SYDNEY Australia employment handily beat expectations for a second straight month in June, while the jobless rate stayed

Whether you’re looking for a break amid the peaceful locks of Scotland, the rugged coast of Northern Ireland, the picture-postcard villages of England, or the rolling hills of Wales, staycations are clearly here to, well, stay. But, for many of us, a short break needs to deliver not just a change of scene, but also the opportunity to be pampered and coddled at a swanky spa, indulge in our favourite hobbies, such as golfing or clay-pigeon shooting in glorious grounds, or learn new skills from esteemed experts, such as a renowned chef heading up a hotel’s cutting-edge kitchen. So, if you’re after a gourmet culinary break, during which you can not only eat great fodder but learn how to prepare and make it too, then a trip to a hotel with a cookery school should be right up your street. Fortunately, the UK is abundant in hotels that boast destination restaurants, which are more than happy to open up their kitchens and recipe books to guests, and share their skills and tricks of the trade. From grand hotels with Michelin chefs to cosy country kitchens with skilled and friendly tutors, take your pick from our round-up of the UK’s best hotels with cooking classes – many of which offer day courses, too. The best UK hotels with cookery schools are: Best for a small and cosy course: Northcote Best for a friendly vibe: Lainston House Best for Michelin-star restaurant: Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons Best for seafood-lovers: Rick Stein Best for a relaxing course: Llanerch Vineyard Best for a castle-based course: Swinton Park Best for Aga fans: Eckington Manor Best for a small and cosy course: Northcote Location: Langho, Lancashire This is arguably the most talked-about foodie hotel in the North West, with the restaurant having retained its Michelin star for 20 years. In the cookery school, you can learn how to master everything from bread and seafood to spicing and Mexican fare with a range of different courses run by Rick Ogden and Ben Hinchliffe, along with guest chefs. Up to six dishes will be demonstrated, and you’ll get the chance to cook at least four yourself, as well as enjoying a two-course lunch as part of the experience. Best for a friendly vibe: Lainston House Location: Winchester, Hampshire This magnificent 17th-century William and Mary country house hotel is home to Season, a state-of-the-art cookery school, located in the characterful old well house. It runs half- and full-day courses, covering everything from stocks and sauces to French classics and much more. There’s a relaxed, friendly vibe and an emphasis on provenance, where possible using local produce, much of which is grown in the on-site kitchen garden. There are 50 individually designed guestrooms in the hotel, plus a three-AA Rosette restaurant, The Avenue. Best for Michelin-star restaurant: Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons Location: Great Milton, Oxfordshire The Raymond Blanc Cookery School, set in the glorious grounds of his 13th-century manor house hotel and restaurant, caters for beginners right through to experienced cooks, and is one of the only cookery schools in the world that enables you to learn in the kitchens of a two-Michelin-starred restaurant. The head tutor, Mark Peregrine, is one of the best in the business (he helped Blanc get his first Michelin star) and the kitchen itself is as high-end as you can imagine. If you can afford it, unwind in one of the luxurious bedrooms of the hotel afterwards and feast on the hotel’s renowned cuisine. Best for seafood fans: Rick Stein Location: Padstow, Cornwall Preparing fish in Rick Stein’s bold yet simple style in this stunning kitchen overlooking the Camel Estuary is as good as it gets when it comes to seafood cookery – this is serious cooking in a relaxed environment. You can stay in one of the 16 coastal-inspired rooms of Stein’s flagship seafood restaurant a short walk away, or opt for one of his other hotels. Either way, you can dine in one of his many eateries in this charming seaside harbour town, which is increasingly known as Pad-stein. Book now Best for a relaxing course: Llanerch Vineyard Location: Vale of Glamorgan, Wales This stylish hotel is located on a working vineyard just 12 miles from Cardiff, with 10 chic rooms and suites spread across the main farmhouse and an adjacent annexe, as well as separate cottages. The hotel is also home to a fabulous bistro, formal dining restaurant and the Angela Gray Cookery School. Angela runs classes lasting from a few hours upwards, in which she promotes cooking as relaxing and even meditative, yet packs in the prepping and cooking of plenty of dishes. Choose from themes ranging from pastry to Italian fare, all of which will see you taking some of your culinary delights home with you at the end of the day. Best for a castle-based course: Swinton Park Location: Masham, North Yorkshire Set in a 17th-century, 30-bedroom castle hotel within 20,000 acres of grounds in the Yorkshire Dales, the cookery school is run by chef tutor, Luke Palmer. It’s housed in a converted Georgian stable wing and offers an impressively wide range of courses, all of which include an element of hands-on, practical cookery, using locally sourced food where possible. Best for Aga fans: Eckington Manor Location: Eckington, Cotswolds This cookery school blends beautifully into the rural background, based as it is in the Dutch barn of a 26-acre working farm and hotel. Courses are designed to be challenging but fun, and range from modern British classics to Aga cooking, and from restaurant dishes at home to bread making. Read more of our UK hotel reviews: The best UK hotels with swimming pools The best family-friendly UK hotels The best Cornwall hotels Read more about UK travel: The best London hotels for afternoon tea England’s best foodie hotels and pubs Best spa hotels in the Cotswolds Read More Best luxury UK hotels 2023: Where to stay for great food, family adventures and spa retreats The ultimate foodie guide to Copenhagen 10 of the best hotels for golfers in the UK and Ireland 2023: Where to practise your swing in style 9 best adventure holidays in the UK that adrenaline seekers will love Best October half-term holiday destinations in the UK for a 2023 staycation 7 best activity holidays in Wales for couples and families

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A Japanese automaker has unveiled an electric van that uses rooftop solar panels to charge its battery. The Puzzle van, built by HW Electro, is designed to be disaster resilient, capable of functioning during periods of prolonged power outages, however its small size and limited power output means many everyday users could operate it without ever needing to plug it in. The pint-sized van comes with three photovoltaic panels, emergency outlets, an inbuilt first aid kit, WiFi internet connectivity, and a crowbar. HW Electro said the puzzle-inspired design allows its components to fit together in a cost-effective way, making it suitable for “emergencies and for daily convenience” alike. The Puzzle is a type of ‘kei car’, which are smaller and lighter than regular vehicles in order to attain tax and insurance benefits within Japanese regulations. For the first time, HW Electro will be selling a kei car in the US, with commercial sales set to begin in 2025. “The Puzzle launch marks HW Electro’s dedication to addressing environmental challenges and creating innovative eco-friendly solutions to the commercial vehicle market,” HW Electro President Hsiao Weicheng said at the van’s unveiling. “We are excited to officially showcase Puzzle today and we look forward to making it available in the US market.” HW Electro is yet to reveal details about the price or top speed, though its form and functionality could meet a growing demand in the US for small electric vehicles. Areas like Arizona and Florida are increasingly seeing families using electric golf carts as a “second car”, capable of making short trips within a town. Some states are even adapting laws to allow small electric vehicles with limited top speeds to be driven on public roads, according to Electrek. “As the trend continues to grow, it promises not just a transformation of our local communities, but also a greener and more sustainable future for all,” the publication noted in August.

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