Welcome to The Olive Tree Cookery School

​Set in the beautiful Purbeck hills of Dorset, The Olive Tree Cookery School is ideally located for those wishing to combine culinary instruction, with a relaxing break. Just a few miles from the historic village of Corfe Castle and the stunning Jurassic coastline, there are opportunities for sightseeing and invigorating coastal walks for those with enough energy after a day in the kitchen! Local stables can organise hacks over the heath and evening rides on the beach.

If you've received a gift voucher for the cookery school, & are still choosing your course, the 2025 timetable is now available to view on the course page. We bring together the best local, fresh ingredients along with brilliant tuition. Our courses are hands-on and intimate, with a maximum of 6 students per course, and if there isn't a date to suit you, just let us know & we can add another!
Giuseppe is available as a 'private' chef for party catering, whether it be in your own home or for a 'Chef's Table' at the cookery school. Please call for menus, prices & availability.

Should you wish to stay overnight, we have carefully hand-picked some local accommodation to suit everyone's taste.

​If you would like to hear more from us, then please sign up to our newsletter on the Contact page.

About The School

Resident tutor, Giuseppe Sinaguglia, trained in Sicily and worked extensively in hotels throughout Italy, including the Brunelleschi in Florence, before arriving in England several years ago. Prior to becoming Head Chef at the Manor House Hotel, Studland Bay, Giuseppe worked for Marco Pierre White at The Criterion, Piccadilly and spent two years as Head Chef of Carluccio's, Market Place. Currently he is the Forager for The Pig on the Beach Hotel in Studland Bay.

Giuseppe hopes that through the various courses he will be able to share with students his passion for good food and great ingredients, enabling them to realize their potential in the kitchen and to feel confident and relaxed when cooking at home.

Local fish, meat, game, fruit and vegetables will be used wherever possible and each course will look at the importance of carefully selecting seasonal ingredients for the best results.
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We hope that there is a course for everyone: beginners and experts; young and old; gourmets and armchair enthusiasts alike.

Requests for individual tuition and corporate bookings can be accommodated.​

Looking for the perfect gift?

Then why not buy that special person a cookery experience they'll never forget.
We have a range of courses to choose from, and with prices from just £80, this would make the perfect gift for any budding chef. All you need to do is pick the course and purchase the voucher for the amount of the course. Please let us know which course you have chosen. If you would like a printed version of the voucher then please let us know.

Our Reviews

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We all really enjoyed our Lebanese course yesterday - the results were delicious and we had a great meal with our husbands last night!  Thank you so much for making it such a success - I shall certainly be doing some of your recipes again!

Susie

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I had the most amazing experience at the Olive Tree Cookery School and learnt so much in just one days Sea Food Class.
Even how to squeeze the very last bit of lobster meat from the smallest legs.
Thanks for a great day out!!!

​Alan Steward

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​A truly unique evening at The Olive Tree Cookery School Chef's Table last night.
​Amazing food and wine and learnt things too! Thank you Giuseppe

Tanya Lovell

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Just writing to thank you on behalf of us all for a wonderful eve yesterday. We all so enjoyed the cooking, your tips and finally the meal and wine.
All of us went home feeling full to the point of bursting!

Sue

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Thank you for such a fun day on Saturday 29th April.
​We all loved the curry course - the curries were all absolutely delicious.
Best wishes

​Finella

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Just a note to thank you for our cookery course last week.  We all thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to having another go at the recipes!
 
I’ve told lots of friends about what we did and you may be getting a few more bookings! 🤞
 
Once again, thanks for a lovely day.

​Diana

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Thank you for a fantastic day of Italian bread making.
I learned a lot and have replicated some of the breads that I made on the day.

Steve Tomlinson

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​We all really enjoyed our Lebanese course yesterday - the results were delicious and we had a great meal with our husbands last night!  Thank you so much for making it such a success - I shall certainly be doing some of your recipes again!  

​Susie

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I just wanted to thank you very much for the class last night.
It was informative, enjoyable and the food produced under your guidance was excellent.
Thanks again.

​Andy

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