FAQ
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Are the classes/ workshops suitable for children?
Classes and workshops are not suitable for children under 16 years old, unless specified.
If you have a group of children who are very keen private sessions are the best option, please enquire through the email/ contact form about the availability of family/ friend sessions.
We do also occasionally run family friendly/ children’s workshops – normally in the school holidays, these will be advertised in advance on the website and on social media.
We do plan on holding regular ‘kids clubs’ in the future, but logistical constraints mean this likely won’t be until late 2025/ 2026.
School groups/ School trips
We are very open to school organised trips and workshops on and off-site. Please email the studio with what you have in mind, and we can discuss the available options.
How do I book onto a workshop/ class?
Go to the workshop/ classes pages on the website and follow the links to book. Secure payment is taken online.
Are classes/ workshops suitable for beginners?
Yes! All the classes and workshops are designed for beginners. People with experience potting are also very welcome too!
Should I bring anything with me?
Everything is provided for classes and workshops. If you are attending a 6-week class you may wish to bring a tea-towel to dry your hands as you work. You may also wish to bring your own apron to wear.
What should I wear when I come to the studio?
You should wear something you feel comfortable in, and that you don’t mind getting messy! The clay is non-staining and will wash out of clothes, but you are likely to get very messy using the wheel, the general rule is up to your elbows! You will be asked to remove any watches/ bracelets to protect them from getting clay on them, if easy to do so rings should also be removed. Closed toe shoes are also preferable.
Are my finished pots ready for collection?
Workshop pots are generally ready 6 weeks after your session. The ‘Collections’ page on the website is updated often to say, ‘workshop pots up to XX/XX/XX are fired and ready for collection’. If you are unsure email enquiries@lancasterpotterystudio.com - make sure you include your name, and the date of your workshop.
See opening times for when you can come and collect.
Everything is sold out. When will the next classes/ workshops go for sale?
New classes and workshops are put up every couple of months, keep an eye on the website for updates.
I want to come to a class, but I know I won’t be able to come to a session what should I do?
The classes are sequential with each session building on the skills of the last, you will be working on the same pieces week on week. If you miss week 2 or 4 these can usually be worked around. There is rarely the option to make up sessions on different nights of the week as the classes are fully booked, with no spare wheels. If you miss the final week, glazing, you can be accommodated on a different class night that same week, but please let Logan know well in advance as it may affect the firing schedule.
The classes run throughout the year, if you know you will be missing multiple sessions you may prefer to wait and book onto a later term.
Can I book the studio for a party/ private event/ work event?
Yes! We do take private bookings. We can offer wheel and hand-building based sessions, or a mix of both. Generally,sessions are 2 hours, but this is flexible if you have something else in mind. If you are interested, please contact us well in advance to discuss.
We run evening classes in the studio Mon-Thu in the week and every other Saturday daytime, so the studio will be unavailable for booking during these times.
There is a minimum spend of £100/hour for private sessions, with cost depending on how many people are in the session, the length of the session and the nature of the activity you would like to do.
Private parties can be made suitable for children, you may be asked to provide additional parental supervision.
If you are booking for a party/ hen-do/ work event, please make sure everyone attending knows what to expect and knows to wear clothes they don’t mind getting messy.
I can’t come to my workshop anymore; can I get a refund?
If you find you cannot make it to a Saturday workshopanymore, make sure to tell us as soon as possible by emailing us at enquiries@lancasterpotterystudio.comincluding your name and the date and time of your session. As per our cancellation policy at the time of booking, if you cancel 1 month+ in advance you will get a 100% refund, 2 weeks+ you will get a 50% refund, if you cancel with less than 2 weeks’ notice we cannot give you a refund for your cancellation.
I’ve had to cancel my workshop, can I come to a different session instead?
If you try to rearrange 1 month+ in advance, we can rearrange your session for free. If you need to rearrange with only 2 weeks’+ notice, there will be a £22.50 charge per person to rearrange (50% of the cost of the original workshop). If you cancel with less than 2 weeks’ notice, we cannot rearrange your session for a later date. If you do not come to your booked session, booking onto a later session will cost 100% of the new workshop fee.
We are a small business which relies on selling the set amount of workshop spaces per month. We cannot afford to give away seats for free in later sessions if people do not come to their original booked sessions. Thank you for your understanding.
If you must cancel at short notice, and therefore do not get a refund, it is possible we can accommodate you in a later session if on the morning of that session the spaces remain available. This would mean you keeping an eye on the website to see if there were spaces on a given day and then contacting us to see if you can be accommodated for no additional cost. We cannot guarantee that we will see emails, but they are usually checked the morning of the workshops when we are generating that day’s registers. If you live locally, you could call in just before the session to see if you can be accommodated (10.30-11am/ 1.15-2pm).
The website says my pots are ready, when can I collect them?
See the opening times online. Or if you’re passing and see the light is on – pop in!
I’ve done a class, now what?
If you enjoyed your class and want to carry on we recommend booking onto a second class. Although the structure is the same, people doing the class for a second time will see big improvements with the extra practice. You will also be shown more advance skills on a 1-2-1 basis, such as lidded containers. Once you have done 2 full classes you are eligible to sign up for our Open Studio programme, this gives you access to the studio and equipment to continue learning and practicing.
Do you fire work produced elsewhere?
As a general rule we do not fire work produced outside of the Studio. We have 100+ people using the Studio each month, so it is very difficult to accommodate other outside firings in the schedule. Without being familiar with your materials, or practices, it is also a risk to our equipment and other people’s pots, to include outside work in the firings.
If you would still like to discuss this it is best to arrange a time to come in and see us, we will need to know the technical specifics of the clay body you’re using as well as glazes, slips etc..
Do you sell pottery/ are you open to commissions?
We do sell a few pots in the small shop area at the front of our studio – this is something we will be looking to expand this summer. We also hold seasonal fairs in the studio where we sell pots made by us, and the other potters.
We are open to the occasional commission depending on the scale/ project etc.. we are certainly open to discussing them and making sure they would work for both parties. Drop us an email if you have something in mind.
Do you only do throwing on the wheel?
No, we also run hand-building classes – check them out!
Is the space accessible?
The main room with the wheels is on one level, but access to the toilet is up 3 steps through a narrow corridor. If you have specific access concerns, drop us an email before you bookand we will see what we can do. Note: throwing on the wheel is a very physical activity which involves leaning your bodyweight forward for up to 2-hours, sat on a stool. It also requires a certain level of hand dexterity.
Is there a toilet on-site?
Yes! We have 1 unisex toilet on-site.