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Friendly Forces Construction

Join us for a one-day beginners woodworking course to make a personalised bread board. 

In this beginners woodwork course, students will learn how to make beautiful wooden bread board.  the course will cover how to  join together the wood and the various machines and tools needed to get a high quality finish to your piece. 

You'll learn how to safely and confidently use various machinery and hand tools in the workshop, including the mitre saw, band saw, drill press and sanders - with the possibility of the table saw,  jointer and planer. Therefore the course is great for beginners or just helping gain confidence in such fields. 

 At the end of the day expect to take home with you a board that's useful and takes pride of place in your kitchen.


Nicola

Really enjoyed learning about the different grains of wood and using the tools in the workshop. Richard was very informative and certainly knows his stuff! I got to make my own serving board which was a present for my mum at Christmas, it now takes pride of place in her kitchen. Looking forward to trying the resin course.

Rebecca

A great class with a great teacher. I haven't stepped foot in a workshop since school so was somewhat nervous to begin with but Richard's knowledge and passion for woodworking really makes you feel at ease (especially when handling equipment). The class size is small (around six) which allows for one-on-one time with each student and definitely makes for a better learning experience. 

Overall, it was a great hands on experience learning about the structure, strength and durability of wood with a beautiful chopping board at the end (and the satisfaction of knowing you made it with your own hands!)

Will definitely be enrolling in another course!

This class was just what we were looking for. It was pitched perfectly for people with little woodworking experience but Richard was great at putting everyone at ease and giving people the right instruction and direction. What was really great was that he let you use the machines right from the off, trusting you to learn by doing which made everything even more rewarding. He was also very invested in how happy you were with your finished product, making sure you went home with something you were proud of. My only suggestion would be for slightly more options in terms of materials from which to choose at the start of the class.

Beginners Woodworking: Make a Chopping / Serving Board

Zoe Shutler

Richard certainly knew what he was talking about. He gave us lots of tips and details of where we could purchase our own supplies. We were the second group to use their new workshop & in its present set up it would have been a tight squeeze if there had been more than 7 of us. Definitely recommend this course as a great taster as to what you can achieve with resin. Would like to receive details of more advanced/larger projects workshops 

Jane

Duncan Thomson

This was an excellent introduction to resin. Richard was a very natural and welcoming teacher.  It was great to spend the afternoon with such friendly and interesting people, who all had so many ideas and questions to share. 

Michael Fletchet

Fantastic service. Really friendly and approachable in every aspect!!! Deffo using again!
Michael

Beginners Woodworking: Make a Bread Board

Lewis

Happy to attend, would like to attend another one of the woodworking courses here!

Great class. Made a very nice end-grain chopping board, really exceeded my expectations in terms of product and range of techniques used. Richard is a very approachable teacher and clearly cares a lot about student outcomes. Plan to go back to do further projects under Richard's supervision.

Angus Smith

Really great class. Richard taught in a very personable way. Seemed to really care about the students experience and the class was relaxed while structured and informative. Would highly recommend..

Toby Dawson

The atmosphere was great, a lot more than just a board making course but a social and educational experience.

Excellent day. Richard was attentive and we came home with some work to be proud of.

Yahia elgamal

It was great! I absolutely loved every minute of it! 

Richard is a great instructor, he doesn’t over-instruct and gives the space to really get a sense of the workshop. His communication is super clear. 

I never did any woodwork before, so learning the basics and getting  a beautiful bread board while learning it is absolutely great. I have to say, the 4 hours we spent flew by like 4 minutes!

A great opportunity to get a sense of woodworking!

Thanks Richard & Georgina!

Karen

Extremely fun class! Richard was great at teaching and encouraging a lively conversation throughout. I feel like I've learnt a bunch of woodworking basics, and will definitely be back for Richard's other classes!

Extremely fun class! Richard was great in teaching and encouraging a lively conversation throughout. I feel like I've learnt a bunch of woodworking basics, and will definitely be back for Richard's other classes!

Bina

It was very informative, friendly and loads of fun. We were taught how to use so many different things and the rooms were full of tools and machines. It was inspirational and amazing time.

