Obby alternatives after the ClassBento acquisition

What was Obby?

Obby (stylised as obby) was a London-founded craft and creative experience marketplace operating in the UK from around 2016. It focused on in-person craft workshops and experiences — pottery, jewellery making, candle making, macramé — with a strong London presence and good curation standards. It had a reputation for higher-quality listings than some larger competitors, with a focus on independent studios.

At its peak, Obby listed thousands of classes across London and other UK cities. It raised venture funding and expanded into online classes during the pandemic before returning focus to in-person experiences.

Why did ClassBento acquire Obby?

ClassBento acquired Obby to consolidate the UK craft experience marketplace — which, despite its growth, remained fragmented between several competing platforms. For ClassBento, the acquisition added Obby's London listings, its user base, and its studio relationships. The deal was announced in December 2024.

What changed after the acquisition

For most users, the main practical change is the interface — you're now using ClassBento rather than Obby. Your booking history, saved favourites, and account details transferred. The studio listings migrated in batches over the weeks following the acquisition.

Some Obby users reported that the ClassBento experience felt less curated than Obby's — ClassBento's larger catalogue includes more commercial studios alongside the independent makers that made Obby's reputation. This is a real trade-off: more choice, slightly less consistent curation.

The best alternatives to Obby (now ClassBento)

ClassBento (the direct successor)

Since ClassBento absorbed Obby, it's the logical starting point for anyone looking for what Obby offered. The money-back guarantee and open-value gift vouchers are both strong, and the catalogue is larger than Obby ever was.

CraftCourses (the independent maker alternative)

If what you valued about Obby was the independent, curated feel — CraftCourses is the closest match. B Corp certified, lower commissions to makers, and better rural coverage. The booking experience is slightly less polished than ClassBento but the maker quality is high. See our full CraftCourses review.