Fire-Cooking Masterclass Retreat

10 to 13 September 2026

Picture this: four September days in a Georgian country house, where the only agenda is wood smoke, warm bread, long tables, and the kind of unhurried time that actually lets you breathe.

This is the third year we're returning to Tresillian House; and there's a reason we keep coming back. The Cornish countryside, the rhythm of cooking over fire, the way sourdough forces you to slow down. And Jonny and Alan, our brilliant hosts, who make Tresillian feel less like a venue and more like home.

This is our most hands-on, deeply satisfying retreat

You won't be watching from the sidelines. You'll be building fires, shaping dough, tending smoke, and cooking every single meal with us. By the end, you'll understand charcoal and live fire in a way that changes how you cook forever.

What you'll master

Sourdough, done properly

Over the full four days, you'll mix your starter, learn fermentation, master stretch and folds, shape your loaf, and bake it in the Charlie Oven when it's ready. Real understanding, real results.

Low and slow fire cooking

Learn to control heat, steady the smoke, and cook meat that melts. This is about understanding fire, not guessing. Classic techniques, reliable results.

Cold smoking

Gently smoke fish and cheese using simple, safe methods you can replicate at home.

Charcoal-fired pizzas

Stretch, top, and bake your own lunch pizzas in the Charlie. Casual, delicious, straight from the fire.

Irish brown bread with Tara

A comforting everyday loaf: wholesome, warm, slathered with butter.

Thursday curry night with Jonny

Charred chicken on the skewer racks, layered into a rich, slow-cooked curry, shared family-style.

Wine tasting

Discover how fire, fat, and smoke interact with different wines in a relaxed, guided session.

Cocktail making

Ease into the evening with cocktails, conversation, and zero agenda.

Time to do absolutely nothing

Walk the grounds. Read in the garden. Book an on-site massage. Sit with a glass of wine and stare at nothing. This weekend is as much about pleasure as it is about learning.

Why this retreat sells out

It's intimate. Small groups, plenty of oven time, genuine guidance, not a production line. You actually learn. Leave with skills, confidence, and recipes you'll use for years. Sourdough taught slowly, over four days, not a rushed afternoon demo. The setting is a Georgian dream: Tresillian House with its high ceilings, wild gardens, morning swims, and the kind of quiet that resets you. Jonny and Alan are exceptional hosts who make everyone feel welcome. Everything's included: accommodation, all meals, drinks, workshops, ingredients, and equipment. Just show up. This is our third year running, and we've refined this retreat into something really special.

You'll leave with

Confidence to cook with charcoal, live fire, and smoke. Complete sourdough knowledge from starter to finished loaf. Control over low and slow cooking, airflow, and temperature. The ability to cold smoke at home. Your own sourdough starter, a selection of bread-making tools, and your Charlie apron. Recipes, techniques, and memories worth repeating.

Who this is for

Food lovers who want to cook well. Anyone serious about outdoor cooking and mastering charcoal and fire. People craving a proper break, one where you learn, eat, and genuinely unwind. Sourdough enthusiasts ready to go deeper.

The details

Dates: 10 to 13 September 2026
Location: Tresillian House, Cornwall 
Includes: Accommodation, all meals, drinks, classes, equipment, and ingredients

Spaces are limited – and this retreat has sold out every year.

Prices are based on two people sharing, and prices shown are per person.

Want to pay in instalments? Simply choose bank deposit at checkout. Add your order and head to checkout. Under Alternative Payments, select bank deposit. You pay one third of the total to secure your place. The second payment is due by the end of March, with the final balance due by 1 August.