Candle Making Workshop and Bubbly in UK

The most appealing part of this Brighton experience is that you do not just buy a scented souvenir. You learn how candles are made, then create several different types using 100% pure Eco-Soy wax, essential oils, fragrance, colour dyes, and beeswax. The work takes place in a cabin in Charlie’s back garden, which gives the class a calm, personal feel rather than a busy shop-floor atmosphere.

I like the hands-on variety: you make floating, container, and beeswax candles, so you leave with more than one finished item and a better sense of how the materials differ. I also like the relaxed format, with bubbly included for adults, a maximum of 15 people, and enough room for this to work well as a birthday, hen party, baby shower, or small family outing.

The main caution is timing. The advertised start is 2pm, and one booking had a mix-up over the workshop time. Charlie was able to help in that case, but I would confirm the start time before setting out, especially if the class is part of a birthday plan or a tightly scheduled day.

Key points at a glance

• Three candle styles: Make floating candles, container candles, and beeswax candles during one workshop.
• A small Hove setting: The class takes place at Charlie Doodle, 14a Wilbury Road, in a cabin in Charlie’s back garden.
• Materials with room for creativity: Work with Eco-Soy wax, essential oils, fragrances, wicks, beeswax, and colour dyes.
• Two hours of practical activity: You spend the session learning candle basics and making items to take home.
• Small-group format: The maximum group size is 15 people, with private lessons and group discounts available.
• Useful for celebrations: The workshop suits hen parties, birthdays, and baby showers, with bubbly available to those aged 18 and over.

What happens during the two-hour candle class

This is a making workshop, not a quick demonstration followed by a purchase. You spend the session learning the basic parts of a candle and then putting that information to use.

Charlie covers the different types of wax, oils, wicks, and candle-making methods. That basic explanation matters because each material affects how the finished candle burns, smells, and looks. If you have only used shop-bought candles before, you will come away with a clearer idea of why wax type and wick choice are important.

The workshop uses Eco-Soy wax, alongside essential oils and fragrance options. Colour dyes let you add a visual element, while decorations give you room to make the candles feel personal. The exact designs and available scent choices are not specified, so you should expect creative choice without assuming a particular colour range or fragrance collection.

The class includes three candle forms. Floating candles offer a simple, decorative project. Container candles give you a more familiar household candle to use later. Beeswax adds another material to compare with soy wax, making the session more useful than a single-recipe craft class.

You should have enough time to complete the work within the two-hour slot, though the pace will depend on group size and how much time you spend choosing scents and colours. The maximum of 15 people keeps the class from becoming a huge workshop, but it is still a group activity rather than a one-to-one lesson.

Why the cabin setting changes the mood

The venue is at Charlie Doodle, 14a Wilbury Road, Brighton and Hove, Hove BN3 3JN. The workshop takes place in a cabin in Charlie’s back garden, which gives the experience a more informal character than a formal studio or commercial visitor attraction.

That setting suits candle making. The task is quiet, creative, and hands-on, so a smaller private space helps keep the focus on the materials and the people at your table. One birthday group found the cabin relaxing and well suited to creative work. I can see why this matters if you are arranging an activity for a celebration and want something calmer than a bar, restaurant, or loud group game.

The trade-off is that this is not a sightseeing stop. You are going to one address for a focused workshop, not moving through Brighton or seeing major sights along the way. Plan it as a standalone activity, or pair it with other plans in Hove before or after the two-hour session.

The class starts at 2pm and ends back at the meeting point. Public transport is nearby, and the experience accepts mobile tickets. Since the timing matters, check your confirmation carefully and allow enough time to reach Wilbury Road.

Learning wax, oils, and wicks

The strongest part of the class is the practical explanation of candle ingredients. A candle is not just melted wax with perfume added. Wax, wick, fragrance, and colour all need to work together, and the workshop introduces you to those choices in a beginner-friendly way.

You learn about different wax types, including soy and beeswax. Soy wax is used for the main candle-making work, while beeswax gives you a chance to create a different kind of candle. The point is not simply to produce attractive objects. You also gain a foundation for experimenting at home.

The oils and fragrances are useful for people who care about scent. Essential oils and fragrance options can produce different results, and the freedom to choose gives the finished candles a more personal feel. If you already enjoy home fragrance, this part may be the most rewarding section of the class.

Wicks are another practical topic. Their size and type affect how a candle performs, so learning about them helps you avoid treating candle making as guesswork. The supplied details do not specify the exact wick materials or technical depth, so I would view this as an accessible introduction rather than a professional candle-making qualification.

Colour dyes and decorations add a playful side. You can focus on neat, simple designs, or experiment with colour and presentation. One participant who expected a beginner course still found plenty to learn and left keen to keep making candles and testing different fragrances and decorations. That is a good sign for beginners who want a starting point rather than a one-off craft with no follow-up value.

The take-home collection: floating, container, and beeswax candles

You take home a selection of finished candles, including floating, container, and beeswax styles. This gives the £? No, the stated price is $66.83 per person, and the value comes partly from the number of objects you make as well as the instruction.

Floating candles are likely to be the most decorative and immediate project. They can suit a table setting or a small celebration, although the available shapes and colours are not specified. Container candles are more familiar and practical, while beeswax candles let you take home something made from a different wax.

The exact number of candles is not stated, so do not book expecting a guaranteed quantity. The wording promises a selection, which is enough to make this more than a single-item class but not enough to calculate a precise per-candle value.

