Our story

Where it all began..

Our founder and CEO, Barny Haughton MBE, taught his first cookery class in 1998 at his restaurant, Quartier Vert on Whiteladies Road in Bristol. QV Cookery School (as it was then known) quickly gathered pace and popularity and was soon offering a busy programme of classes and courses to people from all walks of life. 

In 2006, the cookery school moved house - to Bordeaux Quay on Bristol's Harbourside. With more space and greater footfall, the cookery school flourished - our programme of masterclasses and courses expanded and we started working with more of Bristol's schools and community groups than ever before.

From day one, we operated on a not-for-profit basis. Our masterclasses and private events subsidised our work with schools and community groups. In June 2011, we made this official and the cookery school was incorporated as a Community Interest Company. As a CIC, we pledged to use every penny of profit to make our community workshops as accessible and affordable as they could be.

How could we make sure that our work would have the greatest impact possible? Move again of course!

This time, we chose a thriving and exciting community centre, called The Park, in the heart of Knowle West, South Bristol. We’ve been at the Park since 2011 and it’s here that Square Food has done its best work to date. And, in 2017, we became a registered charity.

If you would like to learn at Square Food or have any questions, please get in touch, we’d love to hear from you.