From10-11 October 2025, the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst will host the very first Festival of Upholstery – a brand-new event dedicated to celebrating the heritage craft, creativity and community of traditional and modern upholstery.
For two days, upholsterers, designers, students, suppliers and enthusiasts will come together for an inspiring programme of live demonstrations, workshops, panel discussions, and guest talks from leading names in the industry.
Far more than a trade show, the Festival has been created by upholsterers, for upholsterers – offering practical skills, expert insight, and the chance to connect with fellow makers in one historic and prestigious location.
At a time when conversations around over-consumption, thrifting, and second-hand living are growing louder, this festival shines a spotlight on the original repair, restore, and reuse craft. With vintage and sustainable living firmly on the rise, the event offers visitors the chance to connect directly with other makers, see the craft in action with on the day demos and discover why upholstery is more relevant than ever today.
Festival Highlights
This year’s inaugural program features an exciting line-up of tv crafts people, industry guest speakers and technical experts, including:
Ray Clarke; BBC1 Money for Nothing, Salvage Hunters, president of the AMUSF (Association of Master Upholsterers & Soft Furnishings) & Vicky Grubb; Author, Co-Presenter of – Sit on This Podcast. For the first time ever, they shoot their podcast live from the Festival, with special guest Heather Porter, upholstery conservationist.
Zoe Pocock; Pink Gorilla Media, BBC1 Make it at Market – how to master social media for creative businesses a topic that has so much relevance for creative businesses.
Cecily Benson (The Upholsterer’s Daughter) – the value of teaching and running an upholstery school.
Robbie Richardson – informal Breakfast Q&A with an industry veteran.
Delyth Fetherston-Dilke – sustainability in contemporary upholstery, member of the government’s British Standards committee for furniture fire safety. Focused on advancing natural, non-toxic furniture fillings as an alternative to petrochemical foam and advocating for sustainable practices within the furniture industry.
The Festival is delighted to announce it will also be welcoming The Worshipful the Mayor of the Borough of Bracknell Forest, Councilor Janet Cochrane (2025–2026). The Mayor’s attendance underlines the importance of celebrating traditional crafts in the local community and recognizing upholstery as both a heritage skill and a profession with a strong future.
Alongside talks, visitors can take part in hands-on demonstrations with experts in everything from hand-stitched lampshades, traditional wool mattress making, handmade heritage passementerie, French polishing and more.
More Than Just Upholstery
Business insights – information on running a business, professional photography skills and even a session on physio exercises with Sarah Franklin for those common health issues physical workers face when working with their hands.
Historic setting – guided tours of the Sandhurst Royal Military Academy site, hosted by the Sandhurst Trust.
Community focus – as a not-for-profit event, surpluses will be reinvested into future festivals and charitable causes and every ticket holder is entered into a free prize draw to be in with the chance of winning a range of prizes donated for this event.