Deborah  Doidge

A truly fantastic class, I went solo and had a great time in the class and came away with a gorgeous board that I still can’t believe I made! 

Tabitha Vidal

The workshop was excellent.  A great combo of theory and practical demonstration, which all rolls into a day of making something beautiful and personal. I will definitely be back! 

Tegan Everett

Amazing experience, got it as a birthday gift. Pacing throughout the day was brilliant, really got to know about the process and techniques used in an engaging way. 

Made a fantastic chopping board that will last me a lifetime! 

Rufus Gibbs

This was a fantastic experience. Richard, who runs the workshop, does a wonderful job of making sure you are always busy throughout the day. You are either learning techniques from his excellent, clear explanations or carrying out these newfound skills in practice. I was thrilled with how my board looked at the end of the day and had a great time making it. I cannot recommend this workshop and teacher highly enough!

Mike Cole

Having attended a beginner’s class in epoxy resin with The River Shop a few months ago and thoroughly enjoyed it, I wanted to widen my knowledge of crafting skills with a beginners woodworking course.  Starting from a basic knowledge that was just about sufficient to know which end to hold of a saw, I came with an open mind and a desire to pick up as much as I could learn.  Richard was a superb instructor, making everyone feel at ease whatever one’s skill and knowledge level.  Over the course of the day which flew past, I learnt to appreciate and understand wood and laminates and use a variety of power tools that previously I’d have struggled to plug in, let alone know what they did.  And to cap it all, I was chuffed with the finished item.  Only problem is I like it so much, i don’t know whether I’ll use it or frame it!  Looking forward to booking another course with Richard and The River Shop.

Fred 

Had a great time on the course. Found all the process rewarding and was pleased with the out come. 

Anna-Chiara Bellini

I spent a very enjoyable day at the Rivershop. Richard is a fantastic teacher, it's absolutely evident that he has a passion for teaching carpentry, and the machines in the workshop are astonishing! I loved making my breadboard, and I'll be back for more classes. Very pleasant atmosphere too.

Nora Jenewein

I made a bread board, mission accomplished! It was a good atmosphere and Richard showed us all the cool saws/tools and let us use them - love the hands on vibe. 
It is also a very creative location.
In terms of time: I was a bit confused at first whether it was 3,5 hours or 7,5 hours but Richard explained that it depends on the season and how long the glue needs to dry and also how many students there are. 
I would have loved to have more time at the beginning using the clamps, gluing the timbers together as I lack spatial awareness and it takes me a bit longer to understand such things.
But all in all: highly recommend the workshop! And you can look forward to the giant sander...

Make a Bread Board, for beginners! 

Carina Ferreira

Richard is a great teacher! The day goes by so quickly. It’s fun, exciting and even challenging at times. I enjoyed the entire process (including the heavy machines) and can’t wait to try the other courses. 

Ben Batchelor

Had a really fun day on the breadboard class. And ended up with - a very nice breadboard, chuffed! Great tuition, facilities, and fellow group of woodworkers. Highly recommend.

Sarah  Brown

A fantastic day working with wood. It is a real thrill to see the fruits of your efforts at the end of the day. Richard is an efficient, fun and insightful tutor. I'd recommend this class to anyone interested in wanting to gain some confidence and experience in working with wood. 

Greg

The whole experience was fantastic. The venue was perfect and Richard the perfect guide, giving you assistance where needed but leaving you to learn as much as possible for yourself too. I found it so rewarding to feel like I'd made something from almost nothing and would recommend this course to any beginner. For me this was exactly the right experience to have, so full credit to everyone involved in it. I shall be back for another course in the future! 

Callum Robertson

The course was great - I learnt a lot and the teaching was really helpful. I would recommend anyone looking to learn about woodworking.

Helen

Richard was a excellent teacher informative and knowledgeable. The venue was well equipped. We were able to use the machinery and tools to make a bread board. Would be good to be able to make the whole project from scratch over 2 days rather than the initial laminating done for us. Would thoroughly recommend the venue and the tutor. Looking forward to doing another course. 

Perfect course for a beginner to learn about wood and gain confidence using many different tools.

Richard is a very informative and friendly instructor.  I had a lot of fun and would highly recommend this course to anyone.

