Learn to make buttery shortcrust pastry, traditional suet pastry and a selection of classic British pies from scratch. Vegetarians can be accomdated Join us at Ground Up Cookery School in Devon for our hands-on Perfect Pies Workshop, where you'll learn the essential skills behind some of Britain's best-loved savoury bakes. From buttery homemade shortcrust pastry to traditional suet pastry, this practical workshop teaches the techniques needed to produce beautifully crisp pastry and rich, flavourful fillings with confidence. Guided by our professional chef trainers, you will prepare a classic chicken and mushroom pie, a leek, mushroom and Gruyère quiche, and discover how to make a traditional beef and ale suet pudding. Along the way, you'll learn the differences between the main pastry types, when each should be used and the professional techniques that will help you achieve consistently excellent results at home. After baking, you'll enjoy your creations for lunch with vegetables, rich homemade gravy and a well-deserved glass of wine before taking home any remaining pies, pastry and recipes to recreate everything in your own kitchen. The workshop includes shortcrust pastry made by every guest, with demonstrations of suet pastry and a traditional beef and ale suet pudding. What you'll learn During this pie-making workshop you will: Make buttery shortcrust pastry from scratch. Learn the principles of traditional suet pastry. Prepare a classic chicken and mushroom pie. Make a leek, mushroom and Gruyère quiche. Discover how to make a traditional beef and ale suet pudding. Learn blind baking, lining pastry cases and professional pastry techniques. Understand the differences between shortcrust, suet, hot water crust, puff, rough puff, flaky and filo pastry, and when each is best used. Enjoy your handmade pies for lunch before taking home any remaining pies, pastry and recipes. Private groups and team events This workshop also makes an excellent activity for businesses, clubs, family celebrations and groups of friends. Whether you're looking for a team-building event or a private pie-making experience, we can tailor the workshop to suit your group. Please get in touch to discuss availability and bespoke bookings. FAQs Who is this class suitable for? This pie-making class in Chudleigh, Devon is ideal for beginners, home cooks, couples, friends, gift experiences and anyone wanting to build confidence making traditional British pastry and pies from scratch. How is the day structured? This is a sociable and relaxed workshop combining demonstrations with plenty of hands-on cooking. Some elements are prepared individually, while others are made in pairs, creating a collaborative and enjoyable atmosphere suitable for all abilities. Expect plenty of chef's tips, pastry-making techniques and opportunities to ask questions throughout the session. Courses are hands-on and interactive, with guidance and support available throughout. Although many guests attend on their own, most cooking is done in pairs, which helps keep sessions relaxed and sociable. If working in a pair might be an issue for you for any reason, please contact us in advance and we'll always do our best to accommodate where possible. Can you cater for dietary requirements? The key dietary details are noted at the top of each course listing, there may be other accommodations that we can make. Please let us know of ALL dietary requirements at the time of booking. We will always aim to accommodate where possible. Can children attend this course? Yes, children are welcome as full paying guests. Children under the age of 15 must be accompanied by a full paying parent or legal guardian, who remains responsible for them throughout the class. Young people aged 15–18 may attend without a parent or guardian. A completed parental consent form is required for all attendees aged 15–18. These courses are aimed at adults, and young people must be able to participate independently and behave appropriately without requiring additional supervision. Please indicate ages at the time of booking. Do I need to bring anything? Everything needed for the course is provided. Guests will be emailed approximately one week before the event with any final information, including whether there is anything specific to bring or any changes to arrangements. We recommend bringing suitable containers and a bag to help transport any remaining pies and pastry home safely. Will there be refreshments? You will enjoy your freshly baked pies for lunch, served with vegetables, rich homemade gravy and a glass of wine. Tea, coffee and biscuits are available throughout the day for you to help yourself. Schedules are illustrative and timings/content may vary slightly. End times are given as a guide only. As these are hands-on, experiential courses, timings may vary slightly depending on the size and pace of the group. Is the course accessible? Accessibility needs vary, and we're always happy to discuss individual requirements in advance. We have a portable ramp available and can allocate designated parking spaces where needed. Any adjustments are best discussed ahead of time so we can explore how to accommodate you wherever possible. There can be a lot of standing on hard floors, please contact us if you have any accessibility concerns. There may be adjustments that can be made. Can I buy this course as a gift? Our courses make great gifts. When booking, you can also purchase: a physical gift card sent by first class post a physical gift card sent by second class post Alternatively you can simply print and present the booking confirmation. If undecided, you can purchase a monetary-value gift voucher, which can be redeemed online against this or any other course. What is your cancellation and rescheduling policy? We operate a strict four-week cancellation policy. Cancellations or requests to reschedule within four weeks of the course date are not refundable. However, bookings are transferable and someone else can come in your place, we just ask that you let us know. Please refer to our Terms and Conditions of Booking for full details. Can I be added to a waiting list for future events? If a course is fully booked or the date doesn't work for you, please email us and we'll notify you when new dates or related events are released. Better still, subscribe to our newsletter for occasional updates or follow us on social media @GroundUpCookery for recipes, pie-making inspiration and future event details.
