Candle Making Workshop and Bubbly in UK

The best part of this Brighton experience is that you do not simply watch a demonstration. You work with 100% pure Eco-Soy wax, essential oils, fragrance, colour dyes, and different candle styles, then leave with your own creations. The workshop takes place in a cabin in Charlie’s back garden, giving the session a friendly, informal feel.

I like the hands-on variety, since you make floating, container, and beeswax candles rather than repeating one basic project. I also like the small maximum group of 15, plus the chance to enjoy bubbly while you work. The main point to check is the timing: the listed start is 2:00 pm, and one booking had a timing error, though Charlie was able to help with an alternative session.

Key points at a glance

• Three candle styles: Make floating, container, and beeswax candles during the workshop.
• Eco-Soy wax: Learn how wax types differ and work with 100% pure Eco-Soy wax.
• Creative choices: Use essential oils, fragrances, and colour dyes to shape your designs.
• Back-garden setting: The workshop is held in a cabin at Charlie’s home in Hove.
• Small group format: Up to 15 people can join, keeping the class more manageable.
• Useful for celebrations: Private lessons, group discounts, and custom times or locations are available by enquiry.

What you actually make in two hours

This is a practical craft class, not a candle-shop visit with a short activity tacked on. Over about two hours, you learn the basics of candle making and use those lessons to produce several types of candle.

The session covers wax, oils, wicks, and candle-making methods. That matters because a candle is not just melted wax with a scent stirred in. The type of wax affects how the candle behaves, the wick affects how it burns, and the fragrance and dye affect both appearance and character.

You work with pure Eco-Soy wax, along with essential oils, fragrance options, and colour dyes. The information provided does not specify the exact scent or colour range available on a given date, so choices may vary. Still, the format gives you room to make decisions instead of copying one fixed design.

The finished selection includes floating candles, container candles, and beeswax candles. These offer three different looks and uses. Floating candles are decorative and suited to water displays, container candles are the familiar jar or vessel style, and beeswax candles give you a different material to work with and take home.

That variety is one of the strongest reasons to book. A beginner can try more than one technique in a single visit, and someone already interested in candles can compare how different waxes and forms behave.

Charlie’s cabin in Hove

The meeting point is Charlie Doodle at 14a Wilbury Road, Brighton and Hove, Hove BN3 3JN. The workshop ends at the same place, so you do not need to arrange a second pickup point or find your way across town afterward.

The class takes place in a cabin in Charlie’s back garden. This is not a formal studio or a large commercial attraction. The setting is more personal, and that helps explain why the activity suits birthday groups and small celebrations.

I like the setting for a craft workshop because it keeps the focus on making things. You are not being pushed through a crowded attraction or rushed between different rooms. At the same time, a garden cabin may feel more intimate than some people expect, especially if the group reaches the maximum of 15. If you prefer a large, airy studio, this may not be your ideal format.

The location is near public transportation, according to the activity information. Exact directions from Brighton station or other stops are not provided, so you should check your route before setting out. The meeting point is in Hove, rather than in central Brighton itself.

A beginner class with useful instruction

The workshop is designed for beginners, but it is not limited to people who have never made a candle. You learn the basic materials and methods, then get time to test your own ideas with fragrance and decoration.

One strong feature is the chance to understand why different supplies matter. If you have bought a candle-making kit before and felt unsure about wick sizes, wax types, or scent levels, this kind of guided introduction can make the process less mysterious.

The class also leaves room for experimentation. One participant found the session useful even as a beginner and came away wanting to continue with candle making and try new fragrances and decorations. That is a good sign for anyone who wants more than a one-off souvenir.

Still, two hours passes quickly. You should expect an introduction and a focused making session, not a full technical course in candle production. If you want detailed instruction on advanced candle chemistry, large-scale production, or business use, this workshop may be too basic.

The provider also offers candle-making kits and online lessons. Those options are useful if you enjoy the class and want to continue at home, though the supplied details do not state what each kit contains or how much the lessons cost.

Why the floating, container, and beeswax mix matters

Many craft workshops give you one finished object. Here, the three candle styles make the session feel more like a sampler of candle making.

Floating candles are small and decorative. They can be used as part of a display, and making them gives you a chance to work with a different shape from a candle held in a jar.

Container candles are more familiar and practical. You make the candle inside a vessel, which changes how the wax and wick are arranged. This is likely the style most people picture when they think of scented candles.

Beeswax candles add another material to the mix. The supplied information does not explain whether you roll, pour, or shape the beeswax, so do not arrive expecting a particular technique. What you can expect is a chance to make and take home a beeswax candle alongside the soy-based projects.

The finished pieces are part of the value. You are not paying only for two hours of entertainment. You also leave with a selection of handmade candles that can serve as decorations, gifts, or reminders of the day.

Scent, colour, and the fun of making choices

The creative appeal comes from choosing essential oils, fragrances, and colour dyes. These options let you make candles that feel personal instead of identical to everyone else’s.

I would think about your preferred scent before arriving, but keep an open mind. The workshop may offer combinations you would not normally pick for a shop-bought candle. The exact range is not listed, so the available selection could depend on the session.

