Lunchtime Workshops for Landmark Offices Manchester

This post is part of The Workshop Diaries, a behind-the-scenes series exploring how I design and run creative workshops.

Landmark Manchester is a bright, welcoming office building on Oxford Road, just off St Peter’s Square, home to a mix of corporate tenants and organisations. Over time, it’s become a place where creativity and work sit comfortably alongside one another, and where taking a proper break in the middle of the day is actively encouraged.

My workshops at Landmark take place in the building’s open, light-filled foyer. People come down from different floors and offices, sometimes with colleagues they work closely with, sometimes alongside people they’ve never met before. There’s usually a familiar mix of faces and first-timers, which creates a really easy, friendly atmosphere from the start.

Designing workshops for a working lunch hour

Over the past year we’ve tried a few different formats at Landmark. We’ve run short, bookable 45-minute embroidery sessions, usually delivered back-to-back so people can choose the slot that fits their lunch break. More recently, we’ve also experimented with drop-in textile printing sessions, running over a longer window from late morning through to early afternoon.

The drop-in format worked particularly well. People could join in without overcommitting time during a busy workday, stay for ten minutes or an hour, and leave whenever they needed to. It also encouraged people who might not normally sign up for a workshop to stop by and have a go, simply because the activity was visible, relaxed, and already in motion.

Working with time, energy, and busy brains

When you’re designing for lunchtime workshops, time is always the first thing to consider. People are often running late from meetings, trying to grab food, or squeezing in a bit of fresh air alongside everything else. Because of that, the creative activity has to feel doable straight away.

If we’re doing embroidery, I’ll usually focus on one stitch and show how it can be used to create something simple but effective. I’m very conscious that lunchtime is people’s chance to switch off, not take in lots of instructions, so everything is paced gently and kept clear. The activity needs to be adaptable too. Some people want to make something quickly and be done, others like having the option to take a kit back to their desk and carry on later.

Quite a few people have told me they keep their embroidery at work, dipping back into it over the week. What starts as one mindful lunch break becomes something they return to again and again.

What shifts during the session

At the start of a session, there’s often a noticeable sense of “work mode”. People arrive with their minds still on emails, meetings, or whatever’s coming up next. But as the session goes on, shoulders drop, hands slow down, and conversations move away from work and into something more personal and connected.

By the end, people leave feeling genuinely refreshed. Like they’ve actually had a break, not just stepped away from their desk. Doing something with your hands creates space for your brain to mull things over quietly in the background, which often means people head back into the afternoon feeling clearer, more energised, and sometimes with a new perspective on problems they were stuck on earlier.

• "Steph hosts workshops in our office building for occupiers. Our latest workshop with her was for our Easter celebrations, where she taught Spring embroidery designs on hoops.Steph is always friendly and energetic, and has built great relationships with our occupiers. She's a great teacher, and is always patient with anyone finding things a bit more difficult. She provides all materials needed, with lots to take home, and her complimentary stitch guide to take home.We love how she always has something different for us to try, and how friendly she is with everyone who attends our workshops. People always ask when she'll be back next!"

  - Kirsty Uzokwe - Landmark McR

Why this model works so well for offices

Lunchtime workshops work because they don’t ask people to give up more of their time. There’s no pressure to stay late or commit to an evening session after a long day. Instead, the creative escape comes to them, built around the reality of a busy working environment.

Having the workshops in the foyer makes them feel open and inviting, rather than tucked away or intimidating. They become part of the rhythm of the building, something you can join in with naturally as part of your day.

Looking back

Running regular workshops at Landmark has been a really clear reminder of how powerful small, thoughtful creative moments can be in professional spaces. Again and again, I’ve seen how giving people permission to pause, make something, and connect with others improves not just how they feel, but how they work together.

These sessions show what’s possible when creativity is treated as part of everyday working life, not something extra or indulgent. They’ve been a joy to run, and they continue to shape how I design workshops for offices, teams, and organisations elsewhere.

“You leave feeling like you’ve actually had a break, not just stepped away from your desk.”

Thinking about something similar?

If you’re based in an office or shared workspace and are curious about running lunchtime creative workshops for your team or building, I’d love to chat. I design sessions that work around real working days, time pressures, and energy levels, creating something that feels restorative, welcoming, and genuinely enjoyable.

You can find out more about my corporate workshops, or get in touch to talk through what might work for your space. Email me on hoopandfred@gmail.com