Tomas Barry

I really enjoyed the session. Richard was knowledgeable, patient, and very helpful throughout explaining each step in the process to make sure you really understood what you were doing.

Lisa

I had an amazing day at the River Shop learning how to make a bread board. Richard is an excellent teacher and I really enjoyed his teaching techniques. I came away with good knowledge of cutting, sanding and using a router. Richard is friendly and approachable and already I am looking forward to my next course with him. I found woodwork addictive! 

Elliot Cockburn

Richard was great and explained things really clearly which was perfect if you’re a beginner as I am (or was!) the studio itself was in a really cool setting with all good vibes and community atmosphere. 10/10 would recommend. Cheers! 

Josh Bryson

An excellent course with solid guidance in how to use all sorts of equipment and techniques. Well worth trying out!

Ruby  Fard

Such a great course and learnt so much in one day! Perfect balance of hands on practical experience and learning. Loved it and would highly recommend. Richard is such an engaging tutor which makes it even more fun and easy to digest, no matter what your level of experience is! Will definitely be booking on one of the other classes. 

Vanessa Smith

I loved every minute and plan to do more classes in the future!  I have no knowledge of hand or power tools and this classes was so enjoyable that I want to repeat it! Making a breadboard was like earning a medal! 

Catherine Jones

This was an excellent class taking us through the creation of a breadboard and how to safely use all of the power tools. We had clear demos and time to practice before we machined the final piece which was very useful. I am very happy with my final piece and would recommend this course.

Sid Krishnakumar

The breadboard making class for beginners was super enjoyable and Richard really does know wood 😆 it is a great course to kick start any ambitions working with wood and it was overall a super fun day. Highly recommended!!

Dan Baczynski

Great intro to wood machining! I recommend for those who are a bit afraid of manipulating some machines, making a breadboard is a perfect exercise to get your hands on those machines, with as super nice object to get after the course!

Benjamin Watson

Fantastic course and introduction to woodworking. 

Thanks Richard!

Florina Muntenescu

Really good class for someone who never tried building something with wood. Richard was a great teacher. 

Bianca Schobel

This was a very first crafty workshop I have ever taken in my life and it was amazing. Having a desk job every day and getting the chance to do something so different totally made my day. Learning to do something from scratch, understand basics of woodcrafting and playing with so many machinery was really exciting. Also the fact that you actually take something home with you definitely makes this more attractive. Thanks to Richard for all his patience and help, I will definitely look into more workshops with him. Best of luck!

Hema Mistry

Great class, step by step learning how to create the chopping/bread board, hands on using the machines and finishing the product. Good class with good details, and nice product at the end of it. 

Teaching was great for the 1 on 1 session, my only reservation is that we didn’t use the full time allocated and the actual things we made were very small. 

Roman Sepel

I had a very nice experience learning here. During this  course I found out a lot of useful information about wood and how to deal with it. Also, teachers are kind, friendly and ready to help at any time. 

Very informative session, great to get hands on experience. 

Connor Cudmore

Amazing experience. An excellent class for true beginners in carpentry and woodwork. If you've never touched tools before, this is the class for you. Instructors were clear, patient, and fun! They explain the importance of every step and ask that you take the day seriously but without compromising your enjoyment. There's plenty of room to have a chat, and they encourage conversation whole-heartedly. This class is not intensive, there's room to breathe in the day and they don't rush you. The finished bread board looks great no matter how skilled you are, and you can be sure you're taking home something you can be proud of. A great class; an excellent experience whether you want to take your woodworking journey further or if you're just looking to try something outside of your comfort zone.

Caroline and Brian

My partner and I both did todays course. Brian was more experienced and I was a totally beginner.  The course worked brilliantly for both of us. Very friendly and knowledgeable teacher and made the whole day fun and informative for both of us. Would throughly recommend. 

Mattias Lullini

Another great class from Richard at 'The River Shop'. This was about making a Bread Board using wood. As in the previous classes, there was a lot of useful information provided for general woodworking but also some specific for joinery, from the glue to use to the direction of the wood grain. Once again, thanks a lot for the class! I will be back for more!

