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Learn to make and care for your own sourdough starter in a four-hour, hands-on workshop inside a lively London microbrewery. Small groups, printed guides, and a take-home starter make this an ideal class for visitors and locals alike.
Learn to make and care for your own sourdough starter in a four-hour, hands-on workshop inside a lively London microbrewery. Small groups, printed guides, and a take-home starter make this an ideal class for visitors and locals alike.
Book with London Beer Lab
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by London Beer Lab · London, England
Sourdough Bread-Making Workshop in London, England sits inside a friendly microbrewery taproom where fermentation of grain and hops meet. For four hours you’ll move through the full arc of sourdough baking: building and caring for a starter, mixing and kneading, shaping, proofing, scoring, and baking. The session is designed for adults (18+) and limited to ten people, so instruction stays hands-on and focused. The setting is part classroom, part social kitchen: long communal tables, flour-dusted surfaces, and the low hum of taps behind the bar create an approachable urban culinary scene. Key features of the experience include a live sourdough starter to take home, a loaf prepared during class and baked to share, printed recipes and technique guides, and optional craft-beer pairings from the microbrewery. You’ll learn the science behind natural fermentation—how wild yeast and lactic acid bacteria leaven and flavor bread—and practical techniques like gentle folding, tension-building shaping, and decorative scoring. This workshop feels especially local because bread and beer share historical roots in London’s food culture. The instructors focus on realistic, repeatable methods that translate to a small home kitchen: mixing by hand, timing proofs to suit city schedules, and maintaining starter health with simple feeds. The course is suitable for complete beginners and bakers who want to refine their crumb structure or scoring designs. What makes it stand out in London’s food scene is the combination of craft brewing atmosphere and small-group instruction; you’re not in a sterile culinary school but in a lively taproom where the aroma of malt and fresh bread mingle. The workshop’s small size (maximum ten participants) ensures personalized feedback on shaping and oven technique, while the take-home starter and printed guides make the learning durable. Practical details: the session lasts about four hours and requires standing and light lifting of bowls and proofing baskets. Bring an appetite for tasting and a willingness to get your hands floury. You’ll leave with a ready-to-bake loaf, freshly baked samples, and the confidence to repeat the process at home. For travelers based in London, this class makes a compact, memorable food experience that pairs well with market visits and canal walks. It’s an excellent choice for bakers who want to learn by doing, food lovers who enjoy craft beer, or visitors seeking an authentic, hands-on slice of London craft culture. The class also emphasizes sustainable baking habits—minimizing waste by using starter discard in pancakes or crackers and encouraging participants to source local flour. Whether you’re visiting for an afternoon workshop or planning a repeat visit to hone scoring designs, this workshop delivers practical techniques, tasting rewards, and a tangible souvenir: a living starter that brings a bit of London back to your kitchen and new skills.
easy.
4 hours.
Light: able to stand for extended periods and lift mixing bowls up to ~10 lb.
No—this workshop is designed for all skill levels with step-by-step instruction and hands-on practice.
Check airline rules for transporting live cultures; the workshop provides guidance for travel-friendly packaging.
The baking itself is naturally vegetarian and can be vegan if dairy toppings are avoided; check with the host about pairings.
This class focuses on wheat-based sourdough; contact the operator in advance to discuss accommodations or alternatives.
Participants prepare a home-sized loaf during class and receive a ready-to-bake piece plus samples of freshly baked bread.
The microbrewery offers optional craft-beer pairings; confirm whether they are included or available for purchase when booking.
Bread and brewing have long intersected in London’s food history; natural leavening techniques predate commercial yeast in British baking traditions.
Instructors emphasize minimizing food waste—using starter discard in recipes and suggesting local flour to reduce transport impact.
London Beer Lab is a London-based brewing and fermentation studio offering hands-on beer workshops, guided tastings and fermentation classes. Located in London, England, the business runs a variety of structured experiences designed for enthusiasts, groups and beginners. Sessions include a 4.5-hour Individual Beer Making and Tasting Workshop where participants collaborate with a small group to brew unique beer styles and sample a range of beers, and a group-focused Brew Your Own Beer experience that produces around 60 bottles of a personalized brew. The programme also features a 2-hour 10 Craft Beer Tasting and a 1.5–2 hour 10 Alcohol Free Craft Beers Tasting, both aimed at expanding knowledge of beer styles and flavour profiles. For those interested in fermentation beyond beer, the Hot Sauce & Sauerkraut Workshop is a two-hour hands-on class led by the Lazy Scientist and an award-winning chef, where participants create their first ferments to take home. Workshops are practical and guided, with clear step-by-step processes from mashing and boiling to bottling and tasting. Bookings include specific session durations and product takeaways where noted — for example, the Individual Beer Making and Tasting Workshop includes a £25 credit redeemable for beer or home brew. London Beer Lab's offerings provide a structured way to learn brewing techniques, taste a wide selection of beers, and make tangible, take-home products.
Book with London Beer Lab