Northcote’s Cookery School Welcomes New Team

Jason ‘Bruno’ Birkbeck joins as Head Cookery Tutor and Emma Lawson joins as Junior Tutor
Michelin star boutique hotel, Northcote, is welcoming Jason ‘Bruno’ Birkbeck as Head  Cookery Tutor and Emma Lawson as Junior Tutor at the Cookery School, which is renowned as one of the best culinary schools in the UK.

Located in the heart of the hotel’s Michelin star kitchen, up to eight students can enjoy a  variety of full and half day courses that cover skills & techniques, entertaining, themed classes, and premium master classes.

And there are more new classes to come as the Cookery School Jason (or Bruno as he is known in the industry) brings with him several years’ experience working as a chef at well-respected, fine-dining establishments such as The Samling, The Torridon, and Hipping Hall, which he took to three rosette standard. Jason’s career has also seen him be part of the Northcote family, both at the beginning of his career at the hotel, and most recently as Group Head Chef across Ribble Valley Inns. Jason is bringing this high-level kitchen experience as well as the teaching of trainees into the Cookery School, which means attendees will learn a mix of simple and Michelin star kitchen skills, as well as unique recipes inspired
by Northcote’s and Jason’s own culinary styles.

Jason’s expertise is complemented by Emma’s, which combines general kitchen knowledge with specialist patisserie and chocolate experience. Emma’s career has involved time at The Devonshire Arms Hotel and Spa and Bettys Harrogate, as well as study at Leeds City College, where she passed Professional cookery level 2, Patisserie diploma with distinction and won Student of the Year.

The pair are currently working on exciting new ideas for the annual Cookery School programme and they hope to include courses focusing on charcuterie, butchery, afternoon tea and chocolate.

Jason, said: “It’s exciting to be back in the Northcote kitchens and I’m looking forward to bringing my Head Chef experience to the Cookery School programme. I really get a buzz from working with people, teaching them new skills and inspiring their confidence, as well as developing personally through working with the guest chefs that take classes at the school.”

Throughout the year, there are also several classes taken by Nigel Haworth and Executive Head Chef, Lisa Goodwin-Allen, as well as a selection of well-known chefs for that extra special experience. Previous guest chefs have included Mark Hix, Theo Randall and Aktar Islam.

The Cookery School was added to the hotel in 2014 as part of a £7.5 million investment which took the hotel from 14 rooms to 26 rooms. The project also saw a complete refurbishment of the restaurant and bar as well as the addition of a new kitchen, the chefs table and the Louis Roederer Rooms.

Half Day cookery courses start from £120 per person and include a 2-course lunch with a complimentary glass of wine. Guests will finish at 1pm and depart with a Cookery School apron, course folder and all the food they have prepared in a cookery school bag. The hotel also offers a preferential room rate to those taking part in a cookery course of £130.00 for Bed and Breakfast, based on 2 people sharing, Sunday – Thursday.

For more information, visit https://www.northcote.com/cookery-school/