Bearded pig forge reviews

16 Oct 23'

Simon reviewed: Creating a Viking knife an introduction to forging and knife making at Bearded Pig Forge

"Fantastic day spent with Spike, who is a patient and knowledgeable tutor. Great to come away with a finished piece of work too. Would thoroughly recommend."

10 Jul 23'

Brad reviewed: Creating a Viking knife an introduction to forging and knife making at Bearded Pig Forge

"Spike is a great teacher, really good at demonstrating and explaining before letting you get stuck in. I thought the course was very accessible and brilliant fun. Would recommend! "

10 Apr 23'

Brett Osborne reviewed: Creating a Viking knife an introduction to forging and knife making at Bearded Pig Forge

"What an excellent day! Get yourself behind a hammer, in a very hot room full of sparks flying around,... and make yourself a Viking knife! Spike is a very helpful & knowledgeable instructor. He was on hand all day for tutoring, safety and advice on fixing mistakes when we didn't listen! Thanks for a great day Spike. "

3 Apr 23'

Liz reviewed: Creating a Viking knife an introduction to forging and knife making at Bearded Pig Forge

"Brilliant workshop, Spike is a great teacher, very knowledgeable. Had alot of laughs, learnt new skills and some physics to boot! Highly recommend!"

1 Apr 23'

Sarah reviewed: Creating a Viking knife an introduction to forging and knife making at Bearded Pig Forge

"If you're looking for something a bit different and like to take something away at the end of the course, then this is going to be right up your street. Me and my husband went along to this, as we wanted something we could both get enthusiastic about, and basket weaving wasn't going to tick that box. Also bear in mind I'm 5 foot 2, and don't really have a lot in the way of muscles, but even I was able to do this. I did need some help with the hammering as I didn't quite have the clout at times, but Spike was able to help when I needed it, and I was never made to feel that it was too much trouble. And talking of Spike, he is an amazingly patient instructor, he talks you through it all at a pace that works, and then is on hand if things go a bit off -track. Nothing is too much trouble and he is incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about his craft. Well worth a go if you fancy something that's fun with a bit of danger. "

13 Mar 23'

Mark Gregory reviewed: Creating a Viking knife an introduction to forging and knife making at Bearded Pig Forge

"We had a great day at The Bearded Pig forge. Spike is an excellent tutor, he kept us entertained with his knowledge and stories. Highly recommended experience, thanks Spike"

1 Aug 22'

Richard reviewed: Creating a Viking knife an introduction to forging and knife making at Bearded Pig Forge

"This was a fantastic introduction to blacksmithing, with Spike being a patient and empathetic tutor. It is hot and strenuous work. The day goes by really quickly. Spike is helpful, and in no way patronising to clearly struggling beginners (me!), and, at the end of the day, you leave with a functioning product. I'd recommend this course to anyone (but maybe consider going when the climate outside is slightly cooler!)"

28 Jun 22'

Joel McNamara reviewed: Creating a Viking knife an introduction to forging and knife making at Bearded Pig Forge

"To start I must say I had a fantastic day and had the aches in my arms the following day. Spike was informative took me through the stages step by step and then watched and advised as I progressed through the day. I have already recommended this as an experience to some friends and family and I will probably join them."

11 Apr 22'

Mike reviewed: Creating a Viking knife an introduction to forging and knife making at Bearded Pig Forge

"What a wonderful day making a Viking knife. Spike is a born teacher - very knowledgeable with an outstanding manner. His knowledge and clear enthusiasm for his craft come shining through and he is obviously delighted to pass it on and share it with others. He gives a thorough safety briefing at the beginning and during the course and keeps a careful, albeit, unobtrusive eye on his participants. I would have no hesitation in recommending this course and any others that Spike offers to someone who would enjoy an experience with a difference."

11 Apr 22'

Bill Warrilow reviewed: Creating a Viking knife an introduction to forging and knife making at Bearded Pig Forge

"I was gifted the 2 day bladesmithing course as a retirement gift by my colleagues- how well they know me! Spike proved to be an excellent teacher - his gentle and encouraging manner, with plenty of humour, made for a brilliant learning experience. I now have a beautiful traditional Seax belt knife to use and treasure! I came to the class with all sorts of ideas and Spike patiently helped me to craft something that is astonishingly close to what I dreamed of - I will certainly join him for another workshop in the future. His setup here at birchington is delightful and I can only thank him for a “5 star experience “!"

