Chefs - Belfast Cookery School | Cooking lessons Belfast

Nigel Stevenson

Guest Chef Nigel Stevenson is one of the most knowledgeable chefs working in Belfast, with a long history in some of the city's best restaurants. Following stints in Belfast Castle and The Windrose Bar and Restaurant, Nigel brought his experience to bear in the industrial sector, where he was awa...

Nigel Stevenson

Guest Chef

Nigel Stevenson is one of the most knowledgeable chefs working in Belfast, with a long history in some of the city’s best restaurants. Following stints in Belfast Castle and The Windrose Bar and Restaurant, Nigel brought his experience to bear in the industrial sector, where he was awarded the ‘Sodexho’ All Ireland Chef of the year award in 2005.

Ian Hunter

Guest Chef/Proprietor A veteran of Northern Ireland's restaurant scene with a real pedigree who has worked with and under the tutelage of highly regarded chefs such as, Andy Rea, Michael Deane, Niall McKenna, Gary Rhodes and John Moffett. Ian has managed some of Northern Irelands best restaur...

Ian Hunter

Guest Chef/Proprietor

A veteran of Northern Ireland’s restaurant scene with a real pedigree who has worked with and under the tutelage of highly regarded chefs such as, Andy Rea, Michael Deane, Niall McKenna, Gary Rhodes and John Moffett.

Ian has managed some of Northern Irelands best restaurant kitchens and recognised multiple times for his approach to their brands and the cuisine they produce. Ian has won and contributed to the winning of a variety of awards including Northern Irelands restaurant of the year 2006.

Chris Kelly

Chris joined our team in September of this year and will be our full-time chef here at Belfast Cookery School. Cooking with his mum from a young age, Chris has always had a love for food. This led him to pursue a career in cheffing. In 2018 Chris reached the Master Chef NI quarter-finals at the a...

Chris Kelly

Chris joined our team in September of this year and will be our full-time chef here at Belfast Cookery School. Cooking with his mum from a young age, Chris has always had a love for food. This led him to pursue a career in cheffing.

In 2018 Chris reached the Master Chef NI quarter-finals at the age of 21. From there he went on to work in high-end restaurants in London such as Outlaws at the Capital which held 1 Michelin star and also worked under 2018 Great British menu champion James Cochran at 1251 which earned Michelin recognition in its first year of opening.

After coming home in 2020, Chris worked under local legend of the Belfast food scene “Danny Millar” and quickly worked his way up to senior sous chef in Stock Kitchen & Bar. Stock also received recognition in the Michelin Guide in its first year of operation and has won multiple local and national awards and accolades since

Andy Rea

Guest Chef/Proprietor Andy is one of the most experienced chefs working in Northern Ireland. From his roots training in catering at the Belfast Institute, Andy went on to work throughout America before returning to Belfast and settling on a position in Michelin restaurant Roscoff. Andy was app...

Andy Rea

Guest Chef/Proprietor

Andy is one of the most experienced chefs working in Northern Ireland. From his roots training in catering at the Belfast Institute, Andy went on to work throughout America before returning to Belfast and settling on a position in Michelin restaurant Roscoff.

Andy was appointed Head Chef at Roscoff and latterly Cayenne, scooping numerous accolades along the way. In partnership with seafood farming duo Joanne and Bob McCoubrey, Andy opened Mourne Seafood Bar in the heart of downtown Belfast to widespread critical acclaim.

Stuart McCombe

Senior Chef/Manager Stuart is a very knowledgeable chef with 10 years of experience in the hospitality industry. Following two years of training at Belfast Metropolitan College, he earned himself a job within the Deanes group. There, he gained vital experience from Northern Ireland's top chefs, t...

Stuart McCombe

Senior Chef/Manager

Stuart is a very knowledgeable chef with 10 years of experience in the hospitality industry. Following two years of training at Belfast Metropolitan College, he earned himself a job within the Deanes group. There, he gained vital experience from Northern Ireland’s top chefs, training under Danni Barry in the Michelin-starred EIPIC, and also working in Deanes Meatlocker and Love Fish.

This led to him assisting James Devine when he competed and won the National Chef of the Year 2017.

Stuart then began working with Belfast Cookery School in 2017, becoming the full-time chef in 2021.