Ben Willis Woodcraft reviews

13 Dec 18'

Claire reviewed: Make a Windsor chair

"This was an excellent course and I thoroughly recommend it. As well as a beautiful chair I’ve come away with a whole new woodworking vocabulary and some wonderful memories of the pleasures of making something from scratch. Ben was a fantastic teacher and struck a great balance between letting us get on with using our newly learnt skills and being on hand to lend support and give us reminders and tips. I would definitely consider doing another course with Ben."

10 Dec 18'

Gavin reviewed: Make a Windsor chair

"I absolutely loved this course, Ben is a great teacher, if you’re thinking about making something with your own hands (completely hand-made) then you’ll be choosing the right place. Ben is on hand at all times to show you how to do each part of the piece of furniture, you don’t need any previous experience as every detail is explained beautifully. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this course and furthermore will be going back to make something else! Good luck and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Gavin - (chair making course autumn 2018)"

29 Nov 18'

Philip Durrant reviewed: Make a Windsor-style stool

"This was a really fun course and Ben is a great teacher. I'd recommend it to anyone with an interest in learning about wood working. And now I have a stool that I've been showing off to everyone!"

21 Nov 18'

Liz reviewed: Make a live-edge bench or table

"I loved this course and I am so proud of my beautiful new bench. Ben was an excellent teacher guiding us carefully and giving detailed instructions as we went. I have never made anything out of wood before and am delighted with the result. Will definitely be doing another course with Ben."

19 Nov 18'

Joe Evans reviewed: Make a Windsor-style stool

"This was a superb course. Ben was a great teacher - clear, patient and highly knowledgeable. He created a warm and supportive atmosphere, and kept everyone bouyant and motivated. The process was well-paced over the two days, with no sense that you were either being rushed or waiting around. All of the tools and materials were of the highest quality and the finished product is beautiful, functional and an object to be proud of for years to come. I’d recommend this course, and Ben as a teacher, without hesitation."

19 Nov 18'

Melanie reviewed: Make a live-edge bench or table

"This is fun! Building your own wood bench is a great experience! And doing this in such a friendly and welcoming atmosphere like in Ben's course is even better (and I'm not only talking about the nice cup of tea and free biscuits ;) ). Ben really makes the difference. He's always spot on, knows what you're doing and takes the time to explain every step in detail, also a second time if needed."

16 Nov 18'

Richard reviewed: Make a live-edge bench or table

"Ben is a great teacher and he guides you through building a bench from scratch. We all worked at different speeds but he made sure we were all involved and knew what we were doing. And the bench at the end was a great addition to my dining room."

20 Sep 18'

Phil Venables reviewed: Make a Welsh stick chair

"Really good course-great woodland setting, excellent tutor who took the time to explain, demonstrate and assist with all the skills which we were introduced to during the week. It may feel a bit daunting at the start- you see examples of finished chairs , and probably think 'I can never make that ', but all of the different processes come together and you will achieve a lot of satisfaction from producing a really lovely unique piece of furniture by the end of the course. Whilst the course does involve hard work , it is also very relaxing and therapeutic - no-one will 'get left behind 'any stage. Many thanks Ben, I can highly recommend the course to anyone interested in green woodworking"

17 Sep 18'

Rob Eagle reviewed: Make a Welsh stick chair

"Amazing!!! Such a fantastic course, I have never done anything like it, a truly wholesome experience! From start to finish I loved every minute. Learning new skills, working with wood, handling new tools, being outdoors, couldn’t really have asked for more. Ben is great, really welcoming, very patient and keeps the course running at a good pace, ensuring everyone is getting to grips with the tools and processes. The location is perfect and Ben does a pretty mean soup too! To be able to take away a beautiful chair that I already treasure will be a lasting reminder of a week well spent! I’ll be back! Thank you Ben"

19 Jul 18'

Nico reviewed: Make a Windsor-style stool

"Brilliant course. I am very inexperienced at woodworking and a pretty bad DIYer, so it is to Ben's credit that I managed to bring home such a lovely object! Ben is very patient and spend time with you to be sure that you are not lost. All his explanations are very clear and I've learned a bit about trees. I strongly recommend this course, I now everyday sit on this very comfortable stool I have done with my own hands, great stuff!!"

10 Jul 18'

Nick Rees reviewed: Make a Windsor chair

"I originally did a green wood turning course with Ben and loved it. I then signed up for the ten week chair making course. It was a small group of great people and Ben made us all welcome. He spent lots of time with us individually guiding us through each step of the process. The techniques were varied but all very achievable. The resulting chairs were all finished to a high standard and we were all left wanting more. Ben is flexible and really easy to work with and has even been known to give extra tuition for a packet of hobnobs."

10 Jul 18'

Alastair reviewed: Make a Windsor chair

"Such a good course...I have in fact now signed up to build a second chair in August on one of Ben's courses in Wales. You start with a couple of logs, and 10 weeks later you have a very smart-looking formal chair. You get to use loads of challenging hand tools, foot lathes, etc. All well explained and supported by Ben. A small class of 4 means you always get enough one-to-one tuition if you're stuck. I really recommend it."

10 Jul 18'

Glenda Hall reviewed: Make a Windsor chair

"As soon as I found out about Ben and his London courses I was super keen to make a chair. Over the last ten weeks I have had a great time, met some lovely people, learnt lots of new skills and made a really beautiful chair. Ben is an excellent teacher, giving you the freedom to work independently but always willing to help if you get in a pickle. His endless patience and positivity have made the course an absolute joy and I would really love to do another one soon."

