Fridays are the new… err, Fridays don’t you know – and we’re continuing the tradition in our Cloister Garden. We’ll be hosting a weekly BBQ most Fridays throughout the summer. Come and enjoy the afternoon sunshine over a chilled bottle of Whispering Angel Rose, a cold beer or selection of bespoke home-made garden cocktails, or wrap yourself up with one of our blankets, under the heated parasols and settle in with a bottle of red in front of one of our fire pits. You’ll enjoy an arrival fizz, glass of fizz, home-brewed beer or soft drink, sharing plank of seasonal starters, followed by a main course straight from the BBQ and rounded off with a seasonal dessert.

Louisiana is famous for its vibrant jazz music, spectacular Mardi Gras festival and its unique cuisine. This session will take you on a journey through the cuisine of the American deep south with Creole staples such as Gumbo and Jambalaya. Expect Recipes Like: + Cajun Spice Mix + Chicken & Prawn Jambalaya + Shrimp & Sausage Gumbo + Dirty Rice + Bananas Foster. Exact recipes for this class will vary by season.

Relax and have fun at our convivial evening of Chinese Bao making. Our cookery school teacher will show you just how easy it is to make home-made soft pillows of steamed buns with succulent savoury fillings and luscious sweet treats. Accompanied with a couple of Asian beers to wash it down and enough to take home to show off to family, friends and work colleagues. Come on your own, with family or friends. Event suitable for vegetarian and vegan, not suitable for gluten free.

Bored with the usual places to go for lunch? Don’t fancy another sandwich on the go? Join us at Blackfriars Cookery School for more dynamic lunch with our 1-hour Express cookery classes. You will learn to make a classic street food dish that can take you to the streets of Bangkok or Mumbai and back, prepared at your very own individual workstation. Each class focuses on a particular street food, giving the chance to explore new and authentic ingredients in just one hour! This workshop looks at how to make puri, a small fried dough that puffs up to allow you to stuff with your homemade potato bhaji and curry. Learn how to make quick chutneys to go with the puri bhaji and the different ways to combined Indian spices. Once the cooking is over you can sit, with a beer or glass of fizz, and consume your handiwork. These courses are designed to be relaxed, informative and fun.

When it comes to pairing beer with food there’s so much more than a pint at your local with a packet of crisps! With such a variety of styles of beer available, beer and food matching has certainly become a serious art! We’re not quite your average hipster but do appreciate our craft beers – especially when paired with some delicious street food style snacks. Celebrate the opening of our new St. Dominic’s Brewery with our beer expert who will pair a selection of local craft beers with some matching bar snacks. You’ll start the tasting off with a visit to our own Micro Brewery before heading to the beer tasting where the fun and informative tasting of ‘beer and bait’ will continue.

When you think of French bread, the iconic baguette might come to mind, but there’s a whole world of rustic, flavourful French breads waiting to be explored! In this session, you’ll bake some of France’s most beloved breads, using tried-and-tested recipes straight from a French farmhouse. You’ll master the rustic Pain de Campagne, a hearty French country sourdough, craft the perfect slow-developed baguette, shape a rye miche and create the eye-catching classic fougasse. Plus, dive into the rich history of French bread terms and try your hand at shaping the beautiful “epi” loaf. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or a curious beginner, this is your chance to knead, shape and bake like a true French artisan.

Sit back, relax and enjoy an evening of fabulous food cooked right in front of you by your very own personal chef. Six courses of the finest, local and seasonal offerings we can find and may include canapés, amuse bouche, starter, fish course, palette cleanser, meat course, pre-dessert, dessert, cheese and coffee. With an extensive wine list, selection of local beers and distilled beverages, our master sommelier carefully selects a perfect paring for each sumptuous dish. This is perfect for a gift, serious foodies and those who like a bit of dining theatre!

Cheese and wine tastings may have started as a fad of the seventies but they’re just as popular now as they’ve ever been. Why? Because cheese and wine go together so well! it seems they were just made for each other – and so many perfect parings. Join us for an evening of top drawer cheeses and fabulous wines all perfectly paired. Progress through from lighter to the more robust whilst discussing their merits and searching for those matches made in heaven. Enjoy a glass of fizz on arrival followed by 5 wine and cheese pairings. Oh, and not a pineapple stick or vol-au-vent in sight!

Bored with the usual places to go for lunch? Don’t fancy another sandwich on the go? Join us at Blackfriars Cookery School for more dynamic lunch with our 1-hour Express cookery classes. You will learn to make a classic street food dish that can take you to the streets of Bangkok or Mumbai and back, prepared at your very own individual workstation. Each class focuses on a particular street food, giving the chance to explore new and authentic ingredients in just one hour! In this hands-on workshop you will dive into the flavours of the Middle East by preparing the classic dish, Shakshuka. The name shakshuka comes from the Arabic word “shakshak,” meaning “to mix things up,” which perfectly describes this hearty dish of eggs poached in a rich tomato sauce with olive oil, peppers, onions and garlic. Shakshuka is incredibly versatile and you can customise it with ingredients like potatoes, broad beans, artichokes, courgettes, minced meat, or chorizo. In this class, you’ll prepare a special version featuring Merguez sausage and pistachios for a flavourful twist. Once the cooking is over you can sit, with a beer or glass of fizz, and consume your handiwork. These courses are designed to be relaxed, informative and fun.

Come and enjoy a succulent spit roasted hog with all the trimmings in Blackfriars sheltered cloister courtyard. Order yourself a local beer, a chilled rose or whatever you fancy, kick back and relax. On arrival, you’ll be served a glass of fizz, sharing platters of some of our seasonal starters. This will be followed by spit-roast pygge with pork fat potatoes, fire-roasted seasonal vegetables and gravy - all rounded off with one of our wonderful seasonal desserts and coffee. What better way to relax on a Sunday lunchtime!