Before your visit:

How to make payment:

If you opted to pay by bank transfer you will receive an email from us within 2-4 days. In this email you’ll find all the details of how to make payment. Make sure to email us once you’ve paid so we can mark you as attending. Please make payment within 7 days of receiving your invoice.

If you’d like to pay by card, give us a call during our opening hours and we’ll process your payment over the phone. Please call and make payment within 7 days of making your booking.

Got a gift voucher? Make sure to bring it with you when you visit. If you think you might forget, take a picture of it on your phone as a backup.

If your plans have changed and you need to cancel or amend your booking, please let us know as soon as possible so we can offer your place to someone else. There is a strict 48hr cancellation + refunds policy for all making bookings, so please provide plenty of notice if you need to amend or cancel your booking. This applies to all payment methods.

What to wear:

It’s best to choose an outfit that you can pop in the washing machine, you aren’t likely to get very dirty, perhaps a splash or fine spray of clay water at worst, however knowing it can go in the wash afterwards is good for peace of mind. Same goes for for your shoes.

You’ll be sitting on a stool, in a position similar to riding a horse, so clothes you can move in, and are comfortable sitting like a sumo wrestler in public in 🤭

We’ll provide you with an apron, but if you’d prefer to bring your own you’re very welcome to!

We’ll ask you to tie long hair up and remove any jewellery or watches from your elbows down, but if you have a ring you cant get off, don’t worry too much. It’s the classic health + safety while using powerful machinery, remove / tie back anything that could get caught or tangled.

Our top tip is to keep your nails short. Long nails can act like a rake through the clay and really do make it trickier. If long nails are your thing we can help you make it work, but be warned it’s considerably harder!

On the day of your visit:

How to find us:

No matter your transport method, a quick search on Google Maps should help you find the quickest and easiest route.

The Pottery Experience, 81 Fern Avenue, Jesmond, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, NE2 2RA. 0191 908 7802.

We hope that you’ll consider carpooling, walking and using public transport when possible.

For more details visit our contact page.

Parking:

There are a limited number of free parking spaces in front of the shop, and we’re surrounded by permitted parking, that is mostly free between 9am - 5pm but please do check the signs! Our free parking is for customers only. Anyone who chooses to use our free parking should remove their car at the end of the session.

It is agreed in our lease that no one is to park in the free parking after 5pm and we ask that you kindly help keep us out of trouble by abiding by this.

Timings:

Your taster throwing session will last 1-1.5 hours, please arrive 5 minutes before your session is due to start. If you arrive late the session will start without you.

If you arrive early, please wait in your car / outside the studio / take a walk around our neighbour (and BFF’s) antiques shop - Fern Avenue Antiques Centre, they’ve got loads of gems to have a look at. Plus Seppi + Claire had a go at taster throwing so they’ll fill you full of confidence!

How your session will run:

When you arrive we’ll run you though some paper work and give you your very important ticket number (please heed our warnings and take a picture of this so you don’t lose it). You’ll hang your coats / bags up and get kitted out with an apron. There will be up to 6 people taking part in your lesson, each person will have their own wheel to work on.

One of our super talent pottery teachers will give you a demonstration to show you the ropes and fill you full of confidence. After this it’s your go! They will talk you through each stage and remind you of the moves as you create your first ever pot (a bit like you’re all doing a synchronised danced routine). You’ll be making two pots each, with a short break in between of about 5 minutes while our potters re-set your wheel with your next ball of clay and then you’re ready to make your second pot.

All our teachers are knowledgeable, patient and love helping people discover the wonders of turning a spinning lump of clay into pots. As it’s a class for complete beginners you can expect to make a small bowl you could use for keys or jewellery, a little plant pot or if things go very well you could try a a mini vase. This class does not include making handles or plates.

After your session:

Booking to paint your pots:

[Don’t try and do this until AFTER you have had your making session]. On the very important ticket we mentioned earlier we’ll have written a 1 month window that you can return to paint your pots in. It’s super important you remember to paint your pots within this 1 month window as we simply do not have the space to hold on to your pots for any longer. To book your painting session please use the live calendar at the bottom of this page or give us a call in the studio on 0191 908 7802. Please make sure you have your ticket number to hand (found on your VIP ticket), it’ll be something like P-42.

If you can’t find time to paint within your given time frame, you can always pick up your pots with in the window and take them home, then book in for a later date to paint your pieces.

If you have booked a taster throwing session for one, only one person will be able to paint the pots you made during your session and the same for a session for two - six people etc. If you would like to bring an extra person along, they can paint a new piece off the wall, let us know if you will be doing this in the extra info box on the painting booking form.

Painting your pots:

Before you start painting we’ll give you an informative + inspiring painting demonstration. Feel free to take a look at our Instagram and Pinterest before you visit to get your creative juices flowing. (Please note: lots of the pottery featured on our instagram are pieces that were made by professionals in Italy and painted by people who visit the studio which is why they are very large and with handles).

You have up to 2hrs to paint your pots, so if you’re a detailed kind of person perhaps pick one pot to paint a detailed design and another with a simpler design so you don’t have to rush.