9 Jul 18'

Edward reviewed: Make a Welsh stick chair

"I think the other reviews here cover things nicely - I'll only add that I've done a few woodwork courses and this wins hands down - in terms of setting, teacher, and finished product!"

5 Jul 18'

Pete Baldwin reviewed: Make a Welsh stick chair

"Absolutely wonderful. As someone who has never done much woodworking before, i was amazed that i came home with a hand crafted heirloom that i suspect the kids will be fighting over when I've gone. May have to return to make another one! Setting was fabulous as you will see from the photos. Group size is limited so help always at hand. The best course I've ever attended. Thanks again Ben."

3 Jul 18'

William Gibson reviewed: Make a Welsh stick chair

"Crazy brilliant course!! I barely know where to begin writing this review there's so many good things about it! I'll start with the area, the location of the woodwork course I attended was situated just outside Presteigne - a lovely small welsh town which has everything you need; spar shop, pubs, petrol station and friendly locals. The course itself is held practically completely outdoors in an open timber frame structure (with a roof for shelter) emerged in a picturesque woodland. The entire process uses traditional methods of manufacture using manually operated tools and machinery - no artificial power is used at all. I found this fascinating and very inspiring. I didnt think it was possible to produce such beautifully crafted furniture with no powered machinery. The steam bending I found particularly stimulating alongside the wide range of processes taught on the course. The ecofriendly approach is very refreshing even down to the toilet, a luxurious hole in the ground. Throughout the process of making the chair Ben was an exceptional tutor. A knowledgable, patient, down to earth geezer who's easy to get on with and clearly passionate about the subject. He gave clear instructions throughout and never grumbled to give a helping hand. Decent cook too, looked forward to every lunch with delicious soups and baguettes. I mentioned at some point Foxs crunch cream biscuits are the best and he actually brought a pack in the following day, absolute legend. At the end of the course I couldnt believe the chair I produced, I cant stop sitting on it, its given me a great sense of achievement and wellbeing. Bottom line is I had a great time and learnt a great deal while on the course. I highly recommend whether youre into woodwork or not; it's great to be working outdoors in the fresh air and learning with a group of great people. If youre even remotely considering this course, do it! You wont regret it!"

2 Jul 18'

Andrew Allberry reviewed: Make a Welsh stick chair

"Impossible to praise this course highly enough. A truly special, highly rewarding experience. Enjoyed every minute of it. As well as an obvious master of his craft, Ben is an outstanding teacher - the essential ingredient which so many courses fail to offer. (Plus he's a really great bloke to spend a week with.) He knows just what and how much guidance to give; a helping hand and an inexhaustible supply of expert knowledge and experience when you need it, yet essentially leaving you to get on with it. As a result I feel that really learned my stuff, and I came away with a huge sense of achievement - not to mention a beautiful chair. The setting is beyond beautiful too, and if you stay on site as we did (very highly recommended indeed) the whole thing adds up to an unforgettable week."

28 Apr 18'

Lucy reviewed: Make a Windsor chair

"This is a great course, you learn how to use a range of woodworking tools and after just 10 weeks come away with a lovely chair. Ben is a patient teacher who clearly enjoys sharing his knowledge of traditional chair-making skills."

11 Apr 18'

Mike reviewed: Make a Windsor chair

"Really great green woodworking course. Ben is a really nice guy and everyone takes home a stunning ash chair. I was bought the course as a present and would definitely recommend it to others. Learned so much and cant wait to take on another woodworking project"

10 Apr 18'

Paul Brophy reviewed: Make a Windsor-style stool

"This is an excellent course. This was my first attempt at woodworking and I am delighted with my finished stool. Ben is a great teacher and the sessions in his workshop are really enjoyable, relaxed with a healthy dose of hard work."

10 Apr 18'

Sarah Phillips reviewed: Make a Windsor chair

"This is a brilliant course, divided into achievable weekly stages, all of which were really enjoyable. Ben is an excellent teacher, clear and also patient with anyone who is finding the new skills tricky to master. It opened my eyes on a whole new world. Try it! I would highly recommend the course and would love to do more myself."

2 Apr 18'

Jim O'Donnell reviewed: Make a Windsor chair

"I had never done woodwork before so was slightly nervous of being able to create a chair. However, Ben’s instruction, guidance and encouragement was excellent. He brought the skills to life and made every step achievable. The chair making course is a wonderful contrast to daily life, and the simplicity of creating something from fresh logs is quite magical. I would fully recommend the chair making course: the pace, step by step, the teaching and the measurable progress each week, culminating in the creation of a beautiful piece of furniture is excellent. Thank you Ben!"

31 Jan 18'

Guy reviewed: Introduction to green-wood furniture making

"Ben offers a great insight into green woodworking on this course. It is a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere with small classes of 4 people. This means Ben is on hand to provide individual as well as group advice as we worked towards building our stools. He is a great instructor and really nice guy. I would thoroughly recommend this to anyone interested in woodworking! Great value for money too."

1 Oct 17'

Lee Umney reviewed: Make a Windsor-style stool

"Absolutely loved this course! the time went so quickly. Great atmosphere. Nice surroundings for lunch. Ben is a great, patient and approachable teacher. Could not ask for more. Highly recommend this course or any of Ben's - you will be amazed by what you start off with and what you go home with!"

25 Sep 17'

James Fooks-Bale reviewed: Make a Windsor chair

"Ben's stool course was a great taster and I later took the chair course as a follow up. It was the perfect antidote to the daily grind, fully recommend it to anyone whether you're a beginner or know more."