Escape to a castle for a day of Indian cooking, relaxation and connection
Spend a memorable day at beautiful Hazlewood Castle in the Yorkshire countryside. Learn to cook wonderful Indian food, enjoy welcome drinks and spa time, and share a feast you've made with your own hands, in the loveliest company.
- Small group
- Beginners welcome
- Luxury castle setting
- Spa included
When was the last time you had a whole day just for you?
Not cooking for everyone else, not rushing about, not ticking off another list. Just one beautiful day where someone else has thought of everything.
A day to slow down and be looked after for a change. To laugh with lovely people, learn something new with your own hands, and sit down to a meal you've made, in surroundings that make you breathe a little deeper.
You spend your life looking after everyone else. Let me look after you for a day.
Hey, I'm Nila (aka The Spice Girl®)
I've spent more than forty years cooking with spices, and the thing I've learned is that food was never really about food. It's about the people around the table. It's how I show love, and I don't think I'm the only one.
People have been asking me to run a retreat for years. I waited until I found a place that felt right, and the moment matters to me: Hazlewood Castle is somewhere I know and love, tucked away in the most peaceful corner of Yorkshire, down a road that's genuinely called Paradise Lane.
This day is everything I care about in one place. Cooking together, eating together, laughing a lot, and everyone going home feeling looked after and quietly proud of what they've made.
I'd absolutely love you to be there.
Let's spice up your life, one dish at a time!
What's included in your day
Arrive, relax, and leave the rest to me.
A day cooking with Nila
Hands-on, relaxed and completely beginner-friendly
Signature curry paste
Made by your own hands and taken home with you
A two-course Indian feast
Cooked by you, enjoyed together at the castle
Use of the spa
Time to properly unwind, all part of your day
Welcome drinks
A warm arrival from the moment you walk in
Recipe cards
Everything you make, to recreate at home
Surprise goody bag
I'm not telling you what's in it, that's half the fun
Castle and countryside
Gardens, walks and views, wrapped around it all
How your day gently unfolds
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10:00
A warm welcome
Arrive, settle in with welcome drinks, and let the castle work its magic.
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10:30
Your signature curry paste
Make my Spice Girl® curry paste with your own hands, yours to take home. The little jar that changes how you cook.
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12:00
Cooking together
Crispy onion bhajis, then butter chicken with cumin rice and sides. I'm beside you for every step.
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14:00
The feast
Sit down together and enjoy what you've made. This is the moment you'll go "I made THIS?"
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15:00
Time to exhale
Wander the gardens, stroll the countryside, or drift off to the spa. It's all included, and it's all yours.
The food you'll make with your own hands
What people say about cooking with Nila
The classes are amazing with Nila. She creates so much fun and energy like I've never experienced before. The food is also second to none!
This has been a fantastic course. I've learned so much from Nila. She is very patient and good at teaching, and the food I've tasted is nothing like I've had before.
Hazlewood Castle, Yorkshire
A historic castle resting in acres of peaceful countryside, at the end of a road called Paradise Lane. The name rather gives it away. Sweeping lawns, quiet gardens, countryside walks, a beautiful spa, and resident peacocks strutting about like they own the place. Because frankly, they do.
- Historic castle
- Peaceful countryside
- Beautiful gardens
- Spa
- Countryside walks
- Resident peacocks
Why rush? Wake up in a castle
Travel up the evening before and let the escape start early. Sleep beautifully, wake to a proper Yorkshire breakfast, take a morning stroll through the grounds, then simply wander over to join us feeling completely relaxed. I've reserved a small number of rooms at a special discounted rate, just for my retreat guests, for the night of Thursday 10th September. Add your room when you reserve your place, there's no need to contact the hotel at all.
Bed & Breakfast
A lovely double room the night before, and a proper Yorkshire breakfast to set you up for our day together.
Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
All of the above, plus dinner in the castle the evening you arrive. The full treat.
All rooms are comfy double rooms, you simply pay for single or double occupancy. Fancy something extra special? Upgrade to a superior room for just £20 more.
Bringing your other half? Partners are very welcome to come for the trip and stay with you. While you cook, they can explore the grounds or enjoy the spa for a £12 supplement paid to the hotel, and they're welcome to join us for the meal for a small charge, added when you book. Places on the cooking day itself are per person, so if they'd like to cook too, they'll need their own place.
Why this retreat is different
This isn't...
- A formal cookery school
- A demonstration you watch from a distance
- A lecture with a notepad
- A test of your cooking skills
It's a day of...
- A small, friendly group
- Relaxed, hands-on cooking
- Plenty of laughter
- Leaving with real confidence
This day is perfect for you if...
- You love Indian food and have always wanted to make it properly
- You could do with a genuinely relaxing day that's just yours
- You'd love to meet warm, like-minded people
- You want to feel confident with spices in your own kitchen
- You fancy treating yourself, or coming along with a friend
A few things you might be wondering
Do I need to be good at cooking?
Not one bit. If you can stir a pot, you'll be absolutely fine. I'll walk you through every single step, and the whole day is about enjoying yourself, not passing a test.
What do I need to bring?
Just yourself and your appetite. Everything else, ingredients, equipment and all, is provided.
I don't eat chicken. Can you cater for me?
Absolutely. There will be alternative options on the day, and we'll ask about your dietary needs and any allergies when you book, so everything's sorted before you arrive.
Can I stay overnight?
Yes, lovely! I've reserved rooms at the castle at a discounted rate for the night before the retreat, so you can travel up on the Thursday evening and wake up relaxed, refreshed and already there. Simply add bed and breakfast, or dinner, bed and breakfast, when you reserve your place.
Can my partner come too?
Of course. Partners are welcome to come along for the trip, enjoy the castle and its surroundings while you cook, and stay overnight with you. They can use the spa for a £12 supplement paid to the hotel, and if they'd like to join us for the meal, just add that when you book. Places on the cooking day itself are per person, so if they'd like to join in the cooking, they'll need to reserve their own place.
How do I book?
Click any of the "Reserve My Place" buttons on this page, and you can add your room and any extras at checkout. If you have any questions first, just email [email protected].
One day. All of this.
- A full day retreat at a historic castle
- Hands-on cooking with Nila
- Two-course Indian feast
- Signature curry paste to take home
- Use of the spa
- Welcome drinks
- Recipe cards for everything
- Surprise goody bag
- Small group and personal tuition
- Countryside, gardens and peacocks
Imagine driving home with your car smelling of spices, a goody bag on the passenger seat, recipes you know by heart, and a head full of wonderful memories. I'd love you to join me.