Nourishing a Community Through Cooking and Connection: Yarrow Cookery School

In a lovingly converted steading in Longniddry, just twelve miles from Edinburgh, a story of great food, community and fun is unfolding.

What began as an opportunistic pivot during the pandemic has blossomed into Scotland's Cookery School of the Year 2024, where Sophia and Richard Yarrow are proving that food education can transform a community, one class at a time.

A Love Story Born from Crisis

The Yarrow Cookery School's origin story reads like many others that start in 2020. When Covid struck, Richard was working as a private chef having honed his skills at Ballymaloe Cookery School, while Sophia was building her yoga business. 

Then life threw them a double curveball – Richard's chef work disappeared as lockdowns hit, while Sophia battled through a challenging pregnancy leaving her unable to work.

"I said, why don't I see if anyone's interested in doing a cooking experience online, because no one was doing anything," recalls Sophia. 

Armed with equipment from Sophia’s yoga teaching and Richard's expertise, they launched virtual cooking experiences.

Their timing was perfect. 

"I think we were the first people basically offering it in lockdown," Sophia explains. "So we got some really big bookings early on, which was really lucky."

What started as a desperate strategy to keep the lights on during uncertain times has evolved into a mission-driven business that's reshaping how a community thinks about food.

Building a Sustainable Vision

The journey from Zoom calls in their home kitchen to a custom-built facility wasn't straightforward.

As demand grew, they found themselves renting venues across East Lothian and Edinburgh – an expensive solution that often meant compromising.

"We rented pretty much every possible venue that you could run a cookery school from," Sophia remembers. "There weren't many places that were suitable. There isn't really anywhere that's properly suitable – our most suitable thing was an adjustment at best."

The turning point came when a friend and builder was developing the Longniddry steading. But it wasn't just luck that secured their dream location – their commitment to sustainability opened doors that might otherwise have remained closed.

They participated in East Lothian's pioneering Net Zero pilot scheme, which involved meticulously tracking their carbon footprint down to “the milk that’s in the tea.”

This dedication helped them secure grants for equipment, air source heating, and solar panels, making their cookery school completely fossil fuel-free.

More Than Cooking Classes

What sets Yarrow Cookery School apart isn't their facility or awards – it's their commitment to positively impacting the community. The couple has developed partnerships with East Lothian Council and worked extensively with teen carers and local schools to broaden access to quality food education.

The couple's motivation is deeply personal having both experienced the transformative power of basic cooking skills.

Richard's work with local primary schools revealed shocking gaps in food education. 

"There was one primary school where the only cooking equipment they had was a deep fryer," Sophia recounts. "There were children who'd literally never seen a carrot, which sounds like an article you would read and be like, 'Oh, that's not true.' But that was really upsetting to Richard."

A Philosophy of Fun and Learning

The Yarrow approach prioritises experience over perfection.

"We really hope that everyone feels welcome, and they're just gonna give it a go," says Sophia. “We're just trying to create a good memorable experience where fun is a priority alongside the life skills.”

The diversity of their classes reflect this. From "Pasta and Prosecco" to "Tequila and Taco" nights, hands-on Scottish seafood experiences, and nutrition workshops – every class is designed to build confidence while prioritising fun.

"They're coming for an experience where they're really getting to know us and hopefully leaving, having had a fantastic day, learned life skills they'll have for life, but also have a memory that they want to hold on to," Sophia explains.

Champions of Scottish Produce

The school is committed to using seasonal produce to ensure freshness and supports local producers. 

Local sourcing isn't just a buzzword here – it's a cornerstone of what they do. 

Whether it’s lobsters from their friend Sam at North Berwick Harbor, or Mungo's Wells flour mill, where Richard discovered that their flour caused less inflammation in his hands thanks to reduced chemical spraying.

"That understanding of your ingredients is so important for us," Sophia reflects. "Because how can we teach a good class if we don't fully understand how things are grown?"

They source meat locally, work with East Coast Organics and Wilson's farm shop, and are developing their own herb garden and vegetable patch. 

"Everyone does their job well, and we can all support each other. I think that's just a really nice community feel."

A Recipe for Success

The Yarrows success doesn’t stem from perfect execution, but from genuine commitment to their values: sustainability, accessibility, and the belief that great food brings people together.

"We want them to grow up understanding how to cook well, how to have confidence, feel good from the inside out, and I think cooking is like the most important thing for that," Sophia reflects. "Having a roof over your head and being able to cook food – that's like the most important thing."

As they continue welcoming guests to their award-winning facility, Richard and Sophia are proving that the best education happens when technical skills meet great hospitality, local ingredients, and community spirit. 

In their converted steading, they're not just teaching people to cook – they're nourishing both individuals and the wider Scottish food community.

Yarrow Cookery School is preparing to release their 2026 calendar, promising better than ever with brand new classes.

Visit Yarrow Cookery School at their beautiful Longniddry location, just 12 miles from Edinburgh with free parking and EV charging. Find their latest class offerings and book your culinary adventure at yarrowcookeryschool.com.