Pots2Go Ceramic Café
ENTRY
Free
SETTING
Indoors
WHERE
Harrogate
What it’s like
Paint a plate, stuff a bear or make slime, then wait a fortnight for the kiln to do its thing.
The main event is pottery painting, and the choice is bigger than you'd think: coasters and tiles from £14, mugs and bowls at £20, right up to plant pots and vases at £40. There's no studio fee on top, you just pay for the piece, which makes the pricing easier to stomach than some places that sting you twice. If pottery isn't going to hold a toddler's attention, there's Make-A-Bear with over 50 animals to choose from and stuff yourself, plus slime making with glitter and foam balls to take home. Babies and toddlers get their own thing too, hand and footprint imprints in clay.
Nobody's watching the clock here. They don't impose time limits, so a younger child might be done in half an hour while an older one settles in for a couple of hours getting a plate just right. That's a nice bit of breathing room compared to the usual soft play sprint, though it does mean a fidgety four-year-old with a big plate might get bored before it's finished, worth picking a smaller item for the little ones. Whatever you paint, it isn't ready that day, it goes off to the kiln and comes back in 10 to 14 days, longer around Christmas, and you've got three months to collect it before they dispose of it.
There's a café on site doing hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows, milkshakes and the usual hot drinks, and you're not allowed to bring your own food in except baby food or for specific dietary needs. They're open Tuesday to Sunday and shut on Mondays, that's kiln processing day. Walk-ins are fine most of the time, but they'd rather you booked for weekends and school holidays and it's quicker to just ring them than message online.
Downstairs is wheelchair accessible with baby changing on the first floor, but the upstairs space and the customer bathroom aren't, and the nearest accessible toilet is a minute away at the Victoria Shopping Centre. Parties run for pottery, Make-A-Bear or slime, about an hour to ninety minutes, with a minimum of 10 people.
Facilities
Need to know
- Booking
- Phone 01423 524797 for quickest booking response
- How long to allow
- 30-45 minutes for younger children, 1-2 hours for older children, 2+ hours for adults
- Food
- Café with hot and cold drinks (speciality coffees, teas, hot chocolate with cream/marshmallows, milkshakes, fruit juices, soft drinks)
- Parties
- Children's parties with pottery painting, Make-A-Bear, Slime activities (1-1.5 hours)
- No studio fee, you just pay per item you paint
- Monday is kiln day so the whole place is shut
- Free return visits off-peak within a month if you don't finish painting
- Postage is available if you can't get back in to collect your pottery
- Adults' evenings run occasionally with bring-your-own food and drink, corkage on alcohol
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
Depends what you paint. Coasters and tiles start at £14, mugs and bowls are £20, plates are £24, and big pieces like vases and plant pots are £40. There's no separate studio fee, just the price of the item.
Do we need to book?
Walk-ins are welcome, but they recommend booking for weekends, school holidays and Christmas. Phoning gets you the quickest answer.
How long does a visit take?
There's no time limit. Younger children tend to be done in 30 to 45 minutes, older kids often take 1 to 2 hours, and adults can happily sit there for 2 hours plus.
When do we get the finished pottery back?
Usually 10 to 14 days after painting, though it can take longer around Christmas and school holidays. There's a fast-track option for a small extra cost that gets it back in 5 working days.
Is there anything for babies and toddlers?
They do hand and footprint pottery imprints for babies and toddlers, and slime making or Make-A-Bear if pottery painting feels like too much sitting still.
Can we bring our own food?
No, outside food and drink isn't allowed except baby food or for specific dietary requirements. There's a café on site with drinks and snacks instead.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
The main floor is, but the upstairs space and the customer bathroom aren't. The nearest accessible toilet is a minute away at the Victoria Shopping Centre.
What if we don't finish painting?
You can come back for free off-peak within a month to finish up. Weekends and school holidays count as peak, so multiple returns then can attract a fee.
Do you do birthday parties?
With pottery painting, Make-A-Bear or slime, running about an hour to ninety minutes. You need a minimum of 10 people, and they've also got DIY kits for home parties with a £25 minimum spend.
What are the opening hours?
Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm, Sunday 11am to 4pm, and closed Mondays for kiln processing.
How long do we have to collect the finished pottery?
Three months from the painting date. They send reminders, and after that they may dispose of anything left, though postage is available if collecting in person is a faff.
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