Pork pies are strangely satisfying to make. In a 3-hour workshop at Cook and Craft Collective, JoJo teaches you how to build pork pies from scratch, including choosing from secret fillings. It’s hands-on, upbeat, and designed to feel more like a fun kitchen hang than a stiff lesson.

I love that everything is handled for you: ingredients and equipment are included, so you’re not hunting for butter math and pastry supplies. I also like that it works for different needs, with vegetarian options mentioned by previous participants.

One thing to consider: this is very much about making pork pie (with optional vegetarian routes), and you’ll want to bring your own booze if you plan to enjoy drinks during the class.

Key things to know before you go

• JoJo leads the class with a warm, energetic teaching style that keeps the pace friendly.
• Pastry is made from a special recipe, not just assembled from a store-bought shortcut.
• Fillings are a choose-your-own-adventure, with extra secret options to keep it interesting.
• All ingredients and facilities are provided, so you can focus on learning and eating.
• You finish by eating warm pork pie straight from the oven.
• Vegetarian options are offered, so it’s not only for pork lovers.

Cook & Craft Collective: why this feels like a local workshop

London has plenty of food tours. This one is different because you leave with a skill, not just photos. The setting is Cook and Craft Collective, where you’ll meet in the reception area and get comfortable before the class begins. If you want a warm drink, the onsite cafe can help you settle in while the group forms.

The vibe matters. A cookery class can be either hands-on or hands-off. Here, the rhythm is designed so you’re doing things as you go. You’ll be rolling, mixing, assembling, and then finally tasting something you helped create. That arc is why this works so well for a birthday, a date night, or a relaxed solo activity.

Also, the teaching tone is upbeat. JoJo has decades of experience teaching, and it shows in the way the session is paced. You’re not left guessing. You get clear steps, and you get lots of chances to ask questions without feeling rushed.

Finding the meeting spot without stress

Your meeting point is straightforward. Head to Cook and Craft Collective and use the reception area to get settled. At the start time, the team will collect you from there and bring you into the workshop space.

Practical tip: wear comfortable clothes and closed-toe shoes. You’ll be working close to a kitchen setup, and you don’t want to spend the afternoon worrying about what’s on your feet. Since you’re there for pastry, it’s also smart to dress in layers if the room runs cool.

The 3-hour flow: from pastry basics to a finished pork pie

This is a 3-hour class, and it’s built like a clean sequence: make the pastry, choose your fillings, shape the pies, then bake and eat. The best part is that you’re not standing around waiting for someone else to do all the work.

Step 1: Make pastry the JoJo way

You’ll start by learning how to make pastry using JoJo’s special recipe. That matters because pastry is the structure of a pork pie. If you get that right, everything else feels easier.

You’ll be working on the dough, likely including key techniques like mixing and shaping. Even if you’ve never made pastry before, you’ll have support. The class isn’t presented as a test. It’s presented as a craft you can actually learn in one afternoon.

One thing I particularly like about a workshop like this: it turns you from a passive eater into an active maker. Once you’ve handled pastry once, you start noticing quality instantly when you see pork pies in shops later.

Step 2: Pick your filling style (including secret options)

Once your pastry is underway, the next big moment is fillings. Here’s where the class turns from basic cooking into personal creativity.

You choose from classic pork pie fillings, and there are also extra secret fillings you can select. That choice is part of the fun. It’s also a great way to tailor the workshop to your taste, whether you want something traditional, something a bit richer, or something different.

JoJo also teaches how the fillings should work inside the pie—because a pie isn’t just a container. You want the flavors balanced and the final slice to make sense.

And if you’re not eating pork, you’re not stuck. Vegetarian options are taught, which means you can still join the main cooking flow and end with a satisfying pie you made yourself.

Step 3: Assemble your pies carefully

Now you’re shaping the pies with your chosen fillings. This is the stage where you’ll understand why pork pies have their distinctive form. The pastry needs to seal properly, and the filling needs to be placed thoughtfully.

This part rewards patience. You don’t need to be fancy. You just need to follow the steps and take your time while you assemble. I like classes where you get gentle coaching here, rather than a strict scramble. The goal is a good result, not chaos.

