6 Top Benefits of Banter at Larkswold

Hi, it's been a while, hasn't it?

Blogging seems to have fallen off the to-do list for a few months. Thanks to the otters in our river scoffing the ducks and now we own Kanga, the pointer who likes to carry the chickens around in her mouth, we see a lot less of them, and so there is less for me to ramble on about.

Banter has always been one of the best bits about Larkswold and it continues to be so alongside cake, & our lunches. New recipes such as the date and caramel cake, chocolate chip cookies, and chocolate ginger cake all sit nicely alongside our old favourites, such as brownies, lemon drizzle and cherry flapjacks. I am still set on publishing a recipe book, so do keep telling us about all your favourites - we still get many compliments for the gluten-free pastry recipe we make for our quiches, given to us by a lovely guest.

Back to Banter

I appreciate that some of you would like a little more shhh in the studio, so if that's you, please locate yourself away from the kitchen end. Those who do sit near the kitchen are likely to be treated to many, many, many mindless hours of chit chat between Emma and I, from what key ingredient we forgot to add to a recipe (cherries in 'cherry flapjacks' or blueberries in the 'blueberry goats cheese salad' for example) how we need to compliment our new Italian coffee machine to keep him onside and discussing who is going to have the company brain cell that day.

But what IS banter?

1. Emotional Ventilation (Without the Fuss of Feelings)

Banter lets us express our innermost rage, sorrow, and existential despair — but through jokes about how Emma still can’t remember to add a teabag or in fact the water to the teapot for guests. It’s therapy, just with more eye-rolling.

2. Builds Bonds Without Hugging

As someone who was an anti-hugger type, nothing says "I value our friendship" like relentlessly mocking someone’s sunny disposition (I am, of course, talking about Emma's negative attitude) or their ability to never find their glasses (she is of course talking about herself here - Emma). It’s how we say “I love you” without making anyone uncomfortable.

3. Stress Relief, Disguised as Sarcasm

Sniping back and forth about who’s more tired (a competition no one wins) gives the brain a cheeky dopamine hit. It’s mindfulness for the emotionally constipated.

4. Keeps the Mind Sharp

Witty comebacks are mental push-ups. It’s like CrossFit, but for your sense of humour. And with less Lycra. Now I love a session in the gym or a run, but quite frankly, I can barely string the right syllables in a word together sometimes, whereas Birchy can throw out a relative quip faster than she can wipe up a sponge (which, trust me, is pretty quick). I feel it's my duty to continually feed outrageously unrealistic goals and ideas just to allow her to exercise her way and keep her old lady brain sharp.

5. Creates a Safe Space to Be Insecure (Publicly and Loudly)

By making jokes about your terrible cooking or lack of life direction, you beat everyone else to it. Self-deprecation: the British version of self-acceptance. And if Emma and I forget some of our failings, we know we can rely on the other one to bring them up - usually by taking a vote on it while we have plenty of guests in the studio.

6. Fosters Over Sharing

Who needs to “open up” when you can insult each other until someone cries (from laughter, probably)? Keeps things light, like a Victoria sponge full of existential dread. But we are ladies of a certain age. So, oversharing about the menopause, side effects from Ozempic, why my children are annoying ... and husbands - hell, the list goes on. We can always find a fellow guest who is feeling the same anger/trauma/confusion, or obsession about our banter topics.

So there we have it—banter at Larkswold is front and centre in our business model for an enhanced customer experience and the team's wellbeing program.

If you choose to come to Larkswold for the actual craft we have some great new tutors bringing their skills to the studio this year:

Selby with his portable pottery wheels

Calamity Kate with her bookbinding

Felty Rach & her felted Pots and Bowls

Louise from Create and Bloom and her excellent resin workshop

Kate from Essoldo Design (queen of all things watercolour) ran two successful sessions in March and is back again in June, and Ellie ran our first rug tufting session, where the guests totally outdid themselves creating amazing pieces.

Not enough for you? Well, if you are Jennie Craven, then no—she might already have worked her way through almost all of our sessions, so in honour of you, dear Larkswold power guest, we still have a few more up our sleeves.

Natural Skincare Workshop

Join us at the Larkswold Studio for a nourishing and hands-on Natural Skincare Workshop led by Clare Swift. Perfect for anyone curious about what goes into skincare products—or keen to create their own—this workshop blends fun, knowledge, and beautiful handmade goodies to take home.

Then, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and get making! You’ll create your own body balm, lip balm, coconut exfoliator, and two pulse-point roller balls using carefully selected natural ingredients and guided, step-by-step recipes.

£80 per person

Sunday 13th July 2-5 pm

Saturday 20th September 2-5pm

I think that’s all for this week. Enjoy your weekend and hope we see you soon.

Melinda

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