The Makers Mill
The Makers Mill is a private creative venue in Keswick, Cumbria, operating a ticketed arts and crafts workshop programme, an Art & Design Gallery showcasing work from 30+ local makers, and four resident maker studios. It serves individual craft enthusiasts, tourists, private groups, and local artists in the Lake District.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersKeswick, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Makers Mill does
The Makers Mill is a private creative venue operating from a single site at Greta Side, Keswick, Cumbria, in the heart of the English Lake District. Its core offering is an integrated three-part proposition: a public arts and crafts workshop programme covering ten or more disciplines (glass, ceramics, textiles, printing, mosaics, felting, stone carving, leatherwork, painting, willow weaving), an Art & Design Gallery that displays and retails work from over 30 local artists and designer-makers, and four permanent professional studios housing resident makers in Handmade Furniture, Ceramics, Textiles, and Mixed Media. Workshop sessions are delivered by a roster of named professional tutors and local maker-businesses who run on-site classes on a recurring basis. The venue is open Thursday through Saturday, 10am to 4pm.
The business generates revenue through five streams: ticketed public workshop fees (half-day £50–£105, two-day £136–£171, full-day £88.50–£220, with additional material fees of £10–£45 payable to tutors), gallery artwork sales on consignment or commission, rental income from the four permanent maker studios, exclusive private group bookings for corporate and celebration events, and laser-engraved oak gift vouchers sold in denominations from £5 to £100 online, in-person, by telephone, or by email. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the company website (themakersmill.co.uk), walk-in gallery traffic, and private booking enquiries; marketing is conducted through organic social media (Facebook and Instagram), an email newsletter, word-of-mouth referrals, and Lake District tourism footfall.
The company is a small privately-held UK business (company number 12006539) with 1–10 employees, no disclosed funding, no parent company, and no subsidiary structure. There is no proprietary technology platform beyond a standard e-commerce/booking website; the operational infrastructure is the physical venue, the tutor relationships, and the gallery community. The headcount range and single-location model with constrained opening days indicate capacity-limited operations rather than scalable SaaS-style economics.
The Makers Mill firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Makers Mill
- Legal name
- The Makers Mill
- Website
- https://themakersmill.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Makers Mill is a private creative venue in Keswick, Cumbria, operating a ticketed arts and crafts workshop programme, an Art & Design Gallery showcasing work from 30+ local makers, and four resident maker studios. It serves individual craft enthusiasts, tourists, private groups, and local artists in the Lake District.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Makers Mill industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Arts & Crafts Workshops and Creative Venue Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- Crafts & Maker Arts (Ceramics, Textiles, Jewelry, Mixed Media) (EDAMAAAD)
Keywords
Where The Makers Mill is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Keswick
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Makers Mill business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Public Workshop Fees: Revenue generated from ticketed arts and crafts workshops open to the general public. Workshops range from half-day (£50-£105) to full-day (£88.50-£220) sessions, covering disciplines including glass, ceramics, textiles, printing, mosaics, stone carving, and felting. Additional material fees (£10-£45) are paid directly to tutors on the day.
- Gift Vouchers: Prepaid gift vouchers redeemable for workshop attendance or gallery purchases. Sold in denominations from £5 to £100, available for purchase online, in person at the gallery, or by telephone/email. Provides flexible gifting options for consumers.
- Gallery Artwork Sales: Commission or sales revenue from the display and sale of work by over 30 local artists and Designer/Makers in the Art & Design Gallery. Artwork spans multiple mediums including paint, print, ceramics, textiles, jewellery, knitwear, furniture, and glassware.
- Private Group Bookings: Revenue from exclusive hire of workshop spaces for private groups, allowing customised creative experiences for corporate events, celebrations, or team-building activities.
- Permanent Maker Studios Rental: Rental income from four professional work studios (Handmade Furniture, Ceramics, Textiles, Mixed Media) housed within the venue, occupied by resident maker businesses.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Half-Day Workshops |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Full-Day Workshops |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Two-Day Workshops |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Premium Full-Day Experience |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | Gift Vouchers |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Christmas/Workshop Events |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
The Makers Mill product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Makers Mill is a creative venue in central Keswick, Cumbria that runs a scheduled programme of arts and crafts workshops (glass, ceramics, textiles, printing, mosaics, stone carving, felting, leatherwork, painting) led by professional tutors. The venue also operates an exhibiting Art & Design Gallery that displays and sells handmade work from over 30 local artists and designer-makers, and houses four permanent maker studios (Handmade Furniture, Ceramics, Textiles, Mixed Media) rented to resident creative businesses.
