We have three purpose-built and vibrant spaces: our learning kitchen, our garden room and our educational garden. In each space we teach skills and gather our community together.
Where we started Our story
Our home is Hackney, where we transformed a former caretaker’s house on the site of Mandeville Primary School into an award-winning teaching kitchen.
We turned tarmac into our flourishing garden, with beds bursting with vegetables, a chattering chicken coop and beehives surrounded by fruit trees and wildflowers. A disused classroom is now our Garden Room, where we offer educational workshops, events and celebrations.
In 2023 we became a Community Interest Company, meaning that we exist to benefit the community rather than generate private profit.
What we do Our model
Our ‘seed to spoon’ approach brings cooking and growing together, helping children understand where food comes from and giving them confidence and practical skills.
We also run masterclasses, events and programmes to bring families and the wider community together through food.
By blending paid-for and free programmes, our model ensures that people facing barriers to learning and healthy living aren’t left behind.
Every commercial booking and corporate partnership also helps support this work.
Explore our home Our spaces
Custom-fitted Our kitchen
Bright, spacious and adaptable, our learning kitchen is designed for up to 30 children or 20 adults. Complete with ten height-adjustable and fully equipped workstations and a teaching station, it’s a space to learn vital new skills, grow in confidence and develop a love of cooking.
Come together Our garden room
Our Garden Room is set up for workshops, community dinners, events, and team meetings. Surrounded by plants and flowers, it’s an inspiring place to come together with friends, colleagues and neighbours to connect, learn and share good food.
A place to grow Our garden
Dig, plant, and harvest in our garden, where you’ll learn to grow food in a way that supports nature and helps provide fresh ingredients for our kitchen classes.
Our garden is designed for learning and accessibility, featuring raised beds at various heights for growing flowers, herbs, fruits, and vegetables. Explore our chicken coops and beehives and try traditional techniques for cooking in our wood oven, which bakes six pizzas at once. We also have a firepit for outdoor cooking and a dedicated kitchen garden workstation for hands-on learning.
Winning! Our Awards
We’re proud to be recognised for doing what we love – growing, cooking, and bringing people together.
© 2025 Hackney School of Food • Photograph credits: Brian Doben
Hackney School of Food is a Community Interest Company.
Company number: 14595099
Website credits: Bruce Sigrist