Potty about pottery? Well, you’re in luck, because Brighton has a huge variety of pottery classes, where you can learn to throw, spin, trim and shape clay creations of all shapes and sizes. Whether you want to re-enact the scene from Ghost with a loved-one, enjoy a session with a party atmosphere, or simply create positively perfect pottery, read on to find a class that’s right for you.
Hot Fox Pottery
Alice and Tom Fox run Hot Fox Pottery as a very small family business from their lovely home studio in Elm Grove. They run an impressive range of weekly pottery classes and courses, as well as one-off workshops in throwing or hand-building, and party packages for your special event.
Weekly hand-building pottery classes run in 6-week terms, and are suitable for beginners as well as more independent pottery makers. In small classes capped at seven people, the course will take you through hand-building, as well as a range of glazing, decoration and carving techniques. Courses run Monday and Wednesday evenings (19:15 – 21:30) and Friday lunchtimes (12:00 – 14:15) and cost £230 for a 6 week course, including use of clay, glazes, underglazes and slips, and one free catch up session if you miss a class.
If you would prefer one-off sessions and workshops, why not book onto one of the monthly ½ day pottery tasters, to give you a feel for pottery, or try out the sessions before committing to a full course? You will take home your creation, such as a mug, candle-holder, bowl or vase. Or, why not try the quirky full-day Body-Bits workshops, where you can hand-build a mug or jug, and sculpt a body part (private or otherwise!) with which to adorn it.
Groups, birthdays and hen parties are catered for with the party packages, including a two hour workshop, a free glass of bubbly and firing and glazing of your creation. Prices start at just £40 per head! With fun theme options, tailored around your groups’ tastes, such as boob-themed mugs, dishes, bowls and chopstick rests, Hot Fox Pottery is the perfect choice for a cheeky (or not!) pottery party.
Website: https://www.hotfoxpottery.com/
Telephone: 07733028434
Email: contact@hotfoxpottery.com
Pottery and Pints
While the combination of pottery and alcohol may seem unconventional, Pottery & Pints Brighton have fused the two to create an experience with a twist (pun intended). Pottery & Pints bring the magic of pottery to some of the best pubs in Brighton and Hove, so you can sip while you sculpt your creation.
At the workshop, your first drink is free and will be brought to you while you enjoy a demonstration from the expert tutor. Under their guidance, you will take to the pottery wheel to throw your very own pot, for which you can then choose a finished glaze for your pot. Your creations will be fired and glazed at the studio, and either returned to the venue for collection, or posted to you for a small fee. Starting at just £32.50 including a free drink, these popular workshops sell out quickly.
Also available are the Pottery and Plants workshops, where you can create a beautiful pot on the throwing wheel, as well as picking your very own plant to go in your creation. So, whether you fancy throwing with a tipple or two, or practicing pottery for plants, Pottery and Pints has the workshop for you.
Website: https://www.potteryandpints.co.uk/
Telephone: +44 (0)7514 788870
Email: hello@potteryandpints.co.uk
Romud Ceramics
Nestled in the heart of Preston Park is Romund Ceramics, offering a huge range of short courses, private classes and one-to-one tuition, as well as corporate events, hen & stag parties and children’s parties.
Romund’s experienced pottery and ceramic tutors provide private tuition, guiding you on a 1:1 or a small-group basis, either as a beginner or an experienced potter looking to improve your skills. Or, to enjoy the expert tuition alongside other people with a penchant for pottery, why not sign up for a pottery short course, ranging from one day or weekend intensive sessions, or 6-week courses. A two-hour private throwing introductory session starts at £95, with group taster sessions starting at £55.
Corporate events and Hen or Stag events are also available, starting at £60pp with a minimum of 10 people. These workshops last 2.5 hours, and allow you and your colleagues, bridesmaids or groomsmen to learn traditional forming and decorative techniques to create your own hand-built ceramic plant pot. For a unique corporate session, why not try a Tile Mural Team Building workshop, where attendees decorate their unique tile, which will be put together to form a beautiful mural representing your organization or company.
Whether you’re getting together with the work or wedding crew, you are allowed to arrange your own beverages and catering for the event, making Romud Ceramics events the perfect way to celebrate and unwind together with snacks, drinks and pottery.
To celebrate your creative little ones, Romud Ceramics offer kids’ pottery parties either in-studio or in your own home. Perfect for ages 6-16, these 1.5 hour sessions include private use of the studio, pottery and materials, as well as firing of the little masterpieces. Starting at £260 for up to 8 children, and £20 per child to a maximum of 10 children, these parties are perfect for your child and their best pals to learn a new skill, while having lots of fun along the way.
Keep an eye out, too, for the regular special events at Romud Ceramics throughout the year, including making your own beer tankard while sampling a range of craft beers, parents and kids’ ‘Play with Clay’ sessions, and Mothers’ Day vase-making and brunch workshops.
Website: https://www.romud.co.uk/
Telephone: 07463 010 840
Email: romud.ceramics@gmail.com
Silvia K Ceramics
In a well-equipped studio in central Brighton, nestled a stone’s throw from the station, Silvia K offers a positive, relaxed and creative environment in which to develop your pottery skills and confidence. Classes are all small groups of between three and six people, allowing you plenty of personalised support, opportunity to ask questions, and tailored tips and guidance.
Classes run in seven-week courses, and include a focus on hand-building, surface decoration, texturing clay, oxide work and glazing. These courses cost £385 and include expert tuition, all materials and firing.
For a one-off session with your friends, Silvia K also offers private group workshops for between three and six people. At the class you will make, decorate and take home a large plate under Silvia’s expert demonstration and guidance. She will introduce you to decorating with coloured slips, and decorating techniques including painting, sgraffito, stencil and slip trailing.
Website: https://www.silviakceramics.co.uk/
Email: silvia@silviakceramics.co.uk
The Painting Pottery Café
The Painting Pottery Café is a truly Instagrammable spot centrally located in the North Laine area of Brighton. While operating primarily as a place to beautifully paint pre-fired pottery, The Painting Pottery Café also offers regular pottery throwing sessions, for both kids and adults.
The Pottery Painting Café offers taster throwing sessions every Saturday and Sunday at either 10:30 or 13:30. In small groups of no more than five people, you will be guided through wheel work and pot throwing, under expert supervision. Sessions last between 45 and 60 minutes, and start at £30 each. While these taster sessions are for people aged 12+ only, The Painting Pottery Café also run special taster throwing sessions during school holidays for children aged between 8 and 12.
Monthly evening classes are led by an expert, friendly and helpful tutor, who will help to guide you through the required pottery skills such as hand-building, throwing, pinch-sculpting and slab-building. Each session is themed, and you can expect to create pieces such as pasta bowls, mugs, planters, incense holders and cacti pots.
After either a taster session or an evening class, for just an extra £5, you can return to the studio after three weeks to paint your items with in the cute and cosy café. Plus, as a BYOB venue, guests can bring along their favourite alcoholic or soft drinks and food to enjoy while sculpting their creations making in the perfect place to visit whether it’s sunny or rainy outside.
Website: https://www.paintingpotterycafe.co.uk/
Telephone: 01273 628952
