The 10 Best cookery skills classes £135, learnbutchery.co.uk Choose from beef, lamb or pork in London and learn all about the meat, where it comes from, how and when it is used and a range of basic butchery skills. Beer brewing - The Cropton Brewery £100, newinncropton.co.uk/brewery.htm This North Yorkshire brewery runs beer-brewing courses on request, completely tailored to your needs. Cake decorating - Bettys £175, bettyscookeryschool.co.uk Create your own iced cake for Christmas in Harrogate. You'll get a fruit cake to cover with marzipan, and help with the decorating. Cheese making - River Cottage From £180, bit.ly/rivercottagecheese This one-day course in the Dorset cookery school teaches you how to make a variety of soft cheeses. Chocolate making - Paul A Young From £150, paulayoung.co.uk/events/ A one-day London course including tasting, a ganache masterclass, rolling, coating and decorating. Knife skills - Leith's From £105, leiths.com Learn to chop and slice for professional results. Specialise in fruit and veg or chicken and fish. You can take home most of what you make in this London school. Pasta making - La Cucina Caldesi From £85, caldesi.com/la_cucina_caldesi A range of inspired pasta workshops in either London or Bray, including seasonal pasta sauces. Bread making - Le Manoir Aux Quat' Saisons From £505 bit.ly/manoirbread Learn top bread-making techniques at Raymond Blanc's Oxfordshire cookery school. Curing and smoking - The School of Artisan Food £190, schoolofartisanfood.org This Nottinghamshire course involves learning how to make charcuterie bursting with flavour. For beginners to professionals. Fish and seafood preparation - Food at 52 From £115, foodat52.co.uk/ Learn to spot true freshness, fillet fish and clean and prepare squid, then turn them into delicious dishes. Based in London.