We offer a range of options for those who wish to further their glassmaking skills including 1:1 and bespoke group tuition, together with studio and equipment hire. Our facilities in both the hot-shop (glassblowing area) and the kiln room (warm glass) together with cold-working equipment and a sand-blaster are available to hire. In the hot-shop we have two furnaces, each suitable for up to four people with one tutor. In the kiln room larger groups may be accommodated.
If you don’t see any options that suit, get in touch to discuss your requirements. We can tailor bespoke sessions for individuals and groups.
Hot-Shop/Glassblowing Tuition & Hire
Bespoke Glassblowing Tuition
Our private sessions are ideal for individuals, families, or small groups of up to four people, who would like to experience glass for the first time; further their glassmaking skills or learn more advanced techniques.
Our ‘Minimelt’ furnace is used for these sessions. Compared to our smaller ‘Nanomelt’ furnace, this furnace holds more glass, so there is more flexibility on the type or number of items that you can make, Due to set-up and running costs the ‘Minimelt’ furnace is not available for half-day bookings.
Glassblowing Private Tuition Cost
‘Minimelt’ Glassblowing with Tutor
1-2 Persons – Full Day £650
3-4 Persons – Full Day £800
The ‘Nanomelt’
Our ‘Nanomelt’ glass furnace is suitable for smaller, thinner or fewer items as it holds half of the amount of glass as our regular ‘Minimelt’ furnace. Suitable for beginners, training and prototyping, it is available for private sessions with a tutor.
Glassblowing Private Tuition Cost
‘Nanomelt’ – Glassblowing with Tutor
1-2 persons – Full day £500 / Half Day £300
3-4 persons – Full day £600 / Half Day £400
Glassblowing Bench Hire
For those with glassblowing experience, we offer equipment hire. Using the versatile and cost effective portable ‘Minimelt’ and ‘Nanomelt’ furnaces means that we can offer bench time at very reasonable prices. You will need to bring your own assistant, or be competent in self-assisting.
Materials are not included but available at cost. If you require any specialist materials or tools, please contact us in advance.
Glassblowing Bench Hire Cost
Glassblowing Hire – Further Information
- Private glassblowing tuition is available on weekdays by prior arrangement although occasional *weekends are possible.
- Sessions includes tools and basic materials (extra materials at cost).
- A full day runs from 10.30 to 4.30pm with an hour for lunch. Half days run from 2 – 4.30pm.
- Please bring a packed lunch.
- All prices above include VAT for individuals.
*Weekend bookings may incur an extra cost.
Please email us for more information or to make a booking. Email Us
Private Warm Glass Tuition, Equipment and Kiln Hire
Private Warm Glass Sessions
If you can’t find exactly what you want on our regular classes, why not take advantage of our private tuition options. You can explore a wide variety of warm glass techniques either as a one-to-one or in small groups of up to four people. Our private tuition is available on weekdays by arrangement. We recommend contacting us to check dates and availability before booking.
Tools and basic materials are included with extra materials available at cost. Please bring any specialist tools or materials that you wish. We stop for an hour for lunch so please bring a packed lunch with you. A selection of teas, coffee and water is provided.
Warm Glass Tuition Cost
1 person – Full Day £350
2 persons – Full Day £425
3 persons – Full Day £500
4 persons – Full Day £575
Advanced Warm Glass Techniques with Helga Watkins-Baker
For more advanced or specialist warm glass techniques, you can book a session with our director, warm glass tutor and author, Helga Watkins-Baker. Great if you have a specific project or complex requirements as Helga has an in-depth understanding of all aspects of warm glassmaking. These sessions are available as half days for up to two people.
Tools and basic materials are included with extra materials available at cost. Please bring any specialist tools or materials that you wish. We stop for an hour for lunch so please bring a packed lunch with you. A selection of teas, coffee and water is provided.
Advanced Warm Glass Tuition Cost
1 person – Full Day £400 / Half Day £200
2 persons – Full Day £500 / Half Day £250
Max 2 persons
Warm Glass Equipment Hire
You can hire any of our glass kilns for fusing, slumping and casting. For details of available kilns and hire costs, see ‘Kiln Details below’.
You can also hire worktop space to create your glass work, sandblaster and cold-working tools. Please contact us to discuss your requirements.
Warm Glass Hire – Further Information
- Private warm glass tuition is available on weekdays by prior arrangement.
- Sessions includes tools and basic materials (extra materials at cost).
- A full day runs from 10am to 4.30pm with 1 hour for lunch. Half days run from 1.30 – 4.30pm.
- A selection of teas, coffee and water is provided. Please bring a packed lunch.
- All prices above include VAT.
Kiln Hire
We have the following kilns available for hire:
Nabertherm GF240 Glass Kiln – Four Available – Ideal for Fusing & Slumping and Open Casting
Size: 1000mm x 800mm x 400mm (internal)
Price – £50 (inc VAT) for first 24hrs (+£10 for Bullseye Thinfire if required).
£30 per 24 hrs extra after this.
Kilncare Hobby Fuser – One Available – Ideal for Fusing & Slumping
Size: 420mm x 420mm x 200mm (internal)
Price – £15 (inc VAT) for first 24hrs (+£2.00 for Bullseye Thinfire if required).
