The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission.?

Want a foodie holiday in the UK? Our guide to butchery courses, pasta making, whisky tasting and more

Room and board get a serious elevation at these food-driven hotels across the country – Natalie Paris gives the low-down on how to eat, drink and stay remarkably well

Saturday 30 November 2024 13:19 GMT
Comments
Sip and swirl a wine flight at Lympstone Manor
Sip and swirl a wine flight at Lympstone Manor (Lympstone Manor)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The provenance of food served in restaurants has been big news in the last decade – any decent menu will show off its sourcing. Hotel restaurants, in particular, have made an effort to support more of the food and drink producers local to them.

These restaurants often make a great place to get a taste of the food scene in any given area. Some hotels go the extra mile when it comes to giving their guests access to outstanding food and drink.

Experiences to look out for in UK hotels range from guided foraging trips that explore the local countryside to exclusive chef’s table experiences where guests can watch the country’s best culinary masterminds at work. There are also tastings galore – from wine to whisky and gin – and workshops that help guests improve their own skills in the kitchen.

Here are 11 of the best workshop, tasting and cooking experiences offered at British hotels.

Read more: Forget Cornwall and the Cotswolds, Somerset is the UK food hotspot you’ve been missing out on

Vineyard tours and tastings

Lympstone Manor, Devon

Every drop drunk at Lympstone comes from the hotel’s own vineyard
Every drop drunk at Lympstone comes from the hotel’s own vineyard (Lympstone Manor)

Offering quite possibly the most luxurious vineyard stay in the UK, Michael Caine’s Lympstone Manor offers food and wine with a sense of place. Just outside the restaurant door, the hotel has its own vines, stretching down to the Exe estuary. Planted in 2018, these grapes can produce an entire flight of excellent wines. From the rich cuvee, with hints of baked apple and brioche, to a dessert wine and a gin to finish, guests start with canapes, then dine at Caine’s Michelin-star restaurant knowing that every drop drunk comes from the hotel’s own vineyard. The restaurant’s meticulous dishes use many locally sourced ingredients, such as beef from nearby Dart Farm. Luxury shepherd’s huts lie just beyond the vines and the hotel is easily reached by train from London.

Doubles from ?277, vineyard tours from ?45, dinner paired with wine flight ?370; lympstonemanor.co.uk

Read more: England’s best foodie hotels and pubs for a gourmet weekend break

Butchery courses

The Newt, Somerset

Tuck and trim on butchery tables
Tuck and trim on butchery tables (The Newt)

Learn how to French trim a set of fore ribs from The Newt’s British White Cattle, one of Britain’s oldest breeds. The luxury hotel has a light-filled, architect-designed oak and glass building for its butchery courses, which are hugely informative and put a focus on using every part of the animal. Each guest has their own butchery table and set of quality knives. You’re given advice as you tuck and trim, while the friendly head butcher fields any question you might have – from where different cuts get their name from to how long to cook your Sunday joint.

Doubles from ?625, butchery ?275, around twice monthly, including lunch and meat to take home; thenewtinsomerset.com

Hedgerow foraging

The Angel, Abergavenny

The hedgerows of Abergavenny teem with wild produce
The hedgerows of Abergavenny teem with wild produce (Getty)

The verges, hedgerows and gardens of Wales teem with wild and wonderful produce from March-October, which is when guests at The Angel can explore the Abergavenny area with a foraging guide. Abergavenny itself is a bustling market town and a bona fide foodie hotspot, with bakeries and delis galore. Adele Nozedar, the author of Foraging with Kids, will introduce hotel guests to cleavers, pennywort and milkmaids – aka lady’s smock – among other plants in this part of the Brecon Beacons.

Doubles from ?365 a room, including foraging for two; angelabergavenny.com

Read more: How this eco-campsite in North Wales became a haven for frazzled Londoners

Chefs at work

Aulis Cartmel, Cumbria

If you enjoyed watching chefs plate up with tweezer-gripping precision on Netflix’s The Bear, pull up a seat at Aulis. Six diners can sit “backstage” to watch chef Simon Rogan at work at his three Michelin-starred restaurant L’Enclume, in Cartmel on the edge of the Lake District. The experience is available over lunch or dinner and it’s a great way to learn about the skill and development that goes into every dish. When not open to diners, the space is a lab for testing new culinary creations. L’Enclume’s rooms are dotted about the riverside village of Cartmel.

