106 Recreational courses in Hale

‘Both of these wines are [Grape X] from [Country Y] – so why is this one twice the price?’ It’s a question that we’re often asked, so for summer 2024, we’re putting on a trio of tastings to show what happens when you fork out some extra money. Each week, we’ll try four pairs of popular styles of wine, one bottle of we’ve bought for under £10, while the other has cost at least twice as much. And we’ll be trying each pair ‘blind’ – you’ll know what the wines are, but not which is in Glass 1 and which in Glass 2… We’ll have a chat about what it is in each case that makes one of the wines more expensive, then we’ll see which you prefer before revealing which is which. Do you have expensive tastes, or are you more at home with the cheap and cheerful? It’s a great opportunity to find out – and to taste some lovely wines!  The line-up for each week will be: Week 1 WHITES: New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, Italian Pinot Grigio REDS: Australian Shiraz, Red Bordeaux Week 2 WHITES: Loire Sauvignon Blanc, South African Chenin Blanc REDS: Rioja, New Zealand Pinot Noir Week 3 WHITES: White Burgundy, German Dry Riesling REDS: Red Rhône, Argentine Malbec Each week’s tasting will include 8 wines, and there’ll be some tasty cheese as accompaniment. The cost for each tasting is £37.50, but if you book for all three sessions, the price will be just £100, saving £12.50.

World Malbec Day is April 17th, although for some reason it’s actually called Malbec World Day. Meanwhile, May 6th is International Sauvignon Blanc Day. So how about a very special event between the two to celebrate these very special grapes? It’s a great opportunity to see how the “Old World” originals such as Sancerre and Cahors stack up against their “New World” counterparts such as New Zealand Sauvignon and Argentine Malbec. But it’s also a chance to see the success that winemakers are having with the two grapes in other parts of the world. Expect to see a range of styles too – in previous years, we’ve kicked off the day with a sparkling Sauvignon Blanc, and finished with a fortified Malbec, for example. And we’ll have a dig through our cellars to see if we can find some rare older examples of both grapes We’ll taste 12 wines on the day (yes 6 of each!) with a break in the middle for a tasty two-course lunch. This is usually one of our most popular tastings, so do book soon to avoid disappointment

My beginner's sewing course will teach you the basics, from operating a sewing machine to mastering essential stitches. You'll work on simple projects, gaining hands-on experience and confidence. With personalized 1-to-1 instruction, you'll quickly develop the skills to bring your creative ideas to life. Join me and start your sewing journey today!

This crochet workshop is suitable for complete beginners, or anyone who has crocheted in the past but has forgotten the basics.

Phoenix Pottery and Art Studio is an Artist owned creative space offering pottery and art and craft classes in Golborne near Warrington, Cheshire. We have a range of pottery and art / craft classes and workshops, for beginners to experienced. Near Warrington, St Helens, Wigan and approx 20 miles from Manchester and Liverpool centres.

A relaxed and informal Blackwork Embroidery course in the lovely setting of a converted 18th Century cotton mill in Warwick Bridge, Carlisle. This course has been designed to guide the complete beginner or act as a refresher for those who may have dabbled in Blackwork embroidery in the past. We will cover the history, styles of Blackwork embroidery, threads and techniques.

Experience Nature’s Beautiful Blues in this fascinating workshop with dye expert Debbie Tomkies. Learn to set up a simple indigo vat, try fun tie dye & shibori in a relaxing, fun environment!

Woodcarving courses

Get together with friends and family and learn the art of building a beautiful hand-tied bouquet of the best seasonal flowers. Mix a gorgeous selection of flowers, fillers and foliage using the 'spiralling' technique used by the pros to make your bouquet and gain lots of flower hacks, tips and tricks along the way. We finish by tying, wrapping and presenting and you'll leave with your floral creation to enjoy at home and the ability to do it all again.

Join Stephie from Hoop & Fred for a mindful afternoon at Garten Bar Manchester with this beginner friendly embroidery workshop!