We made the national press!  ..Daily Telegraph Oct 2024..🥰 yay!

-  Autumn's a good time to unleash your inner craftiness and hand-make some one-off gifts …

“At the joyfully named Quirky Workshops, in a restored barn near Greystoke, learn how to make felt slippers or impress with swirling calligraphy, among other options” 

We're told many students view our Workshop Days as Treats. 😊

 Workshops begin with a warm welcome, fresh coffees and home-made biscuits. Mid-morning coffee is followed by a tasty home-made lunch; and our cream teas are a favourite way to end the day.  On warmer summer days, lunch can be taken out on the original ‘Greystoke Cycle Café’ Tea lawn.  When it's possible, some of the Workshops take place outside too.

We’re fortunate to have a considerable wealth of talented tutors  – trusted favourites that students come back for, year after year! Many have been sharing their creative skills here since our very beginnings back in 2005, and quite a few teach only here within the North West.

Each year we also welcome a wide range of new and visiting tutors to add variety to the programme.  Their expertise is highlighted our annual late October email, sent to all on our database.   

How to Buy Open Vouchers

Quirky Open Vouchers are available 24/7 from this page, with a checkout system separate from our main booking system. Select your price option and see CHECKOUT

Using the PayPal platform, as you proceed you can access options to either pay by debit/credit card OR use your PayPal account.

You will automatically receive an email confirmation containing a Voucher Template to print off. Please check your spam if the email has not arrived.

The Quirky Workshops office, when open, will send your Voucher verification (V Code) by email to show it has been paid for. Simply write this V Code on the printed voucher. If you can't wait for our email, use the Invoice no. provided on your automated email. i.e. QW-INV-16.  If you'd like a personalised Open Voucher (ie for a retirement), please just ask, though this might take a few days.

Vouchers must be used to book a course taking place within 16 months of Voucher purchase date. Any extra balance due on your workshop fee can be paid by BACS. Any unused Voucher credit can be used towards materials costs on the same course- please ask. Vouchers have no cash value and no amount is refundable.  Where a Voucher is not used within the 16 months period, it’s value will reduce 50% annually thereafter.  See HERE for our Terms and Conditions.

Voucher Holders should book their courses as soon as possible.  Please use the waiting lists, and we will email you when new dates/ spaces appear. When we do, it's worth booking quickly to reserve your space.

Advice on Gifting Workshops & Vouchers

Do I Buy an Open Voucher? ...

Vouchers are perfect for those with a wide range of interests, without an agenda and happy to try new things.

Buying an Open Voucher is often the perfect way to take the ‘guesswork out of giving’. It allows recipients to enjoy browsing our various 130+ Quirky Workshops, select their course and look forward to their special day.

Voucher Holders should book their courses as soon as possible. The longer you leave it, the less the choice.  Please use the waiting lists, new spaces & dates do often appear & we'll let you know when they do. Make sure you book quickly as new spaces tend not to hang around at certain times of year.

Vouchers must be used to book a course taking place within 16 months of purchase date. Vouchers have no cash value, are not refundable and where a Voucher is not used within the allocated period, it’s value will reduce 50% annually thereafter.  See HERE for our Terms and Conditions.

... or Book a Course Place?  

We recommend, particularly for Christmas giving when the new programme has just been released …  if someone has a narrow interest / is focussed on one specific workshop or type, it’s best to book the space when it’s there  (rather than gifting a voucher, only to find by Christmas that the course is full.)    We can never guarantee future availability; tutors retire and courses disappear.  

Flexibility?   .. for those gifting a Course Place this year (Dec 24) recipients have until Mon 13^th Jan 2025 to make a seamless transfer to another available workshop or revert to an Open Voucher, without incurring the usual admin charges. Just contact us before 13 Jan 2025. This flexibility is only available for Christmas workshop gifting.  Re birthday gifting, every situation is different. Please ask and we’ll try to help.

Our Tand C’s are here                Please see INFO on our website and also FAQS for Accommodation, Food and Public Transport

This lovely village of Greystoke nestles in rolling countryside on the fringes of the northern Lake District, a few miles from Ullswater, in beautiful Cumbria.  There are several B&B options locally and a village pub serving food. It’s a quick 5 miles from Penrith, Junction 40 of the M6 and the West Coast mainline to Euston. See FAQS for public transport options.

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We have two creative Studios at Greystoke Craft Garden and Barns ...

The Swallow Barn

Our wonderful, new, airy, 60m2 listed first floor studio, up a fairly steep flight of stairs, where most of our courses take place. It allows for comfortable spacing of 9-10 tables, sinks, and an open ceiling providing much natural light from roof lights.  It receives consistently excellent feedback.  

The Squirrel Barn

Some workshops also take place in this lovely ground floor studio, from where, pre-2020, we’ve operated our entire programme for the last 15 years, since our very first Quirky Workshops in 2005. 

Now recently upgraded, the ‘Squirrel Barn’, has several new windows and a pair of beautiful French doors leading to a lovely sunny and sheltered, patio garden surrounded by raised beds. It has made a very special and private space.

It is up 3 steps off the gravel driveway - sometimes however, space is limited inside due to table layout and tutor resources.