Doubles from ?280 a night, experience from ?250; aulis.co.uk

Read more: What Rishi Sunak can expect on the Coast to Coast walk – as he bids to make it ‘UK’s greatest national trail’

Mackerel fishing and feasting

Glebe House, Devon

Fish for fresh mackerel in the waters of Lyme Bay
Fish for fresh mackerel in the waters of Lyme Bay (Glebe House)

Take a small fishing boat out from the beach at Beer, between May and August, and try your hand at mackerel fishing. It’s easier than you might think in the healthy waters of Lyme Bay. This is a private, expert-guided trip that’s subject to weather conditions, so expect a fair bit of bobbing about. The fresher the mackerel, the better it tastes when grilled. After the fishing, a table is laid out on the beach for aperitivos and a twilight dinner, featuring your catch.

Doubles from ?153 a night, fishing and dinner ?130; glebehousedevon.co.uk

Read more: Best hotels in Newquay for surfing and Cornish coastal views

Whisky pairings and farmhouse cooking

The Fife Arms, Braemar, Scotland

Sample whiskies at The Fife Arms
Sample whiskies at The Fife Arms (Sim Canetty-Clarke)

Budding cooks can enjoy a drive through dramatic Highland scenery to Glenlivet and the farmhouse kitchen of chef and food writer Ghillie Basan. There you’ll cook dishes like jerked venison with rowan jelly and flash-fried scallops. There’ll be a range of whiskies to sample also, including a Glenlivet (naturally), a Braeval and a Benriach. During autumn and winter, guests at the hotel can also try the seasonal fondue hut, bringing Swiss traditions to Scotland.

Doubles from ?434, pairing experience from ?250; thefifearms.com

Read more: Best spa hotels in Edinburgh here to stay for luxury rooms and rejuvenation

Cookery school

Northcote, Langho, Lancashire

Learn to cook dinner party fare
Learn to cook dinner party fare (Northcote Cookery School)

The Northcote is a contemporary, 26-room hotel in the sweeping Ribble Valley that specialises in gourmet experiences. Its Cookery School offers a calendar of kitchen-based courses for everyone from novices to experienced cooks. Classes might cover seafood and dinner party fare, meat grilling, patisserie skills and bread making. For special occasions, the Chef’s Table, from Lisa Goodwin-Allen, places diners close to the action in her Michelin-star kitchen, where guests can witness the theatre of Northcote’s dishes being created.

Doubles from ?240 a night, day’s course from ?235; northcote.com

Read more: The best UK hotels

Foraged cocktails

Heckfield Place, Hampshire

Gin lovers can craft botanical cocktails
Gin lovers can craft botanical cocktails (Heckfield Place)

Gin lovers can craft their own concoctions from foraged botanicals at this refined manor house hotel. During the experience (available April-September), guests will be taken on a guided walk into the woods to gather fresh ingredients and pick and learn about seasonal plants, herbs and flowers. The group will then gather in The Glass House to try different gins while learning to taste individual ingredients. The secrets of the distilling processes will also be revealed while guests create their own gin, infusing it with what they’ve collected.

Doubles from ?600 a night, cocktail foraging ?150; heckfieldplace.com

Read more: The best luxury UK hotels

Afternoon tea and pasta-making

The Langham, London

Learn to roll out fresh pasta at Sauce
Learn to roll out fresh pasta at Sauce (The Langham London)

The Langham claims it was the world’s first hotel to serve afternoon tea, back in 1865. This Grand Dame in the West End now offers a tea inspired by the Victorians who first enjoyed dainty sandwiches and cute pastries in its elegant rooms. London has lots of fabulous teas to try but this one is designed by Michel Roux Jr, in partnership with executive pastry chef Andrew Gravett. Single garden British tea brand, JING, is delivered to guests sat on pearlescent, button-back chairs in the hotel’s Palm Court. The hotel also has a cooking school, Sauce, which runs pasta-making courses, as well as puddings and steak cooking sessions, plus day-long cookery masterclasses with Michel Roux Jr.

Doubles from ?494 a night, champagne afternoon tea ?115; langhamhotels.com

Read more: The best London airport hotels

Mushroom hunt

The Montagu Arms, Hampshire

Forage for fungi
Forage for fungi (The Montagu Arms)

In the New Forest village of Beaulieu, guests at the 33-bedroom Montagu Arms can join the Wild New Forest company to learn about mushrooms and fungi. An illustrated talk is followed by a guided nature walk through the woods in Culverley. The guide will point out the different species of mushrooms growing in the national park. A two-night break, including these activities, ends with dinner at The Terrace restaurant, feasting on dishes made with ingredients from the hotel’s kitchen garden.

Wild New Forest Break from ?538 a room, based on two sharing and including breakfast; montaguarmshotel.co.uk

Read more: New Forest spa hotels

Picnic in Hyde Park

Royal Lancaster, London

There’s a sandwich spread and bottle of Bollinger on this picnic
There’s a sandwich spread and bottle of Bollinger on this picnic (Royal Lancaster London)

A traditional picnic hamper is stuffed with specially-curated goodies for guests to take across to Hyde Park, which the hotel’s floor-to-ceiling windows look onto. The spread includes all the elements of an afternoon tea, including finger sandwiches, a bottle of Bollinger champagne and a Bakewell tart. Guests can also hire bicycles from the hotel for a leisurely wheel around the Serpentine and back.

