ONE of East Lancashire’s most renowned restaurants is setting up a cookery school to train budding chefs.

Michelin-starred Northcote, in Langho, will launch the courses next month, taking small groups behind the scenes and into the kitchens.

Chef patron Nigel Haworth said: “I'm thrilled to be launching the Northcote Cookery School and offer fans of our food the chance to recreate dishes at home.

“The best thing about our courses is that they cater to all capabilities and interests — from those who want to learn basic knife skills to those who want to pull off four-course menus for friends at home.”

Housed within the kitchen – with four stations accommodating no more than eight for an intimate, hands-on experience – courses are designed to educate whilst observing all the theatre of the working, Michelin-starred kitchen.

Students can choose an experience level to match their skillset – foundation, intermediate or advanced – and then an appropriate tutorial from a range of culinary categories, from developing specific skills and techniques through to entertaining.

Led by newly-appointed head tutor Michael Vanheste, formerly of Betty’s Cookery School, Northcote Cookery School will offer a range of half and full-day courses.

He said: “Tutoring students at the Northcote Cookery School is an exciting challenge, and provides pupils with a unique opportunity of observing the theatre of our Michelin-starred kitchen whilst they work."

Courses include Easter Entertaining, held from April 22 to 24, where students will create seasonal dishes for the holiday, such as asparagus mousse with crab, slow-baked Blackberry Farm artisan bacon rubbed with Easter spices, and white chocolate hot cross bun bread-and-butter pudding.

Summery sessions will be held in May, June and July.

Prices range from £95 to £250 and include morning tea and coffee served with seasonal pastries, a two-course lunch with wine, afternoon tea and scones, and a Northcote Cookery School apron and gift bag.

To book, call Robyn Loftus on 01254 240555 or email robyn.loftus@northcote.com n Go to northcote.com/cookery-school/cookery-course-calendar