In 2026, our Cookery Theatre is hosted by local lad and Great British Bake off star Mak Patel!
We have twelve unique demonstrations lined-up across the weekend, each led by the likes of independent business owners, educators, renowned head chefs, and some of Manchester’s most influential cooks…
Saturday 1st August
11:00 Sumith Babu (Nourish by Chef Sumith)
Food artistry using freshly-baked bread
12:00 Gill Howard (The Great British Bake Off)
Swiss meringue buttercream & decorating three-layer cakes
13:00 Suki Pantal (Suki’s Curries and Spices)
Regional chicken curry from her latest cookbook No Worries, Just Chicken Curries
14:00 Tony Alberti (Celebrity Chef)
An immersive pasta crash-course exploring the fundamentals of authentic Italian pasta-making
15:00 David Broxton (Ameven by Chef Broxton)
Demonstration details confirmed shortly…
16:00 Babna Choudhury (Babna’s Patisserie)
A masterclass on a classic French patisserie dessert. Sablé breton layered with concentrated mango confit, vanilla namelaka, and hand-crafted mango rose and honey caviar
Sunday 2nd August
11:00 Barrington Douglas (Barringtons Foods Ltd)
Caribbean pan-roasted jerk cod fillet
12:00 Sean Noonan (Mercure Hotel Blackburn)
Championing locally-sourced, seasonal ingredients
13:00 Brian Mellor (Dad’s Kitchen and Garden)
Getting the most out of homegrown ingredients
14:00 Mary-Ellen McTague (Pip at Treehouse Hotel)
Demonstration details confirmed shortly…
15:00 Eva Humphries (Whole Food Warrior)
How healthy eating can be both simple and enjoyable
16:00 Fin Woodward (Junior Bake Off Champion)
A masterclass in intricately-designed cakes and confectioneries
Thinking of joining us? This live entertainment is included in the price of your ticket! Here’s some further information of each of our experts…
Sumith Babu (Sumith Bakery Sculptures / Nourish by Chef Sumith) – Professional Chef and entrepreneur Sumith Babu is the proud owner of Nourish, specialising in ready-to-cook Indian foods that balance intricate flavours with clean, nutritional ingredients. Chef Sumith will be showcasing his food artistry, freshly-baking creative bread structures.
Gill Howard (The Great British Bake Off) – Great British Bake Off Semi-Finalist Gill Howard quickly became a fan-favourite during her run, expertly balancing traditional baking styles with modern twists. An expert in pastry, cakes and pies, Gill’s baking focuses on heartfelt, home-cooked foods that bring together both comfort and celebration.
Suki Pantal (Suki’s Curries and Spices) – Cookbook author, culinary educator and food columnist Suki Pantal is a specialist in the authentic, diverse flavours of India, celebrating a mix of family recipes and regional gems. Focusing on comfort, affordability and everyday cooking, Suki treats her audiences to a journey through the vibrant culinary landscape of her home country.
Tony Alberti (Celebrity Chef) – A specialist in home-style Italian cooking, Tony Alberti is an acclaimed chef, TV personality and cookbook author, centering his craft around time-honoured Italian techniques inspired by family traditions. Utilising a farm-to-table philosophy, Tony balances creativity, rustic charm and refined technique to tell a story through Italian soul food.
David Broxton (Ameven by Chef Broxton) – Developing his skills alongside Michelin-starred and MBE-honoured chefs, David Broxton boasts an eclectic mix of culinary expertise. Founder of Ameven By Chef Broxton, Dave uses his diverse portfolio of experience to redefine the intricacies of classic dishes.
Babna Choudhury (Babna’s Patisserie) – Babna Choudhury is the founder and creative force behind Babna’s Patisserie, renowned for its elegant crafts, innovative approach and unique blends of flavours. Pâtissier, culinary educator and motivational speaker, Babna shares her expertise at schools, colleges and culinary institutions, inspiring a generation of bakers.
Barrington Douglas (Barrington Foods) – Professional Chef and three-time Great Taste Award honouree Barrington Doulgas is a critically-acclaimed entrepreneur with a deep-rooted passion for cooking. Founder of the former Discovery Bay, Barrington continues his long culinary journey, relaunching his line of signature Caribbean sauces and BBQ seasonings.
Sean Noonan (Mercure Hotel Blackburn) – Head Chef of Mercure Blackburn Dunkenhalgh Hotel & Spa, Sean Noonan has honed a diverse portfolio of skills across a variety of premium establishments. Former Teflon Diamond Standard National Young Chef of The Year, Sean’s ethos is grounded in using fresh, seasonal produce to create diverse flavours while supporting British farming.
Brian Mellor (Dad’s Kitchen and Garden) – Chef Brian Mellor is a mentor, educator, and Chef Ambassador passionate about inspiring the next generation of culinary talent. Brian’s journey recently led to the launch of Dad’s Kitchen and Garden, an extension of his critically-acclaimed cookery school that offers guidance, confidence-building and accessible cooking to all.
Mary-Ellen McTague (Pip at Treehouse Hotel) – One of Manchester’s most influential and beloved chefs, Mary-Ellen McTague continues to define the city’s dining culture through thoughtful, low-waste cooking rooted in high-quality British produce. Founder of charity Eat Well MCR and Chef Partner of the Michelin Guide-recognised Pip at Treehouse Hotel, Mary-Ellen’s cooking is celebrated for its signature blend of warmth, creativity, care and sustainability.
Eva Humphries (Whole Food Warrior) – Clinical Nutritionist Eva Humphries MSc, DipION, mBANT, CNHC advocates for the accessibility of whole, flavour-packed foods to make eating nutritionally refreshingly achievable. Founder of Whole Food Warrior, Eva offers science-led insights that demonstrate how healthy living can be both simple and enjoyable.
Fin Woodward – Junior Bake Off Champion – Inspiring young chefs nation-wide, Junior Ambassador for Kenwood UK Fin Woodward showcased his talent on the 2019 Series of Junior Bake Off, crowned champion at the end of the season. A self-taught baker and expert cake decorator, Fin continues to share his skills through Baked by Fin.
