Our guest reviewer Charlotte and her Mum recently went along to try Workshop; a new sewing café, haberdashery, creative space, makers meet up and general hang out in Headingley. Find out what they thought here…
From the moment Workshop opened a few months ago, I have been desperate to go! My Mum and I are avid crafters so to have a space away from the house to do just that sounded too good to be true! As my mother was visiting for the weekend, I saw the perfect opportunity to take her for a morning catch up over a cup of coffee and a sewing machine.
When we arrived, we were warmly greeted by the owner, Aliss, and had a quick look around. At the front is the haberdashery and shop where you can buy fabric, thread, wool and all the sewing essentials, as well as gifts such as ceramics, prints and cards from independent artists and designers.
Further in is the café where you can choose from a selection of coffees from The Blending Room, Teas from Bird and Blend, soft drinks, and a very tempting selection of sweet treats from The Porterhouse Cake Company, plus vegan options from That Old Chestnut; all of which are independent suppliers with a passion for their trade.
Finally, and most importantly for us, on shelves around the space are sewing machines and overlockers that you can hire out for £5 an hour. We reserved a sewing machine, were given a form to fill in for health and safety, ordered some refreshments, and were ready to go!
Being familiar with sewing machines it didn’t take long to get started, and Aliss was on hand to answer any questions or queries we had. The drinks we ordered not only tasted great but looked absolutely fantastic, beautifully presented in unique ceramic crockery, further instilling a sense of individuality to the Workshop offering.
Inspired by the festive season we decided to make some tree decorations in the form of stars and birds. The Sewing Machines are very quiet to run, unlike our machines at home, so there’s no danger of it sounding like a factory workshop inside. The time we had at Workshop flew by and we could have stayed all day.
Mini mumbler joined us at the end, where she captively watched Mummy and Granny finish up. There are highchairs and changing facilities, so if you’re a new mum and fancy a break from the house, it’s worth a visit.
It’s £5 per hour to hire a sewing machine or overlocker. Aliss sets them up, is on-hand to answer and questions or queries and clears away your mess afterwards. And Everyone must read and sign an Unsupervised Studio Time form for Health and Safety.
In addition to this, Workshop offer a range of bookable courses, from Beginners Sewing and Beginners Knitting, to the more advanced Sewing Along – Make an A Line Skirt, and Freehand Machine Embroidery. The courses start from £15 and would make an excellent Christmas present. You can pick up a course leaflet instore or you can find more information on the website.
If you’re a keen sewer, want to learn, or if you simply love a good cup of tea or coffee, Workshop is the place for you. The whole ambience is very calming and beautifully presented, so even if I don’t have something to sew, I will definitely be popping back to try one of their delicious cakes and have another pot of strawberry lemonade tea!
To get in touch, contact Aliss via email studio@helloworkshop.co.uk or for more information visit their Website or Facebook Page.
Workshop, 24 Otley Road, Headingley, Leeds LS6 2AD
*Mumbler was not paid for this review. All of the comments in this review are our open and honest opinion.