How to plan a super cute kids party 👨🎨
Well hello!
Below is a guide to how we host kids parties pottery painting parties in the studio, just so you know what to expect, and can check it’s the right party for you and your birthday star 🌟
Our space:
The studio is one big-ish space with a mezzanine level, we try to keep the studio a cheery and relaxing environment for everyone involved, which means party guests are allocated a seat at a table and we do a pottery painting table service of sorts to keep things calm (we’ve been told it’s the most relaxing kids parties some parents had ever been too which feels nice).
We try host parties in the the mezzanine area as it’s bright, colourful and has a sofa for your supervising adults to hang out on. This space is up a short flight stairs, and on the same floor as the toilet. If you’re booking for a small-ish group, or after this area is booked up we will offer you the ground floor of the studio, however parents may be seated on the same table as the party.
There are 3 parking spaces in front of the studio, and Fern Av / Gowan Terrace are free parking 10-5 everyday - we do encourage if possible guests walk / cycle / carpool / metro etc 🌱
You’re welcome to pop in for a nosey round + to ask any questions in person (just check our opening hours before you travel and bear in mind the studio is busier on weekends so you might have a little wait before we can show you round).
Our team on a sunny day in 2021
YOUR GUEST LIST:
We like to keep our kids parties on the small side - the mezzanine space can hold a max of 16 people, we find kids parties feel best with 4-12 children [on one long table]. There is space on the mezzanine for a maximum of 3 supervising adults on a 3 seater sofa, so it also depends on how many children you are comfortable having with up to 3 adults (in general, the younger the kids, the smaller the party works best).
If you book a party for 4-12 children and 3 supervising adults, you can expect there will be other groups on the remaining tables. When you book your party, please make sure to let us know how many children + how many supervising adults will be attending.
ON THE DAY OF YOUR PARTY:
One of our fab studio assistants will show you to your table + welcome your guests. Your table will be ready from the start time we provide - please try not to arrive more then 5 mins early or there is a good chance your table will not be ready and we’ll be running around cleaning up after the last group.
Once everyone has arrived we’ll show your guests the selection of pottery they can choose from to paint, and give some ideas + inspiration of what each piece could be used for. Your guests will then have a few minutes to decide what they’d like to paint, before we potter off to fetch everyone a piece of pottery to paint.
After this we’ll get them to prep their piece, and talk them through how the painting process works. While we’re chatting with your guests, it helps if the supervising adults listen in so they can help if needed, and it encourages the kids to listen intently too!
This introduction takes about 10 minutes to choose + listen to the demo. After this we’ll set them off painting + pop in and out of the party to make sure everyone is happy, answer any questions + save the day on any painting mishaps.
We allow 1hr painting time for kids who are 6 -8yrs old, or 1hr 20 for those up to 12yrs. After this we’ll start to clear off any painting equipment and wipe up and paint ready for about 20minutes of snacks + the big happy birthday singing! You’ll notice the slot is shorter than the usual 2hrs we offer for adults pottery painting, but in the party excitement this is almost always more than enough time! You know the kids you’re inviting, so if you have a particularly excitable bunch, you might like to ask parents to collect 5 minutes sooner than the guides below.
6-8yrs: 10 min intro / 1hr painting / 20 mins snacks + cake = 1hr 30mins
9-12yrs: 10 min intro / 1hr 20mins painting / 20 mins snacks + cake = 1hr 50mins
12-16*yrs: 10 min intro / 1hr 30mins painting / 20 mins snacks + cake = 2hrs
*groups under 16yrs do need a supervising adult with them. If you would prefer you could book a separate table to paint pottery at with another grown up if you would rather not sit with or very close to the party (we’re not saying you would cramp their style, I’m sure you’re very cool and hip - we still say hip right?…)
A section of the mural in the mezzanine area - designed and painted by Fern Eleanor
BOOKING YOUR PARTY:
You can choose a package for your party . Side plates is a great package for younger ones - two sides for those speedy painters! But it really depends on your budget / what the birthday child would like their friends to paint / how many people you’d like to invite. Make sure to check the minimum numbers / age limits for each package.
