FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
YOUR EXPERIENCE
Opening Hours:
Wednesday – Saturday
Experiences available between 10am – 5pm.
Collections 11am – 3pm.
We are sometimes closed during these hours delivering mobile workshops. Please text us on 07931 306414 before you drop in to collect.
Open all year round expect for bank holidays and a two week Christmas break.
How does it work?
You need to book online for experiences, workshops, and classes. Payment is taken in full by card when you confirm the booking and you’ll receive an email confirmation. For Pottery Painting bookings, you pay a deposit per person and the balance on the day.
For one-off experiences, you will receive a demonstration from us before helping with your throwing, hand building or painting. Our potters are on hand for as much or as little help needed.
Some experiences include painting and decorating your project or, you can add an extra hour when booking to ensure there’s space on the day to stay longer.
Do I need to bring anything with me?
POTTERY PAINTING & HANDBUILDING WORKSHOPS: We provide all the materials you need, including aprons. To make the most of your time, come with some ideas printed out or on your phone.
THROWING EXPERIENCES: Bring a hand/tea towel and something to tie back long hair. Clay washes out of clothes, and we provide aprons.
WEEKLY CLASSES: We have basic tools in the studio but recommend bringing a set of tools so that you have exactly what you’ll need. Bring a hand/tea towel. If you have any projects you’d like to do, bring along ideas printed out, on your phone or sketches.
DAY EXPERIENCES: Bring a hand/tea towel. If you have any projects you’d like to do, bring along ideas printed out, on your phone or sketches. Bring a packed lunch as there aren’t any shops within walking distance.
PARTIES/GROUPS: Your party will either be painting, throwing or hand building so bring along the materials in the related section. You’re welcome to bring snacks/alcoholic drink and to decorate your area of the studio. Let us know if you’d like to use our outside picnic benches in good weather.
What if I don’t finish my pottery?
Sessions are a set duration depending on the activity. It’s unusual that you don’t have time to finish but if that’s the case, you can return on another day. This costs £12 studio fee per hour.
Can I bring food/drink with me?
We allow small snacks but be mindful of trying to keep these separate from clay, glazes, and paints. Avoid bringing greasy food as the residue can affect the glazing process.
You can BYOB (bring your own booze); make sure to bring plastic cups with you!
Remember, creative sessions fly by, so prioritise your time for your activity. Please take any rubbish with you at the end of the session.
We have tea, coffee, and hot chocolate in the studio to make yourself for a £1 donation.
Can I do handprints/footprints/pawprints on pottery?
Book the Adult & Infant ticket for Pottery Painting or the Clay Hand & Footprints activity. The team can then make time to help with your prints.
The paint is non-toxic, but please bring wet wipes with you to clean up afterwards.
If Pottery Painting and you’d like us to do any writing for you, this is 50p per word. Writing is included at no extra charge for Clay Hand & Footprints.
We love doing dog paw prints in clay, you can book a Clay Pawprint session online.
Where can I park?
We have a gravel car park with plenty of room. Even if collecting, please drive round to the car park as a courtesy to other customers.
Can I accompany someone but not participate myself?
We understand that you may not want to participate but cannot guarantee that we’ll have extra seating.
There are some lovely nearby cafés that the team will be happy to direct you to if you don’t fancy joining in.
Can I bring a dog with me?
We love dogs in the studio! Please mention this in your booking notes so we can check our treat tub is full.
What payment methods do you accept?
Cash, Card, BACS, Experience Vouchers
Are you wheelchair friendly?
Yes! Our team has experience working with customers with a range of accessibility needs.
For wheelchairs, our carpark is an uneven surface (gravelled). There is a slope up into the studio and the doorways are standard width (approx. 30 inches). We don’t have accessible toilet facilities but have an outdoor compost toilet in a small shed.
If you have any questions or specific requirements, email us at studio@tarkapottery.co.uk.
BOOKING
How do I book?
To book, click here. You do need to book rather than just showing up. We may not have space for walk-ins, or the team may be working at an outreach event.
Can I rearrange my booking once made?
Please check our T&Cs when you book. You can email studio@tarkapottery.co.uk to request to rearrange your booking.