5 Apr 22'

Nick reviewed: Creating a Viking knife an introduction to forging and knife making at Bearded Pig Forge

"Had a fantastic day making a Viking knife. Spike is a great teacher, gave good clear instructions and was always supportive and helpful when needed. Spikes clear safety instructions and technical demonstrations made it simple enough for even myself to make a decent knife without injury. Thinking of doing a two day course now as I had so much fun. This maybe the start of a new hobby."

17 Jan 22'

Mike Walters reviewed: Creating a Viking knife an introduction to forging and knife making at Bearded Pig Forge

"This was an excellent well run course by Spike. A day to make a forged Viking knife. Spike is great teacher and I would highly recommend the course."

17 Jan 22'

Han reviewed: Creating a Viking knife an introduction to forging and knife making at Bearded Pig Forge

"A fantastic day all round. From the moment we arrived Spike was welcoming and informative, with clear instructions through demonstration of each step and patience as he guided us through the construction of our own items. At the start we were told it’ll be the best form of therapy, well… bashing metal with a hammer all day is surprisingly therapeutic! Having never done anything like this before, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but by the end of the day both myself and my dad felt really proud of the items we’d made, and gave us renewed respect for the skills and stamina involved. We thoroughly enjoyed being so engrossed in the project and seeing it evolve over the course of the day and will be recommending it to everyone we know!"

17 Jan 22'

Mark sawyer reviewed: Creating a Viking knife an introduction to forging and knife making at Bearded Pig Forge

"Really really exceeded all my expectations. Great, interesting and patient (!) teacher. Couldn’t recommend this highly enough"

25 Oct 21'

Tom Joy reviewed: Creating a Viking knife an introduction to forging and knife making at Bearded Pig Forge

"Bearded Pig Forge is tucked away in a lovely spot, which felt ideal as a location to get away to and make something by hand in this method. I did the one day course, making a viking knife and it was an excellent start for someone who has never crafted metal work before. Spike was a great teacher in every way. Super patient, very clear with directions and ready to help whilst also instilling confidence in us to learn the process through the trials and errors we could afford. I was delighted with the results and it's brilliant to be able to make a functional knife that I can use in the kitchen daily. I'd highly recommend this course and Spike to anyone! I hope I can go back and learn some more some time!"

6 Oct 21'

Josh reviewed: Creating a Viking knife an introduction to forging and knife making at Bearded Pig Forge

"First of all the information email received before arrival got me to exactly where I needed to be no trouble! Secondly Spike is a wicked guy! Welcoming, talkative and funny! Throughout the day we had demonstrations step by step on how to complete our work. While working he is not overbearing but will help show you correct any hiccups along the way! By the end of the day I walked away with a massive sense of accomplishment, an experience I’ll never forget and a potential new hobby! But always remember FIRE HOT!"

28 Sep 21'

Gordon reviewed: Creating a Viking knife an introduction to forging and knife making at Bearded Pig Forge

"A fascinating day, well out of my usual comfort zone. We start with a small bar of iron and finish with a basic knife, all without cutting, simply "hammer and tongs" (and a lot of heat). Come with clothes able to get dirty (this is a forge, not an exhibition) and you will get very hot at times. I liked being treated as an Adult but with careful safety briefings. I felt that Spike really got the best from us all, and he carefully helped when my skills were struggling. Allow time to find the place on the site, it takes a while and is not that clearly signposted (not at all at the start). Bring your own (simple) lunch, as the serving time for a sandwich take-away at a café on site was rather long."