Double room and picnic hamper from ?474; royallancaster.com

Read more: The best London hotels for afternoon tea

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

universo-virtual.com
buytrendz.net
thisforall.net
benchpressgains.com
qthzb.com
mindhunter9.com
dwjqp1.com
secure-signup.net
ahaayy.com
soxtry.com
tressesindia.com
puresybian.com
krpano-chs.com
cre8workshop.com
hdkino.org
peixun021.com
qz786.com
utahperformingartscenter.org
maw-pr.com
zaaksen.com
ypxsptbfd7.com
worldqrmconference.com
shangyuwh.com
eejssdfsdfdfjsd.com
playminecraftfreeonline.com
trekvietnamtour.com
your-business-articles.com
essaywritingservice10.com
hindusamaaj.com
joggingvideo.com
wandercoups.com
onlinenewsofindia.com
worldgraphic-team.com
bnsrz.com
wormblaster.net
tongchengchuyange0004.com
internetknowing.com
breachurch.com
peachesnginburlesque.com
dataarchitectoo.com
clientfunnelformula.com
30pps.com
cherylroll.com
ks2252.com
webmanicura.com
osostore.com
softsmob.com
sofietsshotel.com
facetorch.com
nylawyerreview.com
apapromotions.com
shareparelli.com
goeaglepointe.com
thegreenmanpubphuket.com
karotorossian.com
publicsensor.com
taiwandefence.com
epcsur.com
odskc.com
inzziln.info
leaiiln.info
cq-oa.com
dqtianshun.com
southstills.com
tvtv98.com
thewellington-hotel.com
bccaipiao.com
colectoresindustrialesgs.com
shenanddcg.com
capriartfilmfestival.com
replicabreitlingsale.com
thaiamarinnewtoncorner.com
gkmcww.com
mbnkbj.com
andrewbrennandesign.com
cod54.com
luobinzhang.com
bartoysdirect.com
taquerialoscompadresdc.com
aaoodln.info
amcckln.info
drvrnln.info
dwabmln.info
fcsjoln.info
hlonxln.info
kcmeiln.info
kplrrln.info
fatcatoons.com
91guoys.com
signupforfreehosting.com
faithfirst.net
zjyc28.com
tongchengjinyeyouyue0004.com
nhuan6.com
oldgardensflowers.com
lightupthefloor.com
bahamamamas-stjohns.com
ly2818.com
905onthebay.com
fonemenu.com
notanothermovie.com
ukrainehighclassescort.com
meincmagazine.com
av-5858.com
yallerdawg.com
donkeythemovie.com
corporatehospitalitygroup.com
boboyy88.com
miteinander-lernen.com
dannayconsulting.com
officialtomsshoesoutletstore.com
forsale-amoxil-amoxicillin.net
generictadalafil-canada.net
guitarlessonseastlondon.com
lesliesrestaurants.com
mattyno9.com
nri-homeloans.com
rtgvisas-qatar.com
salbutamolventolinonline.net
sportsinjuries.info
topsedu.xyz
xmxm7.com
x332.xyz
sportstrainingblog.com
autopartspares.com
readguy.net
soniasegreto.com
bobbygdavis.com
wedsna.com
rgkntk.com
bkkmarketplace.com
zxqcwx.com
breakupprogram.com
boxcardc.com
unblockyoutubeindonesia.com
fabulousbookmark.com
beat-the.com
guatemala-sailfishing-vacations-charters.com
magie-marketing.com
kingstonliteracy.com
guitaraffinity.com
eurelookinggoodapparel.com
howtolosecheekfat.net
marioncma.org
oliviadavismusic.com
shantelcampbellrealestate.com
shopleborn13.com
topindiafree.com
v-visitors.net
qazwsxedcokmijn.com
parabis.net
terriesandelin.com
luxuryhomme.com
studyexpanse.com
ronoom.com
djjky.com
053hh.com
originbluei.com
baucishotel.com
33kkn.com
intrinsiqresearch.com
mariaescort-kiev.com
mymaguk.com
sponsored4u.com
crimsonclass.com
bataillenavale.com
searchtile.com
ze-stribrnych-struh.com
zenithalhype.com
modalpkv.com
bouisset-lafforgue.com
useupload.com
37r.net
autoankauf-muenster.com
bantinbongda.net
bilgius.com
brabustermagazine.com
indigrow.org
miicrosofts.net
mysmiletravel.com
selinasims.com
spellcubesapp.com
usa-faction.com
snn01.com
hope-kelley.com
bancodeprofissionais.com
zjccp99.com
liturgycreator.com
weedsmj.com
majorelenco.com
colcollect.com
androidnews-jp.com
hypoallergenicdogsnames.com
