Latest reviews

Emma Mitchell reviewed: Fundamentals of Italian fencing - Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA)

"I booked this course for my 15 year old son Noah, who is a fan of all things medieval and has developed a particular interest in Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA). Jude made us both feel very welcome and over the 3 hours Noah learned a lot, about both the history and the skills involved in Italian fencing. He thoroughly enjoyed every minute! Jude also talked to us about the history of his beautiful house and even allowed me to walk around the lovely peaceful garden while Noah enjoyed his lesson. We would thoroughly recommend this course to anyone with an interest in history. Thank you so much Jude for such a wonderful experience. "

The English Country House responded:

"Hi Emma, Thank you for your lovely review, I’m glad you both had a good day. It was a genuine pleasure to meet you both, Noah is an impressive young man who was a natural with the blade, I wish you both the very brightest of futures. Best wishes. Jude "

Rachel Dimbleby reviewed: Copper wire jewellery Workshop

"My daughter and I had a wonderful afternoon learning ring making techniques. Kami was amazing, teaching different skills to us and we came away with rings that we are so incredibly proud of. Highly recommended and we can’t wait to book again! "

Mya Designs responded:

"Hi Rachel and Imogen, Thanks for coming to the workshop. You both had very different styles in mind and the rings look amazing, Imogen, I'm so glad you managed to rescue the pearl ring in the end. You were both great at picking up new techniques and added your own twist on the designs you made. It was a pleasure to work with you and looking forward to seeing you again :)"

Maxine Hart reviewed: Lantern Making with Fused Glass

"Spent a fabulous morning with Wendy and three friends recently. Wendy was so lovely, supportive and encouraging as none of us felt we were particularly artistic but WOW were we happy with the result 😁. Would definitely recommend giving glass fusion a go with The Glory of Glass. Great fun and a gorgeous memento of the day too to take home. "

Victoria Percy reviewed: Introduction to hand spinning wool yarn

"Fabulous course, delivered by a lovely lady who is obviously passionate and knowledgeable about wool and sheep. Would definitely recommend for anyone wanting to give spinning a go. Had a great time "

Mrs Tamsin Eddison reviewed: Spanish and Mexican Tapas

"I really enjoyed this course. Not being a confident cook I was a little apprehensive but Phil immediately put me at ease. He was patient and encouraging and shared a lot of great tips. I appreciated his broad and plentiful choice of recipes and watching, participating and eating in his super kitchen set in a delightful location. I can highly recommend this good value course to both experience and inexperienced cooks. "

Edward Ryles reviewed: Spinner Ring Jewellery Workshop

"Suzanne is an excellent tutor, the environment is warm and friendly and she instills in you the confidence to achieve a very professional product at the end of the workshop. I made a Spinner Ring and was really pleased and proud of it. I would highly recommend doing one of her workshops or courses"

Pat Crosthwaite reviewed: Needle Felt a Herdwick Sheep with Felt fabulous

"My daughter bought the course for me (75yrs) and her daughter (11yrs). We made a sheep and we are both HOOKED 😀 lovely lady, great group of people...a most enjoyable afternoon. Just wish there were some nearer home, as we traveled from Stockport to Liverpool."

Felt Fabulous Gifts responded:

"Thanks so much for this lovely review Pat. I'm so pleased that you both enjoyed the afternoon and that you're both now fans of needlefelting! I was very impressed by your granddaughter's sheep. (and yours of course!) Best wishes, Mandy"

Ashley Seow reviewed: Silver jewellery making workshop for 2 people

"Booked the workshop as a surprise for my partner and he absolutely loved it. Julie made it such a pleasant experience and was so knowledgable, friendly, and helpful throughout. Delicious refreshments made by her as well! Would definitely recommend this workshop :) "

OLIVIA HART reviewed: Monthly Oil Painting Classes

"A most enjoyable & informative course on oil painting for a beginner. A nice relaxed atmosphere ! Thank you Louise."

Stanwick Lakes Art and Craft Courses responded:

"Thank you for leaving us a lovely review. We are very pleased you enjoyed the course and hope to see you back here at Stanwick Lakes again soon. Best wishes, The Stanwick Lakes team."

Helen Llewellyn reviewed: Beginners 1 Day Traditional Stained Glass Course

"What a great day from start to finish. The fabulous Gill was a delight, her passion for the subject shone through. The day was over all too soon. With help from Gill I made a piece of stained glass which I am so proud of, and which has received so many lovely compliments. I can’t wait to book another session. "

Gill Rogers responded:

"Many thanks for your wonderful review Helen, it was so great to meet you and I had such a fun day with you too! Enjoy displaying your stained glass and we’ll done you, it looked absolutely stunning! All my very best wishes and hope to see you again sometime in the near future!👍🥰 x "

Sue reviewed: Upholstery 1 day workshop - make your own footstool

"I enjoyed the 1 day upholstery course. Sue is very welcoming and ensures that everyone goes at their pace but keeps the day on course. It was a small group which made for a friendly and helpful atmosphere to the whole day. I would definitely recommend this course and may well do another one under Sue's tutelage. "

Tuffett responded:

"Hi Sue. Thank you for your kind review. I am glad you enjoyed the day and you made a lovely footstool. Hope to see you again. Best wishes, Sue"

Patsy reviewed: Lino Printing Workshop for Beginners or Improvers

"Great fun - Caroline was very good at explaining each step"

Tim reviewed: Two day (consecutive) stained glass starter course at North Norfolk Stained Glass

"My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed the course, and learned a great deal. Paul is a patient and careful teacher, and we have been inspired !"

