitchen — and the chef — behind it. At Waterman House Cookery School, every class is led by chef and owner Niall McKenna and his team, the same chefs behind Waterman Bistro, appearing in the Michelin Guide for Great Britain & Ireland. That's the difference between a class that ticks a box and one that actually teaches you something you'll use for the rest of your life.
Our cookery school sits inside Waterman House on Belfast's cobbled Hill Street, in the heart of the Cathedral Quarter — a Grade B listed building with a history stretching back to the 1800s as a wine and spirits trader, and later the Bushmills bonded warehouse. We've restored it into a purpose-built, interactive kitchen where up to 18 guests can cook simultaneously along one large communal table, under the direct tuition of chefs who cook professionally, every day, just a few feet from where you're standing.
We run a genuinely wide programme of day and evening classes for all ages and abilities, and we mean all abilities — nobody is left standing at the back watching someone else have the fun. Popular sessions include How to Cook the Perfect Steak, our Masterclass in Curry, Fish & Shellfish, Classic and Vegetarian Indian, Italian and Pasta workshops, Sushi, Best of Spain, Best of Mexico, French and Italian Food & Wine Pairing, and seasonal specials built around Christmas and Valentine's Day. New classes are added regularly, so there's always a reason to come back and learn something different.
We deliberately keep things informal and jargon-free. Our classes mix demonstration with proper hands-on cooking, using equipment you'll already have at home, so what you learn on the night is something you can actually recreate for family and friends afterwards — not just a recipe you watched once. At the end of most classes, you'll sit down together at the table to eat what you've made, with a glass of wine, a beer, or a coffee, and swap notes with the strangers you arrived with and will probably
leave as friends.
Whether you're a total beginner who's never boned a chicken, a confident home cook wanting to sharpen your knife skills, or simply looking for a genuinely different night out in Belfast, our classes are built to be enjoyed rather than endured. Gift vouchers are available too, for the food lover in your life who has everything except an excuse to book themselves in.
Classes run regularly throughout the week — check our calendar for upcoming dates, or get in touch directly and we'll help you find the right class for you.