Step 4: Bake, then eat warm pork pie fresh out of the oven

The workshop saves the best for last: you get to eat. There’s something deeply satisfying about biting into a pork pie that’s warm and fresh from the oven, especially one you assembled yourself.

This is also a practical win for you. Instead of leaving with only raw ingredients and a vague recipe, you get immediate feedback. You can taste what works, what needs improvement, and what flavors you personally enjoyed most.

And yes, the class encourages a proper food-warm-up with drinks. You’re asked to bring your own booze to enjoy during the experience, which makes the whole thing feel more like a real outing than a school lesson.

What’s included in the price (and why $80 can make sense)

The price is about $80 per person, and for London-area activities, that can either feel steep or fair depending on what’s covered.

Here’s what’s included:

• A 3-hour cookery workshop
• Ingredients and teaching for making pork pies
• The facilities and equipment used during class

That inclusion is the key. You’re paying for the setup, the teaching, and the ability to leave with food you made. You’re not paying extra for core supplies like the ingredients and equipment.

Value also comes from time. Three hours is long enough for real learning. You’ll do pastry, fillings, assembly, and then tasting. If you’ve ever done a short cooking demo where you mostly watch, you’ll appreciate the longer hands-on format.

Where cost might matter is if you’re someone who already makes pies at home. In that case, the value is more about the experience and guidance than about a new recipe. But if you want a reliable pathway into pie-making, this is a very practical use of your afternoon.

Dietary needs: how flexible is it really?

The workshop is described as suitable for most dietary requirements, and vegetarian options are explicitly taught. That’s a strong sign that you can participate without forcing yourself into a pork-only situation.

What you should do: think about what you need personally and decide how you’d like your pie handled. Since the details of dietary accommodation beyond vegetarian aren’t listed, the safest approach is to confirm what options you’ll have for your specific restrictions when you book.

But overall, the class structure suggests you won’t be left out. It’s designed so you still make a finished pie at the end.

Skills you’ll actually take home (plus the souvenir effect)

A cookery class should give you more than entertainment. This one gives you something tangible: you learn the pastry approach and the pie-building workflow, then you take those ideas away.

Even if you don’t plan to host a full pork pie party next weekend, you’ll still benefit. You’ll understand:

• why pastry matters for texture and structure
• how filling choices change the final eating experience
• what “fresh and warm out of the oven” tastes like compared to store versions

In the best case, it becomes a souvenir you can cook later. That’s exactly the kind of practical memory that lasts.

The social angle: date night, family time, or solo fun

Food classes often work best because they bring people together without needing conversation skill. You can talk while you work. You can share the little wins—like getting pastry to behave—without forcing it.

This experience also fits different kinds of travelers:

• Couples looking for a hands-on evening activity
• Families who want a memorable learning experience
• Solo travelers who want to meet others in a calm, structured environment

And because the teaching style is interactive and upbeat, it’s not the kind of workshop where you feel intimidated if you’re a beginner. It’s built to keep moving, but not to rush you out of your comfort zone.

Practical notes so your class day goes smoothly

A few small things can make a big difference here:

• Wear comfortable clothes and closed-toe shoes.
• Bring your own booze if you want to enjoy drinks during the class.
• If you care about vegetarian or other dietary needs, plan to choose your filling options during the class process.
• Expect a full, hands-on session that includes eating at the end.

You don’t need fancy kitchen tools. That’s the point. All the necessary equipment and ingredients are provided, so you walk in ready to learn, not ready to pack.

Should you book the Traditional Pork Pie Cookery Class?

I think you should book this if you want:

• a truly hands-on London food experience
• a guided way to learn pastry and pie assembly
• a fun outing with a warm, energetic teacher named JoJo
• a class that ends with warm pies fresh from the oven
• vegetarian options alongside the pork focus

Skip it if you’re only looking for a food tasting with no cooking, or if you’re strictly avoiding pork and want details beyond what’s stated. Also consider your timing. Three hours is a chunk of your day, so make sure you’ve got room to enjoy the finished meal afterward.

If you want a memorable, practical souvenir from London—something you can taste today and cook again later—this is a solid pick.

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