What if there isn’t a convenient time available to book online?
We can sometimes make an experience available on a different day. If you’d like to book in at a different day/time, email us at studio@tarkapottery.co.uk.
If you’re having any other trouble booking online, call on 07931 306414 – the team are happy to book you in over the phone.
How much does it cost?
We have activities to suit all budgets. Starting from approx. £35 per person to £135 for a full day in the studio tailored to you.
Can I leave my child unattended at the studio?
At times this might be possible for ae 12+ but please contact us to ask in advance.
We cannot accept responsibility for children and require a contact number for a responsible adult in the nearby area.
What ages are your experiences for?
Our Potter’s Wheel Experience is suitable from age 2 and Pottery Painting is for all ages! Sessions are up to 2 hours long but children under 10 are likely finish earlier.
Other throwing experiences are suitable for ages 16+ except for the Friends & Family Throwing Experience which is for ages 10+ with a minimum of 2 adults.
Weekly Classes are for adults only (18+). We also run Family Workshops on Fridays during school holidays, perfect for all ages, with or without children.
What happens to my booking deposit?
Usually, we take full payment on booking. With groups and parties, we require a £50 deposit with full payment 4 weeks before the date. Please read our Terms & Conditions for our cancellation policy.
For Pottery Painting, you will pay a £10 deposit per person which is deducted from your bill on the day.
I paid a deposit but missed my session!
If you didn’t let us know before the session, then any payment is retained by us. Please be understanding and respect our cancellation policy.
COLLECTION & DELIVERY
When can I collect my pottery?
Pottery will be ready up to 4 weeks after your experience and you have 2 months to return and collect. If you can’t collect, send someone else or let us know. We try to chase up anyone who hasn’t collected, but if we do not hear back, we dispose of uncollected pottery as we sadly don’t have enough storage space.
Text us on 07931 306414 before you come to collect to make sure a member of the team is there. Sometimes we run outreach sessions and close the studio at short notice.
Please bring a box or bag to collect your pottery.
Can I have my pottery posted to me?
Yes. We can post your items to you for £5 per pot.
We safely send hundreds of parcels a year. If you are having pottery posted, the team can advise what will be safer to post so please ask if unsure!
Our expert packer, Lynne, will carefully wrap your precious pottery but we cannot accept any responsibility for breakages in the post.
It’s been 1 year since I painted, and I never came back to collect my pot!
We try to contact all customers to remind them to collect pots but, unfortunately, items are disposed of if we do not hear from you. You agree and acknowledge this when you book.
AFTERCARE
Can I put my pottery in the microwave/dishwasher?
We recommend hand washing pottery made in the studio to ensure it lasts. The heat of the microwave/dishwasher may negatively affect your items.
Is my pottery suitable for use with food and drink?
Pottery painting bisque when glazed is suitable for food/drink consumption, handmade or thrown pots cannot be guaranteed to be food safe.
FIRING & OUR KILNS
After your activity, our experienced team take care firing your pottery. Kilns can be unpredictable so occasionally there may be imperfections.
We advise that you follow the tuition from our studio team to make sure your pots have the best chance of turning out as you hoped!
EXPERIENCE VOUCHERS
Do you sell Gift Vouchers?
Yes! You can buy them here.
When can I book my experience?
Once you have received your voucher, use the code to book online.
Can I upgrade or exchange my voucher?
You can book onto an alternative experience with your voucher. If your activity is more expensive, you will be required to pay the difference and if cheaper, we will not issue any refund.
Vouchers cannot be exchanged for cash.
How long is my voucher valid for?
12 months from date of purchase unless otherwise stated.
Can I extend the date of a voucher?
Expired vouchers cannot be extended. Valid vouchers may be extended at our discretion.
Email studio@tarkapottery.co.uk if you wish to make an extension request before the expiry date.
What’s the Tarka Pottery cancellation policy?
Please read our Terms & Conditions for our full cancellation policy.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
What’s the Environmental Policy?
At Tarka Pottery, we aim to minimise our effect on the environment.
We re-use any packaging that we receive from suppliers and majority of our packaging materials are recyclable.
We recycle as much clay as possible, and our kilns are powered by solar energy.