Alicia Wisdom reviewed: 3 hour Silver jewellery course

"Had a lovely experience making rings with my friend. Richard is very experienced, knowledgeable and patient. Thank you for an enjoyable experience!"

Richard Whitelegg Jewellery responded:

"Many thanks it was a pleasure "

Colin Roe reviewed: Kitchen Knife Course

"I was given this experience as a gift and wasn’t sure what to expect - I haven’t done this sort of thing before. As soon as you arrive Dave (our instructor) was friendly and welcoming. His method of teaching is formative and delivered with clarity ensuring every step is understood to maintain safety while keeping the day fun. You are left to do as much of the knife making as possible and Dave has stills confidence I. You as you go while being patient and supporting where needed. I was amazed at how well my knife came out - I put my success down to Dave’s support during the day. I would recommend this experience to anyone and plan on going back to make another very soon. "

Steven Roe reviewed: Kitchen Knife Course

"I went into this course looking forward to it and learning from it. It was an exceptional day. Dave’s friendly approach complemented his expertise and was the right level of theory and instruction for a complete novice. He guided me through the process giving me confidence in every stage that at time could have been complicated. I came away with great memories and a fabulous hand crafted knife. A decent knife can cost a lot. So to have a day with an expert and come away with a quality knife is worth every penny. I would recommend to anyone."

Lorna reviewed: Learn to use An Overlocker (aka Serger)

"Absolutely brilliant. It was very informative. The thought of using my overlocker filled me with fear. After the sessions and practice of using different settings and seams, I feel much more confident."

Emma Jackson (Silversoles - Felted Textiles) responded:

"Glad you had a good day and are now feeling confident to use your overlocker more in your sewing. Keep practicing and your confidence will grow!"

Tom H reviewed: Blacksmithing course - spend a day in the forge

"I attended a blacksmithing day with Richard last Friday. I had fun and learned a lot; Richard's teaching style allowed the students to learn by experimenting and observing his demonstration. Richard was extremely flexible when I had to change my dates. Not only did I learn a new way to work with metal but also had a brilliant laugh with him and the other participants on the day. Highly recommended!"

Red Anvil School of Blacksmithing responded:

"Thank you Tom. I was really pleased we could get together and a delight to meet an enthusiastic young man with a lot of of potential. You performed the tasks really well and left with some really stunning pieces. Richard "

Lorna reviewed: Felted Bag - with Nuno and/or Resist features

"Awesome! Such an interesting day. Mind blowing, so much colour and texture. Loved it. Thank you Emma."

Dave G. reviewed: Five day woodwork course - tools

"Going to the Lakeland cabinet maker was a surprise present, I was a bit nervous before I went as I have little to no knowledge or skill. I need not have worried, Mark (cabinet maker and teacher extraordinaire) was really friendly and has a great way of mixing practical experiences using power tools with theory and teaching on methods and hand tools. I started with a few planks of (very nice) oak and ended up with a beautiful step stool (one of 4 possible projects in the first course). I have been inspired to have a go at home and am busy assembling hand tools and planning a workshop to have a safe place. If you (or someone you know!) is interested but unsure – I would say give it a go. If you don’t want to do more you will spend a week building something and have a great experience at the very least. Thank you Mark!"

Jo reviewed: Introduction to fused glass (1 day) in Sheffield, South Yorkshire

"I had a good ay at this workshop. Martin is an excellent and encouraging teacher. There was a generous provision of materials. We learnt several different techniques. Thank you!"

Martin McAssey Glass responded:

"Thank you for the lovely review."

Helen Holgate reviewed: Copper Foil Technique Stained Glass

"What a fabulous day. Amanda is such a great teacher. We couldn't believe what we were able to make in one session. We'll definitely be back."

Dragonfly Glass Art responded:

"Awww, Thanks Helen!!!! It was lovely to meet you and Debbie, and I'm glad that you were so pleased with your finished glass pieces! They were great 👍 Look forward to seeing you again in the future 🙂 Amanda x"

Jane Buckley reviewed: Two day wood carving course at Chillington Hall

"Really enjoyed the course with great tuition and a lovely location"

Thomas reviewed: Whittling Workshop

"My 10 year old son and I took part in this session and had the most beautiful few hours. Matt and Emma welcomed us into their forest idyll and their gentle, expert, instruction enabled us all to go away with something to be proud of. It was a magical few hours with wonderful company and left us feeling really at peace but enthused to do more wood craft!"

Manor Wood responded:

"Hi Thomas, thank you for the lovely review. So glad you enjoyed the morning! Emma"

Dirkk reviewed: Spoon Carving - Sloyd Workshop

"A Heartfelt Review of Max’s Spoon-Making Workshop I had the pleasure of attending Max’s spoon-making workshop, and it was a fulfilling experience from start to finish. Max has a remarkable ability to create a welcoming, supportive, and engaging environment, where safety, learning, and creativity flow effortlessly. His approach fosters not only skill development but also a deep sense of presence and connection with the craft. With his expert guidance and patient teaching, I found myself fully immersed in the therapeutic process of carving—discovering a unique spoon hidden within a simple firewood blank. Max is not only a gifted craftsman but also an exceptional teacher, making the experience both enriching and inspiring. Most profoundly, this workshop kindled my personal connection to spoon-making, an art my body seemed to remember instinctively. It was deeply satisfying to connect with this craft, and I left feeling both accomplished and refreshed. Thank you, Max, for sharing your knowledge and passion so generously. This workshop was a truly special experience, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking to learn a new skill or rediscover the joy of working with their hands. "