Colour also changes the experience. A plain candle can look simple and classic, while dyed wax gives you more room to make something suited to a birthday, hen party, baby shower, or other celebration.

The activity information also mentions other craft workshops run by Charlie Doodle, including nipple tassels, flower crowns, personalised map cufflinks, necklaces, key-rings, and pineapple pimping. These are not part of this candle session, but they show that private groups can ask about different creative formats.

Bubbly and group celebrations

The title pairs candle making with bubbly, giving the afternoon a social angle. Alcoholic beverages are allowed only for people aged 18 and over. The supplied details do not say how much bubbly is included, so you should confirm that point if it affects your booking decision.

That age rule matters for mixed-age groups. A 13th birthday party can still attend the candle workshop, as one booking did, but anyone under 18 cannot drink the alcohol. If your group includes teenagers, make sure the celebration plan works without relying on the bubbly.

The format suits hen parties, baby showers, and birthdays because everyone has a task. A meal or drink can fill an hour, but candle making gives the group something to talk about and take home.

Private group lessons can be arranged at a different time, date, or location by enquiry. Group discounts are also offered. These are useful options, but neither the discount amount nor the private-group price is stated, so ask before booking.

The $66.83 price and what you get for it

At $66.83 per person, this is not the cheapest way to buy a candle. That is not really the right comparison. You are paying for instruction, materials, access to several candle styles, a social activity, and finished pieces to take home.

The value is strongest if you enjoy making things or need a structured activity for a group. The class gives you basic candle-making knowledge, creative control, and a set of handmade items. For a birthday or hen party, that can be better value than paying for an attraction where the group simply watches or walks around.

The price is less compelling if you only want a finished scented candle and have no interest in the process. You could likely buy a candle for less, but you would miss the practical lesson and the shared activity.

The lack of detail about the quantity and size of each finished candle is worth noting. You know you take home floating, container, and beeswax candles, but not the exact number or dimensions. If the amount of finished product matters to you, ask Charlie Doodle before booking.

Timing, group size, and the one detail to double-check

The standard start time is 2:00 pm, and the experience lasts about two hours. Plan to arrive at the Hove meeting point with enough time to find 14a Wilbury Road and settle in.

One booking ran into a timing problem because the workshop time had been recorded incorrectly. Charlie was able to offer a 10:00 am session and had room to accommodate the group, which saved a 13th birthday celebration from a difficult start.

That was a good practical fix, but it also gives you a clear tip: confirm the start time before the day of the workshop, particularly if you are arranging a birthday, a meal, or transport afterward.

The maximum group size is 15. That is small enough to keep the session personal, but the cabin setting means the experience may feel fairly close-knit at full capacity. Smaller private groups should have more space for questions and creative choices.

Who will enjoy this most

I would recommend this activity to:

• First-time candle makers who want clear guidance
• Friends planning a birthday or hen party
• Families looking for a creative activity
• Adults who enjoy fragrance, home décor, or handmade gifts
• Groups that prefer making something together to visiting a standard attraction
• People who want to continue the hobby with a kit or online lesson

It is also suitable for most participants, and service animals are allowed. The activity information says most people can take part, but it does not provide detailed physical-access information for the cabin. If you have specific mobility or access needs, contact the provider first.

This is less suited to someone seeking a long, advanced course, a large professional studio, or a tightly timed sightseeing stop. It is a craft session with a relaxed social feel, not a major Brighton attraction.

Booking and cancellation advice

Confirmation is received when you book, and the experience is offered in English. Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time.

If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience, you will not receive a refund. Changes made inside that same 24-hour window are not accepted, and the cut-off uses local time in Brighton.

That policy is reasonable for a small workshop, where supplies and space may be prepared in advance. Still, check your plans carefully before the final day, especially if you are booking for a group.

Should you book the Brighton candle workshop?

Book it if you want a hands-on afternoon with a personal setting, several candle styles, and enough guidance to keep a beginner busy. The strongest points are the mix of floating, container, and beeswax candles, the creative use of scent and colour, and the chance to take home work you made yourself.

I would be cautious if you need exact information about the number and size of finished candles, the amount of bubbly, or accessibility inside the garden cabin. Ask those questions before paying.

For a birthday, hen party, baby shower, or small group that likes practical crafts, $66.83 can be fair value. For a quick souvenir or a highly technical candle-making course, choose something else.

FAQ

Where does the candle-making workshop take place?

It starts and ends at Charlie Doodle, 14a Wilbury Road, Brighton and Hove, Hove BN3 3JN, UK. The workshop takes place in a cabin in Charlie’s back garden.

What time does the workshop start?

The listed start time is 2:00 pm.

How long does the experience last?

The workshop lasts approximately two hours.

What types of candles can I make?

You can make floating candles, container candles, and beeswax candles.

What materials are used?

The workshop uses 100% pure Eco-Soy wax, essential oils, fragrances, colour dyes, different wicks, and other candle-making materials.

Is bubbly included?

The experience title refers to bubbly, and alcoholic beverages are allowed for people aged 18 and over. The provided information does not specify the amount served.

Is the workshop suitable for beginners?

Yes. The session teaches the basics of waxes, oils, wicks, and candle-making methods, and most people can participate.

How many people can join?

The maximum group size is 15 people.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start are not refundable.