We want to empower people in our community with the confidence to cook, connect and share good food.
We create safe spaces for curiosity, connection and learning through our cookery workshops, community meals and local events.
WHAT WE OFFER
Community meals
Nothing forms community ties better than eating together. We bring people together with high quality, low or zero-cost meals on a “pay-what-you-can” model, alleviating social isolation, loneliness and hunger.
We deliver these across BANES with a focus in areas of highest deprivation and where possible, using surplus food that would otherwise go to landfill.
Cookery workshops
We deliver engaging cookery workshops for all ages, abilities and backgrounds. Our skilled chefs and facilitators have a wealth of experience in providing the knowledge and confidence to make healthy, affordable and delicious meals.
First and foremost we create fun sessions that inspire a love of cookery and good food.
Event catering
Hire us to cater your party or event in the knowledge that all profits go towards helping Bath Community Kitchen’s objectives.
We place a high value on using quality local, seasonal ingredients to create inspiring, beautiful and delicious food, served in a relaxed and informal style.
OUR MISSION
To increase access to healthy and affordable food
To strength our community by creating more opportunities to eat together
To create long term change by improving people's cookery skills
To reduce food waste and support ethical producers
OUR PROJECTS
Twerton Community Meal
A delicious, free, 3-course community meal in Twerton using surplus food. All welcome to come and cook or eat or both!
Time: 18.15-20.00
When: Every Thursday
Where: Lighthouse Centre, High St, Twerton, Bath, BA2 1DQ
Radstock Community Meal
A delicious, free, 3-course community meal in Radstock using surplus food. All welcome to come and cook or eat or both!
Time: 17.45-19.30
When: Every Wednesday
Where: The Methodist Centre, The Street, Radstock, BA3 3PL
The Hive
Ongoing workshops with The Hive Community Centre in Peasdown St John, across a range of client groups including Food Pantry demos, Youth Club cookery sessions and Guys Can Cook!
Guys Can Cook!
A 6-week course designed to give men living alone, a chance to learn new cookery skills, eat more healthily and enjoy the company of others.
Click here for details of the next course.
Cooking with Ukrainians
A monthly cookery session for Ukrainian refugees in Bath, funded by B&NES. Co-created by Ukrainians, this course provides cookery workshops covering different international cuisines for up to 40 people.
Cook Like A Chef!
A course for young people not in full time education or employment. We have run this several times with Youth Connect South West and also at The Hive, for students with an interest in developing cookery skills. This course offers a pathway into a career in catering and the food industry.
Forest of Imagination
Where it all started! In 2023 BCK ran a month-long pop-up community kitchen project at the National Trust Assembly Rooms in Bath. Working with school children during the week and cooking up free weekend lunches with Foodcycle and Syrian refugees. in 2024 we ran the "Cafe from the Future 2124" and the Museum of Lost Ingredients. Watch this space for info on 2025 at Entry Hill.
Holiday Activities & Food Programme
Engaging and fun cooking workshops within the HAF programme during school holidays.
Commissioned by We Activate and BANES.
OUR TEAM
ROB LEWIS
Rob started Bath Community Kitchen in 2023 with a month-long pop up as part of the Forest of Imagination. Rob had worked as a chef in Bristol before joining Jamie’s Farm, an educational charity based in Bath, where he managed the food and horticultural provision for disadvantaged young people. Rob is deeply passionate about sharing his love of creating delicious, healthy food with people from all walks of life.
MARC RADLEY
Marc ate with us at the Forest of imagination in 2023 and joined up immediately. He has a background as a designer and children’s social worker as well as in creating and growing a successful small business from 1999. The concept of Bath Community Kitchen has reignited his passion for helping communities work through challenges and change. He particularly likes following Rob’s obsession with great cooking and the presentation of vegetarian food, as well as the chance to sample the results!
HELEN LAWRENCE
Helen helped to launch BCK at the Forest of Imagination and now acts as a Director, whilst also running a cookery school in France (Melusine). She is the former owner of the renowned Demuths Cookery School in Bath, where for 10 years she taught people from all over the world how to cook delicious, creative plant-based food. Helen has always been interested in how what we eat is so closely related to our wellbeing.
KELLY BARFOOT
Kelly is wonderfully talented plant based cook with a strong focus on health and wellbeing. She helps run our cookery workshops, community meals, events catering and also works on our social media and comms.
ELLIE RYMER
Ellie is an amazing baker and has many years experience in catering (including running her own cake business) as well as PR and Communications. Ellie attended Le Cordon Bleu bakery school in London and is our specialist when it comes to making delicious sweet treats! She now uses all these skills to help BCK achieve its goals.