Cooking skills: Made in Hackney

Where? Stoke Newington
How often: Varies, but often weekly How much: From £60 for masterclasses.

Teaching skills from growing your own food to mastering your favourite takeaways, you can learn a lot at charity and community cookery school Made in Hackney, whether on a four-hour masterclass or a four-week course. And if that isn’t enough, by purchasing a ticket you will be paying for one person in need to attend a vital community cookery class. Find out more: www.madeinhackney.org

Pickling and preserving: Newton and Pott

Where? Broadway Market
How often: Two classes a month
How much: From £50
Kylee Newton, founder of Newton and Pott tells us: “People get to learn tricks of the pickling trade, things to look out for, to take the fear out of words such as bacteria or sterilisation, making home preserving easy and not so daunting. Learn about the seasonal fruit and vegetables and to waste-not- want-not by using up the seasonal glut.” Find out more: www.newtonandpott.co.uk

Gin masterclass: Martello Hall

Where? Mare Street
How often: Weekly
How much: From £40
Just fancy a drink? Martello Hall’s expert cocktail makers can show you how your favourite spirit is made, and how to use it to make perfect cocktails. Another class lets you blend your own gin, taking the distilled spirit and infusing it with various botanicals. You’ll then create your own bottles, naming and sealing them to take home. Find out more: www.martellohall.com

Cooking in groups: Underground Cooking School

Where? Old Street
How often: On a booking basis
How much: From £120
If you’re having a party, or a corporate event, why not
ditch the traditional restaurant meal and cook it yourself? The Underground Cooking School has state-of-the-art kitchens and top chefs to teach you how to make a fabulous three course meal from a variety of cuisines that you’ll then get to enjoy along with copious wine and beer. Cheers! Find out more: www.undergroundcookeryschool.com