No matter how sleek your summer cookery kit might be, unless you actually know how to use it, all that expensive gear is just high-end garden decor.

Enter Ireland’s new wave of summer schools – immersive, hands-on classes designed to help you level up your al fresco game. Whether it’s smoking meat like a Texan pitmaster, turning out blistered sourdough pizza or shaking cocktails with serious swagger, these are the classes to book if you plan to turn your back garden into the hottest new opening of the summer season.

Smokin’ Soul, Wexford – The BBQ Masterclass of Dreams smokinsoul.ie

If your idea of bliss involves brisket, flame and a little bit of cowboy swagger, head straight to Wexford. Smokin’ Soul’s pitmaster-led courses teach you how to work with fire, manage low-and-slow cooking, and get that perfect bark.

Best for: Meat lovers, barbecue purists, and anyone who thinks smoke is a seasoning.

Dublin Cookery School – Summer Curries and Beer dublincookeryschool.ie

This well-established suburban gem in Blackrock offers a variety of fantastic short courses to elevate any summer menu. This two-and-a-half-hour evening curry class is all about bright, seasonal spices. Expect to master summery dishes such as sea bass with coconut and curry leaves or prawn and green mango curry with kachumber salad. It’s food that pairs perfectly with a cold beer and good company.

Best for: Foodies on a schedule, flavour chasers, urban chefs.

Tango Pizza, Killarney – Neapolitan Pizza Masterclass tangostreetfood.com

In Killarney, Tango Pizza is serving up more than award-winning slices – their Neapolitan Pizza masterclasses are a one-way ticket to pizza greatness. Run by pizzaiolo chef Facundo, who proudly represented Ireland in the Pizza World Championship, the class teaches everything from dough hydration, fermentation and stretching, to that all-important oven dance. It’s perfect for anyone ready to turn their weekend pizza nights into a culinary event. Wine, optional.

Best for: Pizza purists, holidaymakers and anyone who’s ever dreamed of Instagramming their crust.

Roe & Co Distillery, Dublin – Flavours Experience roeandcowhiskey.com

Your grill may be hot, but your drinks need to be cool – and creative. Roe & Co’s Flavours Experience is a cocktail-lover’s dream, with guided tasting, botanical blending and hands-on mixing in one of Dublin’s slickest distilleries. You’ll learn how to balance flavours, shake with confidence and serve up drinks that taste as good as they look. The experience lasts 45 minutes and is available on a number of dates over the summer.

Best for: Stylish hosts, whiskey lovers and Aperol-weary party people.

Waterman House, Belfast – Fish and Shellfish Masterclass waterman.house

Seafood and summer go together like rosé and outdoor seating. But if your filleting skills require finesse, Waterman House can help. Its Fish and Shellfish Masterclass teaches prepping, cooking and serving fish confidently, from whole grilled sea bass to perfectly pink prawns. Waterman House also offers a range of summer-focused cooking classes if filleting fish doesn’t float your boat.

Best for: Seafood lovers, confident cooks-in-training and kitchen show-offs.

Howth Castle Cookery School – Grilled Meats and Summer Salads howthcastlecookeryschool.ie

Who doesn’t want to master marinated meats, grilled veg and party-ready platters in a 700-year-old castle? You’ll cook in a stunning Georgian kitchen and eat with views of the Dublin coast. Fancy, yes, but providing proper skills you’ll use again and again.

Best for: Glam hosts, group bookings and anyone who likes their learning with a side of grandeur.

Five ways to master your grill game, from Pat Conway of Smokin’ Soul

1. Choose quality products

You can’t make great barbecue without great ingredients. Buying high-quality meats, vegetables and seasonings from trusted, local producers means you’re already halfway to success before you even light the grill.

2. Start with good fuel

The foundation of any great barbecue is heat, and the best heat starts with the best fuel. Whether you’re using lumpwood charcoal, briquettes or wood, always choose the best natural options without chemical additives. Good fuel means cleaner, more consistent heat and better-tasting food.

3. Control the temperature (and check it)

Grilling isn’t just about high heat and big flames. Mastering temperature control is the real secret. Set up two zones on your grill, one for direct, high-heat searing and a cooler side for slower cooking. To really nail it, use a food probe

4. Don’t rush the cook

Patience is a barbecue virtue. Resist the temptation to flip, prod or cut into meat too soon. Let it sear properly before moving it, and always allow it to rest after cooking so the juices can redistribute.

5. Clean and oil your grill

A clean grill means better flavour and fewer flare-ups. Preheat the grill and give the grates a good scrub with a wire brush. Then, lightly oil the grates with a cloth before adding food – this prevents sticking and delivers those coveted grill marks.