15 Sep 21'

will pearson reviewed: Creating a Viking knife an introduction to forging and knife making at Bearded Pig Forge

"First off its a bugger to find right at the end of the estate which is massive, post code covers a huge area, so be aware when using a sat nav, or perhaps it was just my poor sense of direction, that said, what a great day. Spike is a great teacher lots of patience. and you can work at your own pace with no one hurrying you to catch up if you're a more methodical worker , and he is happy to answer even the most basic questions. For those of us using a forge for the first time, lots of historical info on blacksmithing and some little know historical facts thrown in while you're working. My group of four, used a gas forge to make a viking knife, out of a straight bar of metal from scratch. If you get stuck Spike was there to not only supervise, but help you when it just goes all wrong. The day starts with a good safety talk, light hearted without making you feel what have I signed up for, but making you aware its not a good idea to wander about with a red hot piece of metal in your hand but wait for him to come to you if your stuck. He's a good teacher and made the day fun, I would do another day with him, and of course you get to keep what you make. A good tip is wear layers as its hot in the forge , my wife and son's got me the course for my 60th although I was almost 61 by the time i took it because of covid, but worth the wait. I would recommend the day"

8 Aug 21'

Jon Stokes reviewed: Creating a Viking knife an introduction to forging and knife making at Bearded Pig Forge

"I did the one day basic blacksmithing course, coming out of the end of the day with a knife (which when you start the day with a rectangular piece of steel seems a bit daunting!). Spike is an excellent teacher, explaining and demonstrating each part of the process at a time, and the pace of the day never feels rushed. He's also really patient, helping where needed, but making sure you understand what you are doing. Overall a really, really fun day which I'd recommend to anyone. We also learned a bit about the history, chemistry and physics of blacksmithing as well. Will definitely be back soon to do some more :-)"

3 Aug 21'

Olivia reviewed: Creating a Viking knife an introduction to forging and knife making at Bearded Pig Forge

"I would highly recommend this course to anyone who wants to have a go at something new! Spike was a brilliant instructor. Really helpful, friendly and extremely knowledgeable (I learnt some really interesting facts from him!) Couldn’t fault the day at all. 10/10 would recommend!"

11 Jul 21'

Colin Newman reviewed: Creating a Viking knife an introduction to forging and knife making at Bearded Pig Forge

"Fantastic day led with skill and very supportive manner. Great mix of teaching, great practical learning and a careful yet relaxed approach to learning. Thoroughly enjoyed the experience."

6 May 21'

Pete Halloran reviewed: Creating a Viking knife an introduction to forging and knife making at Bearded Pig Forge

"After doing the knife making day with Spike I can only highly recommend it! Spike was an awesome instructor, showing us what to do and offering advice as and when asked. He was also a fantastic source of knowledge over all areas of smithing as well as a teller of bad jokes :-) This was such a good experience taking a plain piece of steel and coming out with a fully useable knife at the end of the day. I'll definitely be looking to go back again to do the two day course to get experience of handle making."

17 Jul 20'

Chris Organ reviewed: Creating a Viking knife an introduction to forging and knife making at Bearded Pig Forge

"Great day. Never done forge metalworking before but Spike explained and demonstrated every process clearly and then supported me through making my own knife, which I now have to keep."

14 Jan 20'

Nathan Payne reviewed: Creating a Viking knife an introduction to forging and knife making at Bearded Pig Forge

"I spent two days at the Bearded Pig Forge with Spike as a course bought for me as a gift. It was one of the single most fun and interesting experiences I’ve had. Spike is incredibly patient and very easy to work with, offering help and guidance whenever you need or want it. Clearly a very good teacher! He is also very knowledgable and clearly passionate about his craft which adds even more to the experience. It is hard work but you definitely get as much out of it as you put in. I would recommend a course with Spike to anyone and everyone. Will definitely be looking at going back and working on another project."

10 Nov 19'

John reviewed: Creating a Viking knife an introduction to forging and knife making at Bearded Pig Forge

"I received this present as a gift after geeking out on forged in fire and I wanted to try and see how hard it was. The answer is that it was harder and easier! It takes a lot longer than you think to work the metal and it's quite technical in places. What I found though was that Spike was infinitely patient, allowing you to work after he demonstrated the techniques and then making suggestions to improve your own technique. I felt like the work I produced was mine even though Spike gave me as much or as little guidance as I needed. He is a good teacher and it is obviously something he is passionate and skilled at. He was keen to pass on these skills. I highly recommended this course to anyone."