Product overview
The Makers Mill is a creative venue in Keswick, Cumbria offering a unified experience combining an Art & Design Gallery, Arts and Crafts Workshops, and Permanent Makers Studios. The core offering is the Arts and Crafts Workshops program featuring diverse creative disciplines (ceramics, glass, textiles, printing, mosaics, felting, stone carving, painting) taught by professional artists. The Gallery showcases and sells work from over 30 local artists, while four Permanent Makers Studios house resident craftspeople. Gift Vouchers are available as an add-on product. The venue also offers private group bookings for custom workshop experiences.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Arts and Crafts Workshops
- Art & Design Gallery
- Permanent Makers Studios
- Private Group Workshop Bookings
- Gift Vouchers Laser-engraved oak gift vouchers redeemable for all workshops and gallery items, available in denominations of £5, £10, £20, £30, £40, and £100. Sold online, in person at the gallery, or by telephone and email.
Companies that use The Makers Mill
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Makers Mill technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Makers Mill partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Nikki ClarkcoreStained glass artist from Gilcrux, West Cumbria, who designs and makes stained glass windows for private homes and public buildings, and conducts kiln-fused and slumped glass work. Nikki runs copper foiling, Tiffany method, and glass painting workshops at The Makers Mill, including Copper Foiled Sun Catchers, Christmas Decorations, and Glass Painting and Sgraffito sessions.
- Marianne LusbycoreProfessional potter who conducts wheel throwing and slip-casting workshops at The Makers Mill. Marianne provides wheel throwing instruction, prepares and fires/glazes participant pieces, and runs multiple pottery workshops throughout the year.
- Jane BardgettcoreLocal artist and feltmaker who conducts needle felting, wet felting, and felt painting workshops. Jane teaches participants to create felted pictures, animal portraits, and Christmas decorations using wool fibres, with tool kits provided to attendees for continued practice at home.
- Helen CluescoreMosaic artist who runs workshops on mosaic mirror, bird bath, landscape, and Christmas decoration projects using the direct method with materials including vintage crockery, coloured glass, and ceramic.
- Emily BrookscoreArtist and printmaker who conducts linocut printing, TetraPak printing, pet portrait, and Christmas card workshops. Emily provides expert tuition on carving, ink rolling, and hand-printing techniques using water-based printing inks.
- Ivy Makers (Alby)coreLeather craft business run by Alby, offering workshops on making leather belts, glasses cases, cross body bags, and buckle bags. Ivy Makers provides all materials including leather, hardware, and tools for participant use.
- Hen Ogledd GlasscoreGlass blowing studio run by Josh and Ann, offering half-day and full-day glass blowing experiences, Christmas bauble sessions, and lampwork (beads and bugs pot buddies) workshops. Hen Ogledd conducts multiple sessions throughout the year at the venue.
- North Lakes Stained Glass (Kate)coreProfessional glass artist Kate with over 30 years of experience in tiffany and leadlight techniques. Featured artist on BBC TV show 'Make It At Market' (Autumn 2024). Runs everlasting succulent, spring flower bouquet, lantern, and festive flower stem workshops using the tiffany foiling method.
- RD Glass (Roxanne Denny)coreGlass artist Roxanne Denny who fell in love with glass during an Applied Arts degree. Works from home studio in the Lake District, Cumbria. Runs fused glass wave, free standing fused curve, framed fused glass picture, and Christmas wreath/wave workshops at The Makers Mill.
- Lost in Stone (Tony)coreStone carving tutor Tony who delivers introduction to stone relief carving workshops, including Cumbrian Landscape Relief Carving and Lake District wildlife or landscape carving on limestone blocks.
- Hole House (Emma Redfern)coreBag design and sewing business run by Emma Redfern. Specialises in tweed and Liberty fabric combinations. Runs Frame Bag, Fifi Craft Bag, and Pippa Satchel workshops at The Makers Mill.
