Learn how to "throw" a pot on a spinning wheel!
Package 1: £25 per person/pot: Steps 1, 3 & 4 only. Approx. 20-30mins tuition.

Package 2: £35 per person/pot includes Step 2 below. Approx. 40mins tuition.

Advance payment required when booking.
Maximum group size: 4
For example, a group of 4 people who booked Package 2 would take 3 hours. We recommend groups book a pottery painting activity table so you can decorate a matching mug, bowl or plate whilst waiting your turn on the wheel - there would be an additional cost for this activity.
Minimum age: 7yrs

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Appointments: Wednesday, Thursday: 10am, 12pm or 3pm; Friday: 12pm or 2.30pm; Saturday: 10am or 3.30pm. (Appointments subject to availability and the size of your group).

All Packages include: one-to-one, personalised tuition at our potters wheel, clay, glazing and firing. Booking T&Cs below.
Step 1: Creating your pot on the wheel. One-to-one tuition per person, per pot. One person at a time. Your tutor will talk you through each step of the process, while you get hands-on with the clay.
Step 2: (Package 2 only) Add coloured glazes to your pot while it is still on the wheel, using a banding technique (shown in the photo).
Step 3: Leave your pot with us to dry out naturally and completely - slowly, over several days, or it will crack. Your pot will be bisque fired, to give it strength, this can take 2-3 days. It will then be dipped in a clear glaze top-coat - and left to dry for 24 hours. The base of your pot will be cleaned so that it won't stick to the kiln shelf during firing. Your name and the date of your activity will be engraved into the base of your pot for ease of identification. Your pot will then be fired a second time in our kiln, slowly ramping up to a temperature of 1000°C, then cooling back down again very slowly - otherwise it will crack. This can take 2-3 days. This firing makes the surface of your pot shiny, waterproof and foodsafe. Ta Da! your pot is ready for everyday use.
Step 4: Collect your pot from the Studio two weeks after your Potters Wheel Experience and take it home to use for picnics, party nibbles, movie night snacks... (not suitable for microwaves or dishwashers).

 

A complete, fired pot is not guaranteed: A successful pot depends on the the reactions of the student to the process on the day. Please cut your nails short - long nails will get stuck in the clay, which will not only be painful but will also destroy your pot. Extra clay for replacement pots will incur an additional fee of £10 per pot as this will result in extending the original booked time at the wheel, as well as additional clay, which will impact on other bookings. It is not possible to re-use the same clay immediately because it will be waterlogged.

The following Health & Safety measures are currently in place:

• Hands-on Art respectfully relies on all customers taking responsibility and re-booking if they have Covid, cold or flu symptoms - or have been in contact with anyone with these symptoms - to ensure the Health & Safety of other visitors to the Studio and the Studio staff. Please see the Terms & Conditions for information about booking alterations.

• We have hand-washing facilities for all visitors at the end of their activity.

• The tutor can only work with one visitor/group member at the potters wheel at a time.

• Spectators must be pre-arranged and are subject to available space in the potters wheel area. They must be seated at all times.

• The potters wheel activity time will be strictly monitored according to the booked package to ensure all bookings start on time.

• Hair that is shoulder-length or longer must be tied back.

• Please wear flat, close-toed shoes.

• Regrettably we cannot recommend this activity to anyone who is heavily pregnant or who has back/hip issues.

• Whilst every care has been taken, it is possible that some people may have an allergic reaction to clay, please notify us on booking if any member of your group has experienced a reaction to clay before.

• Please note: clay must not be consumed. Hands-on Art is not a food venue, please do not bring food to the Studio.

• Drinks may not be consumed during a potters wheel experience - whether taking part or observing. Drinks are available for purchase whilst pottery painting if you have also booked this as a separate activity.

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Terms & Conditions for Potters Wheel bookings

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• A complete, fired pot is not guaranteed. A successful pot depends on the reactions of the student to the process on the day. Extra clay for replacement pots will incur an additional fee of £10 per pot as this will result in extending time at the wheel, as well as additional clay, which will impact on other bookings. It is not possible to re-use the same clay immediately because it will be waterlogged.

• All Potters Wheel Experience bookings should be paid for in full at point of purchase.

• All payments are considered booking and cancellation fee and are non-refundable.

• Payments can be made in person at the Studio with cash or card, during our opening hours (see calendar on website homepage) 01753 206 265; or by Bank Transfer or SumUp payment link (details on request).

• Booking alterations are subject to availability and require 14 days written notice: Maximum 2 alterations allowed within 3 months of the original booking date. Any further alterations will be considered cancellation of the original booking and constitutes a new booking require new payment. In the unusual event of Hands-on Art Adventures cancelling an activity booking, an alternative date or full refund will be offered.

• All activities are allocated a specific time period to accommodate other bookings, please ensure your group arrive and depart on time. Pottery activities cannot be extended to accommodate late arrival of your group or individual group members - we are obliged to be prepared for further booking commitments at the Studio the same day.

• Your fired pots will be ready for collection two weeks after your activity date - they must be collected within three months of your activity, regrettably we do not have space to store them beyond this point.

• We quality check every item when it comes out of the kiln, before we pack it ready for you to collect. You are very welcome to unpack your pottery in the Studio before taking it home. Unfortunately we cannot be held responsible for any damage that occurs to your pottery items once they have been taken from the Studio.

• All visitors are asked to respect the Health & Safety measure in place at the Hands-on Art Studio at the time of their visit. Anyone who feels unable to do this may be asked to leave, forfeiting their activity with no recourse to Hands-on Art Adventures.

• These Terms & Conditions are at the discretion of Hands-on Art Adventures and are subject to change at any point, without notice, to ensure the smooth planning, organisation and running of your booked activity.

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Potters Wheel Voucher Purchase/Use Terms & Conditions

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• Gift and Raffle Vouchers cannot be returned or refunded.

• Gift and Raffle Vouchers cannot be converted into a cash value - vouchers are not transferrable & cannot be traded against another item deemed by the voucher purchaser or recipient to be of similar ‘value’.

• If the full value of the Voucher is not redeemed during one visit, the 'balance' cannot be converted into cash - the unused amount will become a credit note and must be used before the original expiry date.

• Hands-on Art will not accept liability for lost, stolen or damaged vouchers.

• Gift and Raffle Vouchers are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase, gift date, or a "valid from" date agreed prior to purchase eg. the recipient's birthday or Christmas Day.

• Gift and Raffle Vouchers must be printed off and brought to the Studio to be redeemed.

• Gift and Raffle Vouchers contain a unique ID and can only be used once.

• Please Note: all Gift Vouchers purchased from and Raffle Vouchers donated by Hands-on Art during 2019, 2020 & 2021 affected by Government Lockdowns were extended by 12 months. This was advertised on our website, and all social media until the end of 2022. Gift Vouchers purchased from and Raffle Vouchers donated by Hands-on Art during 2019, 2020 & 2021 are no longer valid for use.

• These Terms & Conditions are at the discretion of Hands-on Art Adventures and are subject to change at any point, without notice, to ensure the smooth planning, organisation and running of your activity.