George  Pearson

I had a really good time doing this course and recommend it. The level was perfect for me as a beginner - not too difficult but not too easy. Dan was a good teacher who explained things clearly and helped whenever needed. We were given plenty of time to practice with the woodworking machinery before starting on our breadboards. I thought that the day was great overall and to my surprise I ended up with a pretty decent looking breadboard. I even enjoyed having wonder around this inserting part of London at lunch to find a cafe.

Neil

This was a good beginners course for learning some of the basics of woodworking.
Dan was good at explaining everything as we went through the course and also made sure everyone was enjoying it.
We had plenty of time to practice with the machines before finishing off our own boards.
I enjoyed the day and would recommend for any other beginners.

Good introduction to bread board making, simple to do and didn’t take as long as I was expecting

Lambros  Demetriou

A great introduction to woodworking. Low pressure environment and a great instructor made it a wonderful experience!

Maria Kosiakova

We had an awesome time making bread boards with Dan & Richard! The guys had lots of patience explaining how things worked and we were able to try a bit of everything in the workshop. Final result looks so good, too!

Natasha Almeida

Would've liked more time to practice with the equipment but the board looks great and it was an enjoyable morning. 

Kei Hamada

I bought tickets to this workshop as a birthday present for my husband. We both really enjoyed it - Dan and Richard were great teachers and we're pleased with the boards we made. I'd recommend this workshop for beginners.

Uli  Sigg

I enjoyed making my own breadboard. I was surprised by how much I learned within a short time and how easy it was to produce, as commented by my son, an “insanely good breadboard”. The instructors, Dan and Richard, were patient and thorough in their explanations. The course didn’t feel rushed and allowed people of differing skill sets to have fun. 

Madeleine

I attended the breadboard making course for beginners and had the best time! Richard was a skilled and engaging teacher who took us through the steps at the perfect pace whilst still allowing us to feel autonomous in the process. I’m so happy with the board I made, it looks super professional and feels amazing to have made it myself. Would definitely recommend :)

Pancho  Krastev 

Isabella Santa Cruz

We learnt so much and thoroughly enjoyed this experience. We were absolute beginners and only one of us was particularly keen at the start but now we’re looking to book another! Dan was a brilliant & engaging  teacher and the class exceeded our expectations! Thank you! 

Claudia  Wlk

I had the best afternoon going through the process of making things out of wood; we learned to use a bunch of different tools and see a small project (in this case, a gorgeous breadboard) through from start to (oily) finish. There was also some basic theory in how wood behaves and how to use those factors to make longer-lasting pieces which I really appreciated.
Will definitely be back to learn something new! 

Robin Molloy

Thoroughly enjoyed the class. It’s amazing just how much is covered in the short space of time. Theory, glueups, table saws, table & handheld routers, sanding, planing, oiling … this class had it all. Both instructors are great, super patient and open to any questions you might have. This has really sparked my interest in woodworking and I’ll certainly be back for another session!

Ron  Hasson

We had great time! Thank you Dan & Richard! It was fun and educational!

Claire

Attended the Sunday workshop with instructor Dan. It was very nice, very informative, and hands on. 

  Hadiah  Alquhais

I did really enjoyed the experience . It was fun and interesting.
Both of the instructors were helpful, gave us good and easy tips.
The place was neat and clean.
I  would recommend it.. 

Alexandria  Nash

We loved our bread board making experience! The boards looked great at the end and are definitely nice enough to use at home. The session was also really enjoyable as it was a good mix of tasks, including a lot of time to practice skills on the machines, which was a lot of fun!

Zanete

I had been massively looking forward to this class and it did not disappoint, quite the opposite. We had the opportunity to try out different power tools and ask any questions, about any aspect of woodworking. The atmosphere was friendly and relaxed, and the end result of my breadboard was way better than I had expected!

Colin  Wilby

Really enjoyed the course. Lots of hands-on practice with key woodworking equipment and practical tips for future projects. 

Daniel  Campagne 

The breadboard making workshop I attended was great! Our instructor Dan gave us lots of detailed explanations and tips and tricks, the workshop is equipped with some great kit and you get loads of hands on practice with it.
Highly recommended and I’ll definitely be in touch again with the Rivershop for some personal projects, can’t wait!


