Summer Lace Retreat 2026
9-14 August 2026
at
The Ammerdown Centre,
Radstock, Somerset, BA3 5SW
Lace Guild members:
Single £1195, Shared £1145
Non-Lacemaking Guests
Shared £650
Day Delegate places at this event will be available later
​Day delegate 5 days inc. tuition and lunch £730
Day delegate 5 days inc. tuition, lunch and supper £880
If you wish to attend as a day delegate for just one or two days
please contact Sharon at The Hollie
Tutors:
Alison Thoburn - Point Ground And Continental Laces
Jan Gardiner - Lace As You Like It
Doreen Creed - Honiton With A Twist
The Lace Guild Summer Lace Retreat 2026 will be held at The Ammerdown Centre in Radstock, from Sunday 9th – Friday 14th August. Ammerdown is a peaceful retreat, set in the heart of the Somerset countryside, just 12 miles south of Bath and 16 miles from Bristol. Offering space and time away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, this retreat centre nestles in the grounds of Ammerdown Park, where visitors can relax in the garden or wander further afield through woodland and open countryside.
There is home cooked food with special dietary requirements catered for, comfortable ensuite bedrooms and fully equipped meeting rooms, with an exquisite chapel in its midst. Ammerdown is fully accessible with a lift, accessible bathrooms, hearing loops and classrooms on the ground floor.
There are 31 single rooms available for students, a maximum of 36 places spread over 3 classes. Therefore, we ask that you consider sharing a room with a friend so that as many people as possible are able to attend this very special Summer Lace Retreat. We need at least 6 rooms to be shared so that we can accommodate everyone. This venue is exclusive to us for this event, as it was in 2024 when we received no complaints! We would appreciate your support once again to celebrate our Golden Anniversary in style.
We are currently in the process of updating our Bursaries and Grants. Applications are invited to help with the cost of the tuition for this event. These will appear on the website along with this article in due course – just keep an eye out.
Closer to the event you will be put in contact with your Tutor to discuss your project for the week.
There are many places of interest nearby, including Bath, Wells and Glastonbury. As well as being close to Bath, Radstock is home to the Radstock Museum where you will find exhibits on its history and geology.
Places of interest to visit include the Roman Baths, Bath Abbey, Cheddar Reservoir, Iford Manor Gardens and Kilver Court Gardens.
The Lace Guild will, again, be the sole user of Ammerdown during the week. Therefore, we will not cancel any of the courses and we will be able to use any of the meeting rooms.
We have also set up a wider range of payment methods this time, including being able to pay using instalments over 6 months (December 2025 to May 2026). There is no large initial Deposit. However you choose to pay, we do need your first instalment by the end of December and the last by the end of May 2026.
If there are places still available, we will be offering Members the opportunity to attend just to make lace as Day Delegates. So, keep an eye out for further announcements.
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We will be welcoming your 3 Tutors who will provide a wide range of bobbin lace, including Point Ground and Continental (Binche, Flanders and Idrija) with Alison, Honiton with Doreen and Jan who can provide advice and guidance on all English laces (including Torchon, Beds and Needle lace) along with designing and problem solving.
Alison Thoburn – Point Ground and Continental Laces
I started making Honiton lace with Caroline Biggins in 1985 and quickly became fascinated with all types of lace both English and Continental. I am absorbed with all aspects of lacemaking, including designing and pattern adaptation. Colour frequently appears in my lace. I have exhibited lace with Devon Lace Teachers and at OIDFA Congresses. I have been teaching lacemaking in South Devon since 2009. I have an individualised approach supporting students to achieve their goals and extend their knowledge and skills. Since retiring from full time work I now have more time for lacemaking.
This course is for all levels, including beginners, in any of the following laces – Bucks Point/other point ground laces and continental laces, for example Binche, Flanders Idrija. You can work on a pattern of your own choice or one provided. This is your opportunity to learn something new – a new lace, a different technique, starting that ‘one-day’ pattern.
Jan Gardiner – Lace: As You Like It
These popular workshops were specifically set up for the participant to bring along whatever lace they wish to work on and to have a good time. Jan has a wide experience in both bobbin and needle laces from home and abroad and delights in helping the lacemaker with tricky things like designing, taking on a new lace type, etc.
If preferred, just bring along that ‘long job’ or Un-Finished Object to work on, or contact Jan to discuss a specific project being provided. All levels of lacemaking experience are very welcome. Jan is able to help with Bedfordshire and needlelace, so just talk to Jan.
Doreen Creed – “Honiton with a Twist”
I have been exclusively doing Honiton lace since 1987. My main claim to fame is the map of the United Kingdom. I teach students to think out of the box and to enjoy what you are doing. I have been teaching students all over the country for about 25 years.
Patterns can be enlarged if you want to learn the techniques but have trouble seeing. Working with a fine thread is not difficult just a little different. For the new to Honiton, I have patterns that are a bit different from traditional, that make it easier to work.
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If you are already doing Honiton lace, I can help with the patterns of your choice. I now use techniques that make things easier and give slightly different finishes to traditional Honiton, I call it Modern Honiton.
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This week you will need basic lace-making skills. If you are already working on a project, I am happy for you to bring it along, or you can start your own design.
My main aim is to make you feel Honiton is fun and not the mystery some make it out to be.
Registration and Payment
The Trustees at The Lace Guild are very aware that an easier way to pay for this type of event is required. We have attempted to do this by setting up this event on Ticket Tailor in our Box Office to provide you with various payment methods. You will complete a Booking Form during the registration process and you are able to order your commemorative bobbin too. Please follow the instructions below and do not hesitate to contact us should there be an issue. We will try to resolve it as soon as we are able, but please be patient as this is new to us too. (If you prefer to pay by card over the phone instructions are included below.) We look forward to welcoming as many of you as possible to this event.
Ticket Tailor
During the registration process you will be asked to complete a form which will be sent automatically to The Hollies.
There are two payment options on Ticket Tailor.
Choose Payment Plan A to pay your deposit now, and pay the remaining balance by 31st May 2026.
Choose Payment Plan B to pay your deposit now, and then pay the rest in 5 monthly instalments.
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There are several ways to pay using either of these Payment Plans:
1. PayPal (with option to use PayPal Later to pay in instalments)
2. Credit card via PayPal
3. Debit card via PayPal
4. Bank Transfer online within 7 days of booking (after booking you will receive an email with an invoice attached giving the payment details, please pay within 7 days giving your Ticket Tailor order number as the payment reference)
If you have selected Payment Plan B, then the 6 instalments should be paid by 31st December (deposit)
31st January
28th February
31st March
30th April
31st May
You will receive an email confirmation after each payment (with a link to the next payment) and an email reminder a week before each payment is due.
If you have any problems with this process please contact The Hollies.
Phone
Fill in the booking form provided with the Autumn issue of Lace.
Phone The Hollies on 01384 390 739 (Wednesday to Friday, 10am to 3pm) with your credit or debit card ready.
Post or email your booking form to The Hollies.