£10 per 24 hrs extra after this.
L&L Kiln E23s – One Available – Ideal for Casting (Circular)
Size: 600mm diameter x 460mm high (internal)
Price – £30 (inc VAT) for first 24hrs.
£20 per 24 hrs extra after this.
Cromartie Upright – One Available – Ideal for Casting
Size: 520mm wide x 680mm deep x 700mm high (internal)
Price – £40 (inc VAT) for first 24hrs.
£25 per 24 hrs extra after this.
Please email us for more information or to make a booking. Email Us
Flameworking / Lampworking Hire
Private Flameworking Tuition
Learn at your own pace and explore a variety of different techniques with an experienced flameworking tutor. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced flameworker, our tutor will tailor the session to your requirements. Available as one-to-one teaching or for small groups of up to four people on weekdays by arrangement. We recommend contacting us to discuss your requirements before booking.
• Includes tools and basic materials (extra materials at cost).
• The day runs from 10am to 4.30pm with a break for lunch.
• Refreshments are provided. Please bring a packed lunch.
• Prices include VAT.
Flameworking Private Tuition Cost
1 person – Full Day £275
2 persons – Full Day £310
3 persons – Full Day £360
4 persons – Full Day £400
Flameworking Bench and Torch Hire
If you are an experienced flameworker you can hire bench space with equipment to work on your own projects without tuition. We have a limited selection of Effetra and Borosilicate glass rods available to purchase. If your project requires specific glasses or colours then we recommend that you bring your own glass rods with you. Bench hire is available on weekdays and occassionally weekends by arrangement. Please contact us to discuss availability before booking. Flameworking bench hire includes:
• Nortel Minor Torch
• Gas and Oxygen
• Kiln annealing
• Prices include VAT.
Flameworking Bench Hire Cost
£30 per hour (available 10am – 4pm)
Weekdays or occasional weekends by arrangement.
Glass Making for Larger Groups and Bespoke Sessions
For Team Building, Corporate and Club Outings, Family Events, and Hen or Stag Parties
We also cater for larger groups and can tailor days to suit your individual requirements. Although the hot-shop glassblowing sessions are limited to a maximum of eight persons at a time, we can organise a programme where other activities are included such as glass fusing, lampworking and sandcasting. Groups can be divided into teams to work in separate areas experiencing a variety of glassmaking techniques. This works well as a team-building activity or a club outing and for hen/stag days or larger families. This way a maximum of 16 can attend.
Glassblowing is an excellent activity to really push the limits of both individuals and groups, encouraging confidence and team building skills, while learning an ancient, over 2000 year’s old practice. Our highly skilled staff will coordinate and manage each team of four (we can have 2 teams of 4), and each person will take turns at being the ‘master’ glassblower who makes an object of their own design and colour from the molten glass. We need at least two assistants for the ‘master’ so everyone has the opportunity at leading and assisting.
Option A
4 persons
Glassblowing. Each person will make: a bauble or a paperweight, a tumbler or a vase – OR – choose a bespoke project (bespoke projects must be discussed with us first and costs may differ).
Cost: £800 (£200 per person)
Option B
8 persons
Glassblowing. Each person will make: a bauble or a paperweight, a tumbler or a vase – OR – choose a bespoke project (bespoke projects must be discussed with us first and costs may differ).
Cost: £1440 (£180 per person)
Option C
16 persons
Glassblowing, Flameworking, Fusing & Sandcasting. Each person will make: a fused glass panel, tile or some jewellery; a glass bead; a bauble or a paperweight, and a small sandcast object.
Cost: £2000 (£125 per person)
Please email us for more information or to make a booking. Email Us
Schools & Colleges
For Educational Activities & Demonstrations
Up to 10 in a group.
In the Hot-Shop / £150 per hour
The Glass Hub team will demonstrate making a wine glass and allow the students to ‘blow’ some glass to understand the properties of the material (technique only). They will then make small sandcast objects in hot glass, to be collected or posted from the following day. This is an interactive but demonstration-led session and we can create bespoke sessions for your particular projects e.g. ‘Roman glass’, please contact to discuss.
Kiln Working / £100 per hour
This will start with a small video presentation about glass, and how it’s made. Children will assemble coloured fusible sheet glass to make a glass tile of their own design, using inclusions and glass ‘frits’. This can also be theme-based, and tie in with the school curriculum.
For larger classes of up to 30 students, please contact us for further information. This would be demonstration-led and we would use all glassmaking areas (see Larger Groups above).
Please email us for more information or to make a booking. Email Us
Glass Consultancy & Mentoring
For your projects, ideas or commissions
With over fifty years of glassmaking experience between them, KT Rothe and Helga Watkins-Baker are available to discuss your glass related projects, ideas and commissions. Please email or call us to make an enquiry outlining your requirements and we will be able to direct you to the right person and suggest any availability.
Consultation fee:
– with 1 consultant – either KT (Hot Glass) or Helga (Warm Glass) is £45 per hour or £30 per half hour.
– with 2 consultants – both KT and Helga is £70 per hour or £45 per half hour.
Email us info@theglasshub.co.uk for more information or to discuss your requirements. Email Us