Hannah Kerr

Hannah’s hosting style is very personal, attentive and genuinely caring. She takes the time to get to know guests and cater for their individual needs. Her calming, sincere energy is felt inside and outside the kitchen, enabling guests to effortlessly ease into decompressing in her presence. She approaches every interaction with presence and creativity, inviting whoever she’s interacting with to join her in her authentic enthusiasm and receptivity for whatever the moment brings.

Coming from a huge family with 7 siblings, Hannah’s cooking experience began at home with family Friday night dinners. Learning with her dad and cousin (who is a chef) from as young as 6, she was always interested in and passionate about food. She worked in hospitality followed by community cooking and social activism, setting up her own projects to nourish the homeless and support underprivileged local communities with quality, healthy plant based food.

With 12+ years living and travelling abroad, Hannah was exposed to a wide variety of international cuisines. In 2019 she started cycling the world, often staying in the homes of local people providing the unique opportunity to sit with women in their kitchens, observe and learn about local cooking styles and delicacies.

Having spent the last 8 years studying psychosocial behavioural patterns under her specialised subject of ‘happiness’, and a similar time since becoming plant-based, Hannah’s knowledge of the relationship between food, personal and communal health naturally developed. She learned that the way we experience food physically changes the way we metabolise its nutrients in our bodies, realising the value of creating safe spaces to share mindful eating together. As an environmental advocate, she learned to shop locally, cook seasonally and make everything from scratch, revealing the extent of the healing power of food especially when in synchronicity with our natural environment.

Hannah weaves intimacy, diversity, depth and impactful flavour combinations into her dishes. Her unconventional background, organic passion for sharing food and purpose to help others to return to balance through holistic nourishment can be tasted through her inspired cooking creations.

Hannah’s life motto and personal practice is, “Live to be inspired and to inspire others’. It reminds us to always bring the best of ourselves whilst remaining open to the magic all around us.”

Qualifications:

• Plant Based Health Foods Chef
• Qi Gong & Taoist Arts Teacher
• Meditation Teacher
• Happiness Researcher & Coach
• Motivational & TEDx Speaker

Extra skills and techniques:
In addition to cooking, Hannah offers Qi Gong & Taoist philosophy sessions and singing circles to support nervous system regulation, emotional rebalancing, physical wellbeing and mindset training to deepen your retreat experience.

Hannah’s favourite AY retreats:

Peak District – Hope Valley is such a charming location and special part of the UK. The venue is outstanding on its own and perfectly complements the stunning surrounding scenery.

Montenegro – Still relatively untouched, Montenegro is a place that holds a quiet charm that Hannah is keen to discover!

Madeira – On her wish list for a long time, Hannah is excited to be working in beautiful Madeira this year!