Salty Dog Pottery Studio

Name: Salty Dog Pottery Studio
Address: 30 Meadowside, Storrington, Pulborough, RH20 4EG, GB

PulboroughAges 14+

Courtesy of Salty Dog Pottery Studio

BEST FOR

Ages 14+

WHERE

Pulborough

What it’s like

A pottery wheel studio best suited to teenagers and adults, where you throw your own piece and it gets glazed and fired for you to keep.

This is a wheel-throwing studio rather than a paint-your-own-mug set-up, and it's aimed at older kids and adults rather than young children. The site is upfront about why: younger children tend to get frustrated on the wheel, so they suggest waiting until around age 14, and anyone under 16 needs an adult with them.

Sessions are small. There are only four wheels, so it's a maximum of four people throwing at a time, which means you actually get proper attention rather than fighting for space at a shared bench. On an introductory session you keep your favourite piece, glazed in one of the studio's own glazes and fired ready to collect, usually within about a month.

Booking is by email rather than an instant online system, which is a bit more faff than clicking a button, but it does mean you get a real person finding a slot that suits you. Once they've found a time they hold it for 24 hours while you pay to confirm, and Saturday sessions get booked up well ahead so it pays to sort that early. There's also a genuinely annoying rule worth knowing before you turn up: long fingernails can get you sent home, and long hair, hoodie strings and jewellery all need to be off or tied back before you sit at the wheel.

If plans change, they'll refund with 24 hours notice, but no-shows and late cancellations aren't refunded, since that slot could have gone to someone else on a four-person session.

Facilities

Booking required

Need to know

Best for: Age 14 up; under 16s need an adult with them
Booking: Email info@saltydogpotterystudio.co.uk with preferred times

Short fingernails are essential for throwing; long nails can get a session cancelled on the spot.
Tie back long hair and hoodie strings and take off jewellery before you sit at the wheel.
Booking is by email, not an instant online system, so allow a bit of back and forth to lock in a time.
Saturday slots go early, so email well ahead if that's the day you want.

Plan your visit

What age is this suitable for?

They suggest waiting until around 14, since younger children often find the wheel frustrating. Anyone under 16 needs to come with an adult.

How do we book?

You email your preferred days and times, they hold a space for 24 hours, then send a payment link to confirm it. Saturdays get booked up well in advance, so it's worth emailing early for a weekend slot.

Do we get to keep what we make?

On an introductory session your favourite piece is glazed in one of the studio's glazes and fired, ready to collect in about a month. Finished pieces are kept for six weeks after you're told they're ready.