Quirky Workshops

You are warmly invited...

Greystoke Craft Garden and Barns is a unique creative venue offering an inspiring range of art, craft and heritage 'Quirky Workshops' and courses, from our C17^th farmhouse in the village of Greystoke. We nestle 5 miles equidistantly from Penrith and the Eden Valley, and Ullswater, on the northern fringes of the Lake District, in beautiful Cumbria, north west England. We have been running courses since 2005.

During May 2020, we renovated an old hay loft and are now delighted to be able to host our indoor courses and workshops in this wonderful, new, light, airy and spacious, Covid secure ‘Swallow Barn’. Single tables are well distanced and tutor demonstrations live streamed onto a large screen at the front, allowing students to stay safe in their seats over the workshop day. Tables for 2 to 4 are available for bubbles. Fresh coffees, teas and a tasty 2 course lunch are delivered carefully and safely to your workshop table, or taken in the garden during summer months. We look forward to welcoming you here and hope you can find something that appeals.

Read our new 2021 Programme update HERE

" I am SO impressed with the loveliness of the Swallow barn. In the midst of this COVID world of chaos and uncertainty, it’s such a calm, safe space and I’m sure that everyone who visits will agree. I also appreciate the abundance of extra safety/hygiene measures that you’ve put in place. It works so well. Also, as Gwen mentioned, the extra space and its layout has made for a more social environment - it’s easier to chat and to look at what others are doing. I’m so glad I came, I feel uplifted, somewhat healed and much more positive as a result. Oh... and the lunch was just wonderful too! Jane "

About the Swallow Barn

A new, spacious and airy, 60m2 listed workshop space. This first floor studio allows comfortable spacing of 8-9 tables, along with two staircases, one way traffic where needed, 2 wash hand basins, sanitizing points, an open ceiling providing much natural light from roof windows plus a good natural air flow and it enjoys regular deep cleaning.

In addition, there’s a ‘live stream’ filming of tutor’s demonstrations, projecting all previous ‘gather round’ moments to a large screen viewable by students from the safety of their desks throughout the day. Students are asked to stay distanced at all times, wash their hands regularly and bring a mask in the event that closer proximity is necessary.

A deep clean of the rooms, equipment and resources used by crafters occurs before and after each workshop. When serving food or drink, staff will wear masks at all times.

The usual tasty two course Aga lunches will be served on individual trays at your own desk, or in the garden in summer on separate tables (under gazebos if needed), or maybe if you prefer, indoors in the smaller original Quirky studio or other areas of our stone buildings. Our Longbow, Pizza Ovens, Raku, Furniture Painting, Wood Carving, Blacksmithing and Stone Carving courses will all continue to take place outside (mostly during the summer months) with distancing in place and shelter available if needed.

Cookery Days and all previous workshop lunches that took place in our farmhouse kitchen, understandably cannot be offered in the current climate.

We look forward to welcoming you here soon, in the meantime, please do stay safe and well.

View our full programme -