- Stitched Ceramics (Cath Ball)coreCumbria-based ceramicist Cath Ball who conducts hand-building workshops including mug making and porcelain Christmas decorations using slab-building techniques. Work is glazed and fired in Cath's studio and available for collection later.
- Green Elephant (Laura)minorCreative brand specialising in upholstery, furniture restoration, and bespoke creations. Laura runs Natural Christmas Wreath workshops using fresh foliage, holly, pine cones, and ribbon on rattan wreath bases.
- Aidan LigginsminorPrinter and maker who conducts block printing workshops including Christmas table runner and lampshade making sessions, teaching composition, carving, and printing techniques onto fabric.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
The Makers Mill competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Edinburgh Printmakers: Edinburgh-based workshop and gallery offering printmaking classes, studio access, and exhibitions. Comparable as a working artist space combining gallery sales with scheduled craft workshops taught by professional practitioners, similar to The Makers Mill's printing and textiles offerings.
- Create98: Leigh-on-Sea creative community venue combining gallery, studios, and workshops for local artists and crafters. Directly comparable model to The Makers Mill: gallery exhibition space + resident maker studios + scheduled public workshops, serving a coastal/town catchment.
- West Dean College: West Sussex-based creative arts college offering short courses and workshops across multiple craft disciplines (textiles, fine art, ceramics, sculpture). Comparable to The Makers Mill as a destination creative-learning venue serving both hobbyists and serious makers through scheduled, tutor-led workshops.
Broad incumbents
- Etsy: Global online marketplace for handmade and craft goods. Comparable as a sales channel for the 30+ local makers exhibiting in The Makers Mill's gallery, though Etsy operates at vastly larger scale and as a pure e-commerce platform rather than a physical venue.
- The Arvon Foundation: UK-wide creative writing and arts charity running residential workshops and courses. Comparable workshop-led business model and audience (adult hobbyists seeking creative experiences) but operates as a larger, multi-site, grant-supported organisation rather than a single commercial venue.
- Hobbycraft: UK's largest specialist craft retailer selling arts, crafts, and hobby supplies alongside in-store workshops. Adjacent rather than directly competitive: Hobbycraft distributes craft materials at scale, while The Makers Mill delivers curated hands-on craft experiences and gallery sales.
Emerging players
- The New Craftsmen: London-based maker collective offering craft workshops, maker residencies, and curated retail of British-made craft goods. Comparable model combining workshop experiences with a curated maker ecosystem, but operating in London with a higher-end positioning.
Regional players
- Craft Scotland: Scottish craft sector body promoting and selling work by Scottish designer-makers through galleries and online. Comparable curation and maker-representation role but operates in Scotland rather than England, and primarily as a sector body rather than a single physical workshop venue.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Makers Mill social profiles
Digital presenceThe Makers Mill financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Makers Mill leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
The Makers Mill funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Makers Mill M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Makers Mill
What does The Makers Mill do?
The Makers Mill is a creative venue in central Keswick, Cumbria that runs a scheduled programme of arts and crafts workshops (glass, ceramics, textiles, printing, mosaics, stone carving, felting, leatherwork, painting) led by professional tutors. The venue also operates an exhibiting Art & Design Gallery that displays and sells handmade work from over 30 local artists and designer-makers, and houses four permanent maker studios (Handmade Furniture, Ceramics, Textiles, Mixed Media) rented to resident creative businesses.
Is The Makers Mill a public or private company?
The Makers Mill is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Makers Mill founded?
The Makers Mill was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Makers Mill based?
The Makers Mill is headquartered in Keswick, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does The Makers Mill make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Public Workshop Fees are the primary driver. The others are gift Vouchers, gallery Artwork Sales, private Group Bookings and permanent Maker Studios Rental.
Who are The Makers Mill's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Edinburgh Printmakers, Create98 and West Dean College. Broad incumbents are Etsy, The Arvon Foundation and Hobbycraft. The New Craftsmen is listed as an emerging player. Craft Scotland is listed as a regional player.
Does The Makers Mill have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Makers Mill.
What industry is The Makers Mill in?
The Makers Mill's product category is Arts & Crafts Workshops and Creative Venue Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMAAAD, Crafts & Maker Arts (Ceramics, Textiles, Jewelry, Mixed Media).