Bristol Courses

Bristol Courses We run adult learning courses in a range of subjects
Based at Stoke Lodge & St Paul's Learning Centre Courses are posted on our website www.bristolcourses.com

02/05/2026

We’re excited to be offering this brand new course at Stoke Lodge, introducing the colourful and surprisingly addictive world of gelli plate monoprinting. It’s a simple, hands‑on printmaking process that doesn’t need a press, and the results are instant — no two prints ever come out the same.
The session is relaxed and playful, with a focus on layering colour, experimenting with texture and using botanicals, stencils and found materials. You’ll be shown a few simple techniques through clear demonstrations and then have plenty of freedom to explore and see what happens. By the end of the workshop, you’ll leave with a small stack of one‑of‑a‑kind prints, perfect for collage, cards or display.

Booking Details
To book, call 0117 903 8844, visit bristolcourses.com, or book in person at
Stoke Lodge, Shirehampton Road, BS9 1BN.

01/05/2026

A quick look at some new arrivals at Stoke Lodge this spring. Keep a look out as we find their new homes in our classrooms. Huge thank you to the team at Blaise plant nursery for helping us out. https://www.bristol.gov.uk/blaise-plant-nursery

30/04/2026

These friendly sessions are all about picking up the French you’ll actually need when travelling, whether you’re heading to France for a holiday, visiting friends or family, or travelling for work or culture. It’s aimed at complete beginners and focuses on practical language you can use straight away.
You’ll learn simple phrases and useful vocabulary for everyday situations — greeting people, getting around, booking accommodation, ordering food, shopping and having short, easy conversations. The emphasis is on building confidence and helping you feel more comfortable using French when you’re out and about.

Booking Details
To book, call 0117 903 8844, visit bristolcourses.com, or book in person at
Stoke Lodge, Shirehampton Road, BS9 1BN.

12/04/2026

This watercolour course is open to anyone who enjoys painting, whether you’re picking up a brush for the first time or returning to it after a break. It’s a chance to build solid foundations or gently stretch your technique a bit further, depending on where you’re starting from.

The course runs for just three weeks, making it a great way to try out a watercolour course without a long commitment. You’ll be supported by a tutor who takes time to guide you as an individual, helping you build confidence and find what works for you. Over the sessions, you’ll try out new approaches, improve your skills and feel more at ease expressing your own ideas on paper. By the end, most people leave with new techniques and a real sense of satisfaction in what they’ve achieved.

Booking Details
To book, call 0117 903 8844, visit bristolcourses.com, or book in person at
Stoke Lodge, Shirehampton Road, BS9 1BN.

10/04/2026

If you’re comfortable with the basics of crochet and fancy taking things a bit further, this course is a chance to focus on something a little different. You’ll be making a wide range of crocheted flowers, from simple designs to more detailed ones, including Irish roses, apple blossoms, pansies, hellebores and more, all taught using right‑handed technique.
As the course goes on, you’ll build confidence reading symbol charts and start to feel more comfortable tackling chart‑based patterns on your own. There’s plenty of opportunity to think about how your finished flowers could be used too, whether that’s for brooches, bunting or other decorative projects. All materials are included, so you can focus on enjoying the process and developing your skills.

Booking Details
To book, call 0117 903 8844, visit bristolcourses.com, or book in person at
Stoke Lodge, Shirehampton Road, BS9 1BN.

09/04/2026

This course offers a friendly introduction to crochet, with a different project to work on each week. It’s taught using right‑handed technique and is suitable whether you’re completely new to crochet or just want a refresher.

With guidance from an experienced tutor, you’ll learn the basics, from how to hold the hook and master key stitches to changing colours, finishing off neatly and reading simple patterns and charts. The projects are designed to help everything make sense as you go, building your confidence one step at a time. No previous experience is needed, and by the end you’ll have a good grounding to carry on crocheting at home or move on to an intermediate course.