I like this mix because it lets you compare styles instead of repeating one technique. You can also see which type you enjoy most before buying a home kit or signing up for an online lesson. The workshop offers both of those follow-up options, so the class can be a first step into a hobby rather than the end of the experience.

Remember that newly made candles may need handling with care. The supplied information does not give specific cooling or curing instructions, so ask Charlie how and when to use each candle before leaving.

Is $66.83 good value?

At $66.83 per person, this is not a cheap drop-in craft session. Still, the fee covers about two hours of guided instruction, several candle styles, materials, and take-home creations. Bubbly is also part of the experience for adults, though you should not judge the value on the drink alone.

I see the price as reasonable for a small creative workshop if you value instruction and the social setting. You are paying for the chance to use a range of materials without buying full packs of wax, wicks, oils, dyes, containers, and equipment yourself. You also avoid the trial and error that comes with learning alone.

The value is strongest for a celebration. A birthday group gets an activity everyone can join, and each person leaves with a personal result. A hen party or baby shower can use the class as a quieter break in the day. Group discounts are offered, though the amount is not provided, so ask about the current rate before booking a larger party.

For someone who already makes candles at home, the session may feel basic. It is designed as a beginner course, and the technical detail may not go as far as a specialist training class. In that case, the value depends on the social side, the materials, and the chance to test new fragrances or decorations.

Who should book this Brighton activity?

This workshop suits adults who enjoy crafts, home fragrance, and small-group activities. It also works for teenagers and families, since one successful birthday booking was for a 13-year-old. The details do not set a minimum age for candle making, but alcoholic drinks are only allowed for people aged 18 and over.

I would recommend it for a group with mixed creative ability. You do not need to arrive with candle-making experience, and the structure gives beginners a clear starting point. More confident crafters can spend time on scent combinations, colours, and decorations.

It is also a good choice if you want a souvenir connected to the activity. Instead of carrying home a generic Brighton item, you leave with candles you helped design and make. That personal link is part of the appeal.

You may want another activity if your main aim is to see Brighton sights, sample local food, or spend the day outdoors. This is a fixed, indoor craft session at one address. It is best treated as a creative appointment, not a broad tour of the city.

Birthdays, hen parties, and private lessons

Charlie Doodle presents the workshop as a social activity for hen parties, baby showers, and birthdays. The format gives a group something to do together, while the final candles provide a simple keepsake from the occasion.

A maximum of 15 people keeps the event relatively small. That limit matters for celebrations because very large groups can split into separate conversations and make instruction harder to follow. If your party is larger, ask about the available arrangements rather than assuming everyone can attend one session.

Private group lessons can be scheduled at a different time, date, or location. This is useful if the 2pm start does not fit your plans, or if you want the activity built around a particular celebration. The details do not guarantee private availability, so you need to enquire before making arrangements.

Charlie Doodle also runs other creative workshops, including nipple tassels, flower crowns, personalised map cufflinks, necklaces, key-rings, and pineapple pimping. Those options may appeal to groups comparing several craft activities, but they are separate experiences. Do not expect them to be included in the candle session.

Practical details before you go

The meeting point is Charlie Doodle, 14a Wilbury Road, Hove, BN3 3JN, and the activity returns to that same location. The start time is 2pm, with an approximate duration of two hours.

Your mobile ticket is accepted, and confirmation is issued at booking. The venue is near public transport, which makes the activity easier to reach without a car. The supplied information does not provide a detailed route, parking guidance, or a specific accessibility assessment, so contact the provider if you need those details.

Service animals are allowed, and most people can take part. Candle making involves wax, fragrance, dyes, and workshop equipment, so tell the provider about any relevant needs before you arrive.

There is free cancellation if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Changes or cancellations made inside that window are not accepted for a refund. The timing mix-up in one birthday booking was resolved because Charlie had room to run an earlier session, but that kind of adjustment should not be treated as guaranteed. Confirm the time and meeting point in advance.

My final call on Charlie Doodle’s candle workshop

I would book this if you want a friendly, practical craft experience in Hove and like the idea of leaving with several candles rather than just watching a demonstration. The range of waxes, scents, colours, and candle styles gives the two hours real substance, and the cabin setting suits a relaxed celebration.

The best match is a birthday group, hen party, baby shower, or beginner who wants to try candle making without buying all the equipment first. At $66.83, the price is fair when you count the instruction, materials, bubbly for adults, and take-home work.

I would pause only if you want advanced technical training, a city sightseeing tour, or a bargain-priced craft class. For everyone else, confirm the 2pm start, ask about current group discounts, and book with enough time before your event.

FAQ

Where does the candle-making workshop take place?

The workshop takes place at Charlie Doodle, 14a Wilbury Road, Brighton and Hove, Hove BN3 3JN, UK.

What time does the workshop start?

The scheduled start time is 2pm.

How long does the experience last?

The workshop lasts approximately two hours.

What types of candles will I make?

You will make a selection of floating, container, and beeswax candles.

What materials are used?

The workshop uses 100% pure Eco-Soy wax, essential oils, fragrances, colour dyes, wicks, and beeswax.

Can under-18s attend?

Most people can participate, and a 13th birthday group attended a session. Alcoholic beverages are allowed only for people aged 18 and over.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the experience are not accepted for a refund.