If you opt for the ‘free for all’ package, we’ll ask you for a budget ahead of your party and anything you’d like to include (stock levels dependant - we can’t always get everything in) so we can have a selection upstairs for your guests to choose from, this way no one has to say no, to the child who wants to paint the £50 turkey serving platter…
There’s a form at the bottom of the group bookings page you can complete to request a booking, with an extra info section which you can use for any questions + to add any thing extra you’d like us to know. We’ll get back to you as soon as we can which is generally in 1-3 days.
We advise booking your party 1 month in advance - or if you can only do a certain date, then as far ahead as you can to avoid disappointment. You can always book for the rough number of people you’re expecting and then send us an update once you’ve got your RSVP’s.
Pottery is ready to collect 2-4 weeks after your party, it will be packed up in a big box or bag and should be collected by you, to give out after school etc.
If you have any more questions, you can have a look at the FAQ’s below / drop us an email at bookings@thepotteryexperience.co.uk or give us a call on 0191 908 7802.
FAQ’s
Does the paint wash out of clothes? Should we wear old clothes / bring an apron?
The paint is water based, this means the colours generally do wash out of clothes (sometimes the very dark greens can take a bit of work to wash out). Aprons are limited in the studio to those taking part in making sessions, you’re welcome to bring your own along if you’re worried about getting messy, and would advise that as with most creative activities, perhaps you may not wear your favourite clothes / something that can’t be thrown in the washing machine just in case!
If you have booked a making session - the clay we use is grey in colour and therefore does not stain clothing, and can be easily cleaned in the wash, or if it’s on shoes leave it to dry and brush it off.
Is The Pottery Experience accessible for wheelchair users?
The main floor of The Pottery Experience is at ground level, and does not have a step. This means, painting and making experiences are accessible to all, however unfortunately toilet facilities are located up a flight of stairs.
If you are visiting in a wheelchair/mobility scooter please mention this when booking and we will do our very best to make your visit as easily accessible as possible.
Do you serve drinks or food?
We have a simple menu of hot and cold drinks and tasty vegan cakes to power you while you get creative. We do our best to cater for all requirements, and offer milk-alternatives as well as vegan cakes. Drinks orders are taken by table service after we’ve done the painting demo’s.
We can provide water + squash for kids parties.
Can we bring drinks + food?
You’re very welcome to bring a cake, cartons of juice + snacks - snack wise, we advise light picnic foods as particularly oily things wreak havoc with our glaze.
You’ll need: paper plates / napkins or kitchen roll / candles (please no indoor fireworks or sparklers) / a knife / a lighter or matches (we do have back up knife, candles + lighter if you forget).
As mentioned above, we like to host parties so the children spend the first hour and a bit painting, and then the tables are cleared for snacks - this way we don’t end up with paint in the food and vice versa (plus you can fill them full of sugar and send them home - win win!)
(as a side note - we are BYOB if you’re booking for adults).
What happens if any of the pottery breaks in the kiln?
We try our best to ensure that every aspect of the creative journey you take with us is fun and enjoyable. The final part of this journey involves the glazing and firing of your pottery up to temperatures in excess of 1000˚C. This process is carried out onsite by our studio assistants who treat each piece with the greatest love, care and attention.
We strive for perfection with every piece, however the kiln gods are not always on our side.
Painted ready made pieces: Occasionally glaze spotting can occur, as well as surface imperfections such as tiny bumps caused by brick dust flying around the kiln as it heats up, this dust can settle on items as the kiln temperature cools. If we feel it is safe to do so, we will try to fix glazing issues by re-firing the pottery. In the exceptional event of a piece of painted ready-made pottery cracking in the kiln we will offer compensation by way of a replacement voucher.
We hope you understand that we do everything we can to try and prevent such things, however it is not always possible. The unpredictable element can be both the charm and frustration of ceramics.
Can we bring party bags and decorations?
Party bags - yes! Just save them til the end so they don’t distract from the painting.
Decorations - if you’d like to bring a hellium balloon you’re very welcome. In general, the space is very colourful with a mural, festoon lighting and bunting! If you did want to bring little banner, please bring bluetac + check with your party host where it would be possible to stick it up. Sorry to be blunt - but we don’t like confetti etc - we’re still finding bits of plastic confetti from the first party we every hosted in April 2019…
Can we do party games?
The long and short answer is no.
We’re a pottery studio, where people come to relax amongst fragile pieces of ceramics.
If you have any more questions you can drop us an email at bookings@thepotteryexperience.co.uk or give us a call on 0191 908 7802
Speak soon xoxo