Booking Details
To book, call 0117 903 8844, visit bristolcourses.com, or book in person at
Stoke Lodge, Shirehampton Road, BS9 1BN.

04/04/2026

This course is a good fit for anyone who enjoys painting, whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been working with watercolours for a while and want to push your skills further. The sessions focus on helping you build confidence and develop techniques that let you express your own style on the page.

Your tutor will guide you individually as you work, offering support that’s tailored to the way you learn and the kind of paintings you want to create. By the end of the course, you’ll have tried out a range of approaches, explored colour and mark‑making in new ways, and finished the term feeling more assured in your abilities and the work you produce.

Booking Details
To book, call 0117 903 8844, visit bristolcourses.com, or book in person at
Stoke Lodge, Shirehampton Road, BS9 1BN.

03/04/2026

Some beautiful arrangements — plus a rather quirky hyacinth chick — to brighten your day. All made by our own rebel florists in two Friday Flowers sessions.
Plenty more sessions coming up in the spring term if you fancy giving it a go yourself.

02/04/2026

This course is the next step for anyone who’s already taken our beginner sewing class or has a bit of basic sewing experience and wants to keep building their skills. You’ll work through a series of practical projects, starting with a snood and fingerless gloves before moving on to a lined tote bag with a zip.

For your final piece, you can choose something that suits your level and interests — trousers with a zip, a simple jacket, or a top with buttons or a zip. Each project introduces a new technique, from working with stretch fabrics to inserting zips and understanding patterns more confidently.
Your tutor will guide you through choosing fabrics, patterns and the bits and pieces you need along the way, helping you become more independent as you sew.

Booking Details
To book, call 0117 903 8844, visit bristolcourses.com, or book in person at
Stoke Lodge, Shirehampton Road, BS9 1BN.

01/04/2026

This course takes a closer look at the work of Frank Stella, whose career has stretched from Minimalism through to bold, three‑dimensional constructions that challenged everything painting was expected to be. It’s a chance to explore how he moved from the stark clarity of the Black Paintings to the colour‑driven Protractor Series and the dynamic shapes of the Irregular Polygons, and how each phase pushed modern art in new directions.
The session is delivered through a clear, well‑structured presentation with handouts to guide you, and there’s plenty of space for discussion. You’ll look at Stella’s ideas, the techniques behind the work, and the impact he’s had on later artists and contemporary abstraction. It’s an accessible way to get to grips with an artist whose influence is still felt across painting, sculpture and installation today.

Booking Details
To book, call 0117 903 8844, visit bristolcourses.com, or book in person at
Stoke Lodge, Shirehampton Road, BS9 1BN.

23/03/2026

This friendly beginner session gives you the basics of Portuguese you’ll actually use when travelling in Portugal or other Portuguese‑speaking countries. You’ll pick up simple phrases for everyday situations — things like greeting people, asking for directions, ordering food, booking accommodation and having short, easy conversations.
We’ll also cover practical vocabulary such as numbers, countries, nationalities and common questions you’re likely to hear or need to ask. It’s all taught in a relaxed, supportive way, and no previous knowledge is needed.

Booking Details
To book, call 0117 903 8844, visit bristolcourses.com, or book in person at
Stoke Lodge, Shirehampton Road, BS9 1BN.

22/03/2026

This one‑day workshop is a chance to explore how to create a small woodland garden, whether you’re starting from scratch or working a woodland feel into part of an existing space. It’s a very relaxed session, and there’s no expectation that you’ll know plant names or have gardening experience — the aim is simply to look at ideas and think through what might work in your own garden.

You’ll be introduced to a range of plants suited to woodland conditions, along with simple design approaches that help build that layered, natural look. Your own thoughts and plans are very welcome, and the session has a supportive, informal feel throughout.

Booking Details
To book, call 0117 903 8844, visit bristolcourses.com, or book in person at
Stoke Lodge, Shirehampton Road, BS9 1BN.

Address

Shirehampton Road
Bristol
BS91BN

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 4pm

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