ABOUT YARROW
Yarrow Cookery School is set within a restored 200-year-old steading in East Lothian, just 18 minutes from Edinburgh. What began as an idea during a moment of uncertainty has grown into one of the UK’s most distinctive cookery schools, known for its calm, thoughtful teaching, strong sense of place.
From the beginning, Yarrow was shaped by a desire to do things differently. Taking part in the East Lothian Net Zero programme, a pioneering pilot scheme, gave us the practical knowledge to apply for the UK Government Levelling Up Fund and build sustainability into the heart of the cookery school. This funding helped us invest in the equipment and air source heat pump needed to create a fossil-fuel-free cookery school, allowing us to build a space that reflects our values. We are proud to be helping lead the way in sustainable business practice, and to be part of a growing movement towards a more thoughtful, responsible and sustainable Scottish travel trade, showing that thoughtful, low-impact choices can sit at the heart of a warm and welcoming hospitality experience.
Alongside our classes, we are committed to making Yarrow a place of wider benefit. As the school has grown and more people have travelled to experience what we do, we have been able to gently expand this part of our work too. We work with East Lothian Council to offer funded spaces to young carers, support local primary schools, and collaborate with selected charities whose values align with our own. We believe that learning to cook, gathering around a table and eating well together are not small things. They are building blocks for independence, connection and a lifetime of happiness.
At Yarrow, cooking is not about perfection or performance. It is about understanding, ease and the simple pleasure of sharing food with others. Every class is designed to feel relaxed, welcoming and genuinely useful, whether you are a complete beginner or someone looking to deepen your skills.
RECOGNITION
In a relatively short time, Yarrow has grown organically into a destination that people travel to from across the UK and beyond.
We have been named Cookery School of the Year twice, recognised as global finalists in Condé Nast Traveller’s Food & Travel Awards, and featured by the BBC as one of Britain’s standout food experiences. We are also proud to be finalists in the East Lothian and Midlothian Net Zero category for 2026.
Despite this recognition, the focus has remained the same: small groups, thoughtful teaching and creating an environment where people feel completely at ease.
OUR STORY
Yarrow was founded during the first lockdown, at a time when Richard, a professionally trained chef, found himself without work, and we were preparing to welcome our first child.
What followed was not a grand plan, but a steady, organic process of building something we believed in. Drawing on a shared belief in hospitality, generosity and bringing people together, Yarrow slowly took shape.
Six years on, it has grown into something far beyond what we imagined, while still holding onto the same values it began with.
THE YARROWS
Richard Yarrow
Richard’s training began at Ballymaloe Cookery School, where he developed a strong foundation in seasonal, produce-led cooking.
He went on to work in some of Scotland’s leading restaurants and Highland lodges, experiences that shaped his calm, practical approach to both cooking and hospitality.
As a teacher, Richard focuses on clarity and confidence. His style is patient and reassuring, helping guests understand not just what to cook, but how to think about cooking in a way that lasts far beyond the class.
Sophia Yarrow
Sophia shapes the overall experience at Yarrow, ensuring that every guest feels welcomed, considered and looked after from beginning to end.
With a background in aromatherapy and a strong connection to nature, she brings a sensitivity to how spaces feel, how people are hosted and how small details come together to create something memorable.
She also leads Yarrow’s partnerships and creative direction, while continuing to build its commitment to sustainability, accessibility and community.
AT ITS HEART
At its heart, Yarrow is about bringing people together.
It is about creating the kind of moments that feel relaxed, generous and quietly special. The kind of moments people remember long after they leave.