Peter  Webster

Really enjoyed the beginners woodworking: make a breadboard workshop. Great instructor, clear instructions for each machine used. Good pace. Would definitely recommend. I will be looking at other courses. Thanks for a great afternoon.

William  Tibbits

Great workshop!
Dan explained the process, tools and other equipment really well.
We made lovely items and I now feel much more confident to tackle my own projects.

Cheryl Chung

Really great class with Dan! My fiance and I learned so much and cannot believe we built something so amazing with our own two hands. 

Marion  Vernon

Very enjoyable in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere 

Francesca 

The breadboard workshop is a fun and beginner-friendly activity . I would recommend it as a gift for someone who is interested in woodworking but never got the chance to do anything of sort. I went there as a complete novice, the experience was fun and everyone was friendly and patient! That said, there were a couple of things that made the whole experience less than a 10/10:

1. The course is reasonably expensive, but for the price you cannot choose the wood that you are working with. This leads to some pretty inconsistent results across sessions, with breadboard wood quality, final product aesthetics, and feel that can vary. I would have preferred choosing my wood for the price. 

2. Similarly, you cannot take your piece home after the workshop, and delivery is not included. You have to write a review to have the breadboard shipped to you for free.

3. The workshop was marred by electrical problems when I was there, which forced me to return twice without any discount or benefit to make up for the trouble. On the second occasion, I had to attend an hour of the course that I had already completed without any additional tasks, which was quite boring. A bit more care while dealing with the situation would have been appreciated.

Overall still quite fun as an experience even if lacking a bit of general care dealing with costumers!
I hope this review helps!

Fabio

The breadboard workshop is a fantastic activity that is perfect for beginners. It offers an enjoyable experience and would make an excellent gift for anyone interested in woodworking but hasn’t had the opportunity to try it. As someone who attended the workshop as a complete novice, I found it to be a fun experience with friendly staff. However, there were a few aspects that made the overall experience less than perfect:

The course is quite expensive, but unfortunately, you don’t have the option to choose the wood you’ll be working with. This can lead to inconsistent results across sessions, including variations in breadboard wood quality, final product aesthetics, and feel. Given the price, I would have preferred the ability to select my own wood.

Additionally, you aren’t allowed to take your piece home after the workshop, and delivery is not included. To receive your breadboard, you must write a review, which will then be shipped to you free of charge. Otherwise you need to go to the workshop a second time to take your piece.

During my visit, the workshop was plagued by electrical problems that forced me to return twice without any compensation or benefits to make up for the inconvenience. On my second visit, I had to sit through an hour of the course that I had already completed without any additional tasks, which was rather dull. It would have been appreciated if more care had been taken in handling this situation.

Overall, despite these issues, it was still an enjoyable experience.

Jacqui

Absolutely loved the breadboard making class from arrival to finish. During the course our teacher Dan enhanced our knowledge of types and suitability of different woods. We learnt how to use electric power tools for cutting, sanding and routing with plenty of practice before starting on our breadboard.
The finished breadboard was the icing on the cake!

Annabel Mander

Really enjoyed the breadboard making. The group was a good size, and the class really well paced. Got to learn different tools and techniques and really pleased with the end result. Thanks Dan!

Donna  Noel

The bread board making workshop was a lot of fun. The teachers are really knowledgeable and supportive.

Reza Karavieh

Had a great time making the cutting board,  Dan was super helpful in explaining all the steps from tool use to safety and general woodwork tips. Highly recommend to anyone considering starting their woodwork journey :)

Beth

The bread board class was excellent! Great level for beginners and very informative with the right blend of useful wood working knowledge and learning the practical skills. 

Adam Richmond

The course was a lot of fun, it was very easy for a complete beginner to produce something really nice. I learnt a lot of useful info and the instructor was very patient, helpful, and knowledgeable.

Sophie Mann

Really enjoyed this class. I learnt something completely new and had fun whilst gaining confidence in sawing and sanding with power tools. I'm so happy with how my board turned out, can't wait to show it off.

