How is it almost New Year already?!
We can’t quite believe how quickly the past year has flown by. Between months-long lockdowns and making up for lost time over the summer, it feels like only yesterday that we were waving goodbye to 2020.
Despite how quickly time has passed, a lot has changed over the past 12 months. Among other things, the beginning half of 2021 marked the first full year at the school for Lizzie and her team. And whilst navigating changing pandemic restrictions and other challenges along the way, we’re so proud of our customers and team for everything we’ve achieved together this year.
A fruitful year for the cookery school
It was a delight to welcome our customers back to the school following the coronavirus lockdown that ended in the spring.
We’ve loved catching up with some familiar faces, such as Sid Persaud, who let us know that he recently attended his fifth class with us! And it’s also been great to share our kitchen with first-time visitors — from groups of families and friends to individuals looking to learn something new. Judith Pain, who joined us with her daughter for an Italian Masterclass, informed us that the course had rekindled her interest in cooking after lockdown, which was music to our ears. We’re always eager to hear from our customers after they’ve visited the school, and we’ve enjoyed fantastic feedback so far.
The team also took the opportunity to upgrade the facilities this year with the welcome addition of a pergola kitchen. This new structure was built to host our Weber Grill Academy during colder months, allowing everyone to enjoy learning outdoors — no matter what the British weather throws at us! And with the addition of state-of-the-art food processors provided by Magimix, our kitchens are now fully equipped with reliable, professional equipment and prepared for every stage of the cooking process.
Through our social media channels and blog posts, we’ve also engaged a wider community of food enthusiasts and connected with our loyal following. From delivering foodie content for university students and chalet hosts to tips for hosting the perfect post-pandemic dinner party, we’ve loved keeping up with our audience throughout what has been a tumultuous time for many people. Some of our popular posts have even been shared in publications such as Town & County, Surrey Homes and Round & About magazine — and we can’t wait to brainstorm some new ideas for 2022!
What lies ahead in 2022?
So, what’s next for the Abinger Cookery School? We’ve been busy planning our vision for 2022, when we hope to take our courses and services to the next level.
We were lucky enough to welcome new members to our team this year who’ve brought new skills and experiences to the table — including the welcome addition of our new chef, Cat. (You can learn all about Cat, her experiences in France and what attracted her to the cookery school in our recent blog.)
As such, we’ll be drawing on the wide range of cooking knowledge and experiences at our disposal to expand our course offering. So, keep an eye out for a brand-new and exciting selection of classes alongside your old favourites! In the meantime, you can gain a sneak peek into both our indoor and outdoor pergola kitchens by watching this video.
We wish you season’s greetings from all of us at the Abinger Cookery School, and we hope the festive period is filled with good health, excellent company and great food. We can’t wait to see you all in the new year for more of the fun, foodie chit-chat and delicious dishes we’ve shared in 2021!
Want to learn a new skill in the new year? Whether you’re a beginner in the kitchen or a more experienced cook, we’ve got a broad range of cooking classes for you to choose from. Take a look at the broad range of courses we already have available to book for 2022.
