Cooking has always been my passion, and I am so incredibly proud to have opened the doors to The Limpsfield Cookery School that continues to grow day by day. Come and learn a new skill, meet like-minded people and have a delicious day out to remember!
Jacqueline Derbyshire
Jacqui
Welcome
Are you ready to roll up your sleeves and learn something new? Welcome to The Limpsfield Cookery School, one of the leading schools of its kind. Our goal is to give our students the skills and experience so that they can feel confident in the kitchen. Contact us to learn more!
Our Story
The idea for The Limpsfield Cookery School was born through Jacqui’s personal experience.
A lifelong cooking enthusiast, and having retired from her job in the City, Jacqui started to look into cookery courses to advance her own cooking skills, but found that there were either no courses available to help her learn what she needed, or they were more geared to professional chefs and didn’t offer the experience she was looking for.
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Jacqui set about finding a venue and sourcing chefs to bring on board and in February 2020, The Limpsfield Cookery School was launched.
Our chefs are on hand to share their wealth of knowledge with you, whether you’re a beginner cook or more experienced and looking to improve your technical knowledge and skills.
Our classes are taught in a fun, inclusive atmosphere, where we strive to make everyone feel welcome and at home.
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We look forward to welcoming you very soon!
Meet Our Chefs
We have a truly inspirational team of Chefs, ready to teach you all the skills you need to be confident in the kitchen.
Oliver Thompson, Executive Head Chef
Cornwall-based Oliver’s career in hospitality began working with the family catering business. His first job in the kitchen was with the renowned Cornish chef, Paul Ripley. He has since worked in some of the best restaurants, including Le Relais Bernard Loiseau and Le Petit Nice de Passedat, Nathan Outlaw’s 2-Michelin Starred, The Mariners and Fish Kitchen and Pilchards at Port Gaverne. He teaches our Masterclasses and caters for special events.
Jacqueline Derbyshire
Founder of The Limpsfield Cookery School, Jacqueline has had a love of cooking since she was a child.
A good, traditional Home Cook, who is a cake-baking whizz and the go-to for family gatherings and special occasions. She will be teaching our entry-level cooking classes for all age groups, together with baking and cake decorating.
She’s also the main chef behind our Oven-Ready Meals - 'From Our Kitchen to Yours'.
Valentina Harris
Tracing her family history back to the illustrious Sforza dynasty, Valentina has an incredibly rich Italian heritage which she encompasses into her cooking. With over 40 published books, Valentina has become one of the most influential female Italian chefs in the UK. Valentina’s classes are designed so the content is taught n the true Italian style – with minimal fuss and maximum care.