Emma's Pottery Parlour
BEST FOR
Ages 0-11
ENTRY
from £20
SETTING
Indoors
WHERE
West Wickham
What it’s like
Paint a mug or a plate from over 300 pieces, glazed and fired for one price, in a 90-minute session you'll want to book at weekends.
You pick a piece off the shelf, sit down and paint it. That's the whole idea, and the shelf is the thing: over 300 pieces, from small pots up to the biggest items, all glazed and fired with no firing fee on top. Most pieces land around £20 to £30, the largest up to £50. A plain mug looks cheap until you've spent an hour on it and realise you're emotionally attached.
Little ones can do baby hand and footprints on pottery, which is the one to save for a first birthday or a new baby present. There's clay imprinting too, and mini potters art clubs and school holiday workshops for kids who want more than a one-off. Ages run 0 to 11 on the general sessions, though the weekday workshops are 8 and over and that's the only time you can leave a child. Otherwise an adult supervises under-12s, and only two non-painters per booking, so don't bring the whole extended family to watch.
You get about 1.5 hours, longer at quiet times if nobody's booked your table after you. Pottery is ready seven days later, and that's the bit people forget: collect within six weeks or it's disposed of, and there's a £10 fee if you come back another day to finish an unfinished piece. The £10 table deposit is non-refundable and it's taken when you book online, which stings a bit if plans change.
Food's drinks and light snacks only, with proper Lavazza coffee, Teapigs teas and milkshakes, and nothing brought in from outside. Book a table at weekends and in school holidays; midweek you can usually walk in unless you're a big group. Parking is the pay and display behind Sainsbury's off the High Street, paid through the RINGO app. Closed Mondays.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- 3 to 11; the baby prints and the 8+ holiday workshops are the standouts
- Booking
- Weekdays often walk-in, but book ahead at weekends and school holidays
- Parking
- Pay and display car park behind Sainsbury's, off West Wickham High Street, pay via RINGO app
- How long to allow
- 1.5 hours, longer at quiet times if the table is free
- Food
- Drinks and light snacks on site
- Picnics
- No outside food or drink in the studio
- Pushchairs
- Baby friendly studio - baby changing and high chairs available
- Parties
- Children's birthdays for ages 8+ (and adults)
- Worth knowing
- No firing fee on top of the piece price - glazing and firing included
- The £10 table deposit doesn't come back if you cancel, so book once you're sure of the date
- Most tables seat up to 4, and only 2 non-painters are allowed per booking
- Your piece is ready 7 days later, and it needs collecting within 6 weeks
- Closed Mondays, and weekend and holiday tables should be booked ahead
- Firing and glazing are included in the piece price, so there's no extra bill at the end
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
Most pieces average £20 to £30 and the biggest items go up to £50, which includes glazing and firing. There's no price list because the stock changes, so it depends what you pick up.
Do we need to book?
Weekends and school holidays, yes, and they strongly advise it. Midweek you can often just turn up unless you're a large group. Clay and out print castings and silver fingerprint jewellery are appointment only.
How long do we get?
1.5 hours at busy times. If it's quiet and nobody's booked your table, you can stay longer.
Is there parking?
Pay and display behind Sainsbury's, off West Wickham High Street, and you pay through the RINGO app.
Can I leave my child there?
Only if they're 8 or over and booked into a school holiday workshop. Every other painting session needs an adult supervising children under 12.
Is it OK with a baby?
Baby changing and high chairs are both there, and the paints and glazes are non-toxic, water based and washable, so hand and footprints are fine.
When do we get the pottery back?
Seven days after you paint it. You get a collection receipt and they won't ring you, and it needs collecting within six weeks or it can be disposed of.
What if we don't finish it?
Take it home with you. Coming back another day to finish a piece costs a £10 returning fee.
Can we bring our own food?
No, food and drink from elsewhere isn't allowed in the studio. They do drinks and light snacks, including Lavazza coffees, Teapigs teas, hot chocolate, smoothies and milkshakes. Cakes are only for booked birthday gatherings.
Can we have a birthday party here?
For ages 8 and up and adults, on Friday at 4pm, Saturday at 10:30am or Sunday at 11:30am for 1.5 hours. Packages start at £225 for up to 10 children, with extra guests at £22.50 each, and there's a £40 non-refundable deposit that can't be moved to another date.
What happens if more people turn up than we booked?
Tell them beforehand. It's a small shop and most tables seat up to 4, so extra people may not fit at your table.
Is there a deposit?
£10, non-refundable, taken when you book a table online.
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