dailyupdatez.com
foodphotographyreviews.com
cricutcom-setup.com
chprowebdesign.com
katyrealty-kanepa.com
tasramar.com
bilgipinari.org
four-am.com
indiarepublicday.com
inquick-enbooks.com
iracmpi.com
kakaschoenen.com
lsm99flash.com
nana1255.com
ngen-niagara.com
technwzs.com
virtualonlinecasino1345.com
wallpapertop.net
nova-click.com
abeautifulcrazylife.com
diggmobile.com
denochemexicana.com
eventhalfkg.com
medcon-taiwan.com
life-himawari.com
myriamshomes.com
nightmarevue.com
allstarsru.com
bestofthebuckeyestate.com
bestofthefirststate.com
bestwireless7.com
declarationintermittent.com
findhereall.com
jingyou888.com
lsm99deal.com
lsm99galaxy.com
moozatech.com
nuagh.com
patliyo.com
philomenamagikz.net
rckouba.net
saturnunipessoallda.com
tallahasseefrolics.com
thematurehardcore.net
totalenvironment-inthatquietearth.com
velislavakaymakanova.com
vermontenergetic.com
sizam-design.com
kakakpintar.com
begorgeouslady.com
1800birks4u.com
2wheelstogo.com
6strip4you.com
bigdata-world.net
emailandco.net
gacapal.com
jharpost.com
krishnaastro.com
lsm99credit.com
mascalzonicampani.com
sitemapxml.org
thecityslums.net
topagh.com
flairnetwebdesign.com
bangkaeair.com
beneventocoupon.com
noternet.org
oqtive.com
smilebrightrx.com
decollage-etiquette.com
1millionbestdownloads.com
7658.info
bidbass.com
devlopworldtech.com
digitalmarketingrajkot.com
fluginfo.net
naqlafshk.com
passion-decouverte.com
playsirius.com
spacceleratorintl.com
stikyballs.com
top10way.com
yokidsyogurt.com
zszyhl.com
16firthcrescent.com
abogadolaboralistamd.com
apk2wap.com
aromacremeria.com
banparacard.com
bosmanraws.com
businessproviderblog.com
caltonosa.com
calvaryrevivalchurch.org
chastenedsoulwithabrokenheart.com
cheminotsgardcevennes.com
cooksspot.com
cqxzpt.com
deesywig.com
deltacartoonmaps.com
despixelsetdeshommes.com
duocoracaobrasileiro.com
fareshopbd.com
goodpainspills.com
kobisitecdn.com
makaigoods.com
mgs1454.com
piccadillyresidences.com
radiolaondafresca.com
rubendorf.com
searchengineimprov.com
sellmyhrvahome.com
shugahouseessentials.com
sonihullquad.com
subtractkilos.com
valeriekelmansky.com
vipasdigitalmarketing.com
voolivrerj.com
zeelonggroup.com
1015southrockhill.com
10x10b.com
111-online-casinos.com
191cb.com
3665arpentunitd.com
aitesonics.com
bag-shokunin.com
brightotech.com
communication-digitale-services.com
covoakland.org
dariaprimapack.com
freefortniteaccountss.com
gatebizglobal.com
global1entertainmentnews.com
greatytene.com
hiroshiwakita.com
iktodaypk.com
jahatsakong.com
meadowbrookgolfgroup.com
newsbharati.net
platinumstudiosdesign.com
slotxogamesplay.com
strikestaruk.com
trucosdefortnite.com
ufabetrune.com
weddedtowhitmore.com
12940brycecanyonunitb.com
1311dietrichoaks.com
2monarchtraceunit303.com
601legendhill.com
850elaine.com
adieusolasomade.com
andora-ke.com
bestslotxogames.com
cannagomcallen.com
endlesslyhot.com
iestpjva.com
ouqprint.com
pwmaplefest.com
qtylmr.com
rb88betting.com
buscadogues.com
1007macfm.com
born-wild.com
growthinvests.com
promocode-casino.com
proyectogalgoargentina.com
wbthompson-art.com
whitemountainwheels.com
7thavehvl.com
developmethis.com
funkydogbowties.com
travelodgegrandjunction.com
gao-town.com
globalmarketsuite.com
blogshippo.com
hdbka.com
proboards67.com
outletonline-michaelkors.com
kalkis-research.com
thuthuatit.net
buckcash.com
hollistercanada.com
docterror.com
asadart.com
vmayke.org
erwincomputers.com
dirimart.org
okkii.com
loteriasdecehegin.com
mountanalog.com
healingtaobritain.com
ttxmonitor.com
bamthemes.com
nwordpress.com
11bolabonanza.com
avgo.top