Carla Antunes

Great class. The instructor made sure to explain clearly every step of the way and how to use the machines properly to avoid accidents. We end up with a beautiful bread board. Definitely recommend and will do the epoxy class soon. 

Martin

What a great class.  We made a breadboard and were shown how to use all of the necessary power tools to achieve this.  We were told about different wood types, how to arrange the wood so that the grain was appropriate for shopping, how to use a mitre saw, how to use a belt sander, how to create corners and edges.
I would like to come back and make something else!

Chris

Brilliant class with great tuition and experience of using woodworking tools

Ahmed

The teacher was very helpful and friendly, time flew by and wanted to learn more about the different machines and wood. The venue has different people working there so it was great seeing other creatives in action 

Georgie Walker

Really enjoyable. Dan (instructor) was great - super knowledgeable and interested in his profession. 
Could have been more practical would be only ask! 

The Beginners Woodworking Workshop is a one day course where you will learn to make a bread board in just a few hours!

This course is designed for first time epoxy users. We have been pouring live edge epoxy pieces and using resin long enough that it is time to share all of the secrets we have learned (the hard way) with you. 
In this workshop, you will learn all about epoxy resin and how to use it with timber. Get creative and pour your very own unique live edge river pour. 
If you want to start making your own resin projects such as river tables, live edge artwork, live edge furniture or even epoxy resin coatings, then this is the course for you.
Have a look at our reviews on Obby or head over to our instagram to see some of our most recent classes. @the_Rivershop


The River Shop

Beginners Epoxy Resin Workshop

Samira

I took this class with my friend and daughter and I must say we all enjoyed the class equally. It’s a class for all ages and your creativity with colors and placing the flowers really show. The location was a bit far for me but once we got there we forgot the distance we drove to get there and had a wonderful time. Looking around the workshop I felt like I am ready to sign up for other classes.  Loved the class will definitely sign up for another one soon. 

Alex 

Well thought out short course for beginers. Well taught and yet relaxed. Tutor had good knowledge and well communicated.  I would recommend. 

Trupti Patel

A great beginners course! The workshop is great and the equipment was laid out very clearly. Richard was great at explaining in detail and happily answered everyone’s questions, big or small. I would highly recommend and will be going back for part 2!

Aaron Brookner

Great workshop and facility.  Immensely rewarding!

Martin Davies

Good fun, informative and great to get hands on with the preparation and the use of epoxy

Serkan Cabi

We had the beginner class as a family with our 9 year old daughter. Richard made sure that everyone in the class get the skills do complete a project independently. It was great fun. Highly recommended.

Chris  White

The class I did was brilliant, very informative and enjoyable, really looking forward to seeing the finished product at the end of part 2 of the course 

Thomas Boyd

Great workshop with a very knowledgeable teacher

Alex

I took this class as I am interested in trying to use epoxy for a project and I have no experience of it. The course was full of lots of useful information and Richard answered every question I had however stupid and also gave advice on how I could start my project. 

I enjoyed this course so much I did the seascape course which showed how you can use epoxy in a different way this course was also very interesting and informative. I would recommend both courses.

Nina  Lolljee

I attended the Beginners Epoxy Resin Workshop & Charcuterie classes and am so pleased that I plucked up my nerves to attend. I absolutely loved these courses and learnt so much about the processes, materials and playing with the different colours for the 'river'. Richard was awesomely helpful and approachable.  As the sessions were back to back, it would've been great to have a quick coffee break as there was a lot to take in. My only other request would be to have a fact sheet covering all that we covered to refer back to - but I believe this is in hand and look forward to any supporting material. I really want to delve deeper into using epoxy resin and start creating my own ideas and am very much looking forward to attending the next course to make a coffee table. Thank you Richard and see you in January 2025!! 😊

Kirsty  Hanley

Has a great morning learning about epoxy resin! The course was both fun and informative and I'm looking forward to returning to learn more! Fab!


David Brown

Thanks for a great intro to working with resin. The class prepares you by letting you make a mould and pour resin for the first time using all materials and facilities provided by River Shop. Much better than watching YouTube and messing up your kitchen!!

Make your own live edge river pour using epoxy resin. 

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