Bonbon Pottery Cafe - Kingston upon Thames
BEST FOR
Ages 0+
ENTRY
from £24
SETTING
Indoors
WHERE
Kingston upon Thames
What it’s like
Pick a pot from over 100 ceramics, paint it, and they fire it for you: £24 on average, 1.5-hour sessions, three minutes from the station.
You choose a piece from over 100 ceramics, settle in at a table, and paint it however you like. The price of the pot covers the painting and the firing, so there's no nasty surprise at the till, and you come back for the finished, glazed thing later. Kids who want more than a mug can do the Bon-Build and Shape and Shade classes instead.
Sessions run 1.5 hours, which sounds generous until a nine-year-old starts doing scales on a dragon. Average spend is around £24 per ceramic item, so a family of four can easily hit £90 before anyone's had a drink. If you run out of time and the next session has space, you can add 30 minutes for £5 each, an hour for £10 or 90 minutes for £15.
Bringing your own drinks or cold food is £5 per person, no pizza, and they ask you to clear up after yourselves. There's a café and high chairs on site, and you can add a note when booking if you want one. What you can't do is leave the kids and go shopping: children stay with you the whole time. It's a 3-minute walk from Kingston Rail Station and there's no parking at the studio, so train or bus is the sensible call, and the studio is wheelchair accessible.
Classes are strict on timing. For Bon-Build and Shape and Shade you can arrive up to 15 minutes late and after that you're not getting in, and a no-show or very late cancellation costs £5 per person. Booking online is how it works, you reserve a seat for everyone coming including yourself, and they hold a card rather than charging it upfront. Unfinished pottery can't be collected or returned at weekends, which is worth planning around. NHS staff get 10% off painting sessions with a Blue Light card.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- 4 and up; the Bon-Build and Shape and Shade classes suit school-age kids
- Booking
- Book online. Reserve seats for everyone attending
- Parking
- No parking at the Kingston studio
- Wheelchairs
- The Kingston location is wheelchair accessible
- Getting there by bus or train
- About a 3-minute walk from Kingston Rail Station
- Parties
- Hosted kids' parties and adult gatherings — book via the Bon Party / Kids Parties pages
- Worth knowing
- 10% NHS discount with a Blue Light card
- Average piece is about £24, so set a budget before the kids see the shelves
- Bring your own cold food and drink is £5 per person, no pizza
- Latecomers past 15 minutes can't join the Bon-Build and Shape and Shade classes
- No-show or very late cancellation costs £5 per person
- No parking at the studio; it's a 3-minute walk from Kingston Rail Station
Plan your visit
How much does pottery painting cost?
Each ceramic piece is priced on its own and averages around £24, which includes the painting and the firing. A family of four will usually spend £90 or more.
Do we need to book?
Yes, booking is online and you reserve a seat for everyone in your group, including adults. They hold a card rather than taking payment upfront.
How long is a session?
1.5 hours as standard. If the next session has space you can add 30 minutes for £5 per person, 60 for £10 or 90 for £15.
Can we bring our own food and drink?
You can bring your own drinks or cold food for £5 per person, ideally booked online. No pizza, and you clear up your own food waste.
Is there parking?
No parking at the Kingston studio. It's about a 3-minute walk from Kingston Rail Station, so coming by train is easier.
Can I leave my child while I pop out?
Unattended children can't be accommodated. You stay with them for the whole session.
What happens if we're late?
For the Bon-Build and Shape and Shade classes you can arrive up to 15 minutes late. After that you can't be admitted.
Is there a charge for cancelling?
A no-show or a very late cancellation is £5 per person. DIY sessions are rescheduled through the Manage Reservation link in your confirmation email.
Do you have high chairs?
Yes, and you request one by adding a note when you book online.
When can we collect the finished pottery?
Not at weekends, they don't do returns or collections then. Shipping is £9.99 for the first tracked item and £5 for each extra one if you'd rather have it sent.
Is the studio accessible?
The Kingston location is wheelchair accessible.
Is there a discount?
NHS staff get 10% off pottery painting sessions. Show your Blue Light card and ask the staff.
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