North Laine Jewellery School - General Jewellery Evening Class

If you've been looking for a creative outlet right in the heart of the city, the North Laine Jewellery School is definitely worth checking out. It’s located at 37 Gloucester Road, tucked inside Julian Stephens, making it super central and easy to get to—it’s only about a five-minute walk from Brighton Station. This spot is dedicated to teaching jewellery making and silversmithing, and it operates year-round, making it a reliable option regardless of the season.

What’s great is that they genuinely cater to all levels. Whether you’re a complete beginner wanting to try out this fascinating craft or a more experienced jeweller looking to refine specific techniques, they have a structure for you. The main commitment involves courses running across three ten-week terms—Autumn, Winter, and Summer—which keeps things consistent. They split the learning into two main tracks: General Jewellery classes, which are informal and focus on developing core manual skills, covering everything from simple rings to more complex set pieces, keeping groups small (maximum 6 students). Then there are the Advanced Jewellery classes, specifically for those with prior experience, where the curriculum is tailored to individual needs and includes specialized techniques like precious stone setting, taught by Pierpaolo, in even smaller groups of up to four.

If a ten-week commitment feels too much to start with, they also run Weekend Courses. These are designed to be a fun way to pick up specific skills like enamelling, wax carving, silversmithing, or even cuttlefish casting, with the clear goal of walking away with a finished piece of jewellery or silverware you made yourself. For those interested in the longer courses, the General Jewellery classes typically run as night sessions on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday evenings, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. They also dedicate Wednesday nights to specialized sessions like Wax Carving and Sand Casting. Since this is a professional school offering detailed instruction, booking is required, and they accept major cards like American Express, MasterCard, and Visa for payment. The physical workshop/shop itself generally keeps hours from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. most weekdays and Saturdays, though they close earlier on Wednesdays and are closed on Sundays.