Hampshire &amp; Isle of Wight

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-lowdown">THE LOWDOWN</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1124" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2025/07/Lainston-House-exterior-Heidi.jpg" alt="Lainston House Winchester Season Cookery School" class="wp-image-37664" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2025/07/Lainston-House-exterior-Heidi.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2025/07/Lainston-House-exterior-Heidi-800x599.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2025/07/Lainston-House-exterior-Heidi-1000x749.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2025/07/Lainston-House-exterior-Heidi-768x575.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



If you’re the kind of person who likes your weekends with a splash of wine, a sizzle of flame, and a side of sweeping countryside views, make a beeline for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.exclusive.co.uk/lainston-house/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Season Cookery School</a>. Tucked into the 17th-century <a href="https://www.exclusive.co.uk/lainston-house/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lainston House</a> hotel in Sparsholt, just outside Winchester, it’s a stylish foodie haven run by the luxury&nbsp;<a href="https://www.exclusive.co.uk/lainston-house/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Exclusive Collection</a>&nbsp;group.



The Cookery School itself sits in a charming former well house – now transformed into a gleaming, gadget-packed kitchen where classes run for keen beans of all culinary levels. You’ll find sessions on everything from tapas to tarts, pasta to patisserie, plus premium masterclasses from&nbsp;Lainston’s own Head Chef Tom Hamblet, a&nbsp;MasterChef: The Professionals&nbsp;winner no less.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1120" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2025/06/Lainston-House-big-green-egg-BBQ-cookery-course.jpg" alt="Lainston-House-Season-cookery-school-big-green-egg-BBQ-cookery-course.jpg" class="wp-image-37402" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2025/06/Lainston-House-big-green-egg-BBQ-cookery-course.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2025/06/Lainston-House-big-green-egg-BBQ-cookery-course-800x597.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2025/06/Lainston-House-big-green-egg-BBQ-cookery-course-1000x747.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2025/06/Lainston-House-big-green-egg-BBQ-cookery-course-768x573.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



Come summer, things heat up (literally) with alfresco classes in the hotel’s abundant kitchen garden – including fresh pizzas straight from Gozney wood-fired ovens, or a ‘Posh BBQ’ experience using the legendary&nbsp;Big Green Egg&nbsp;kit. Meat lovers, your time is now.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-experience">THE EXPERIENCE</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2025/07/Lainston-BBQ-review-chef-Tom-and-meat-Big-Green-Egg-min.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-37658" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2025/07/Lainston-BBQ-review-chef-Tom-and-meat-Big-Green-Egg-min.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2025/07/Lainston-BBQ-review-chef-Tom-and-meat-Big-Green-Egg-min-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2025/07/Lainston-BBQ-review-chef-Tom-and-meat-Big-Green-Egg-min-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2025/07/Lainston-BBQ-review-chef-Tom-and-meat-Big-Green-Egg-min-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



One of the Season Cookery School’s most popular courses, our posh BBQ course starts with a coffee and an introduction to chef-tutor and BBQ supremo, Thomas Lampitt (Tom). Working in pairs, we don our aprons and are given instructions on the kit and preparing the BBQ. Then it’s over to us to fire-up our Big Green Egg. While they heat up, we season pork ribs, which Tom later slow cooks on his super-sized BBQ.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1382" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2025/07/Lainson-Posh-BBQ-Review-Heidi-min.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-37657" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2025/07/Lainson-Posh-BBQ-Review-Heidi-min.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2025/07/Lainson-Posh-BBQ-Review-Heidi-min-800x737.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2025/07/Lainson-Posh-BBQ-Review-Heidi-min-1000x921.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2025/07/Lainson-Posh-BBQ-Review-Heidi-min-768x708.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



Our first course of the day is local ChalkStream trout cooked on a cedar plank which imbues it with a deliciously light smokiness. To go with, we chop up a simple (and totally delicious) chopped fennel salad marinated in lime and dill.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2025/07/Lainston-Posh-BBQ-review-chicken-flatbread.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-37662" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2025/07/Lainston-Posh-BBQ-review-chicken-flatbread.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2025/07/Lainston-Posh-BBQ-review-chicken-flatbread-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2025/07/Lainston-Posh-BBQ-review-chicken-flatbread-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2025/07/Lainston-Posh-BBQ-review-chicken-flatbread-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



One of the biggest ‘Posh BBQ’ surprises for me turns out to be how easy it is to make an utterly delicious flatbread from scratch and cook it to fluffy perfection on the BBQ. It’s a great pair for flame-grilled marinated chicken and homemade tzatziki – a real Mediterranean style treat.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2025/07/Lainson-Posh-BBQ-Review-steak-min.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-37659" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2025/07/Lainson-Posh-BBQ-Review-steak-min.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2025/07/Lainson-Posh-BBQ-Review-steak-min-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2025/07/Lainson-Posh-BBQ-Review-steak-min-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2025/07/Lainson-Posh-BBQ-Review-steak-min-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



Pressing towards full, we chop up a flavoursome chimichurri sauce to serve with tender steak – a highlight for Mr. Muddy and by the appreciative noises of our fellow students, most of them, too. Then, just when you think it’s all over, Tom demos how to make a simple but impressive slaw to serve up with our slow-cooked pork ribs.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1167" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2025/07/Lainston-BBQ-review-trout-on-board-temperature-min.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-37660" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2025/07/Lainston-BBQ-review-trout-on-board-temperature-min.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2025/07/Lainston-BBQ-review-trout-on-board-temperature-min-800x622.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2025/07/Lainston-BBQ-review-trout-on-board-temperature-min-1000x778.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2025/07/Lainston-BBQ-review-trout-on-board-temperature-min-768x598.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



Throughout the day, everything is measured out and wiped down for us, leaving us to concentrate on the good bits (cooking and eating). Along with recipes to take away, Tom gives us some great tips, from ‘burping’ the BBQ to avoid an unwanted heat blaze when you’re checking the food to using a ‘Thermapen’ to check the temperature on the meats.



We also have a go at putting flavoured butter on our steak and using a hot coal to melt it – a real cheffy showstopper. Mr Muddy makes a mental note for his next gourmet BBQ party.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-muddy-verdict">THE MUDDY VERDICT</h2>



GOOD FOR: Foodie fun-seekers, BBQ bros and grill goddesses. Expect slick kit, useful skills and plenty of inspo for your next summer soirée.



NOT FOR: Veggies or vegans – while the school&nbsp;does&nbsp;cater for dietary needs, the Posh BBQ experience is, well, pretty carnivorous.



THE DAMAGE: £215pp, including food and aprons to take home.



Season Cookery School at Lainston House, Woodman Ln, Sparsholt, Winchester SO21 2LT. Tel:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&amp;rls=en&amp;q=LAINSTON+HOUSE+ADDRESS&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;oe=UTF-8">01962 776088</a>.

Grill power: Fire up your inner chef at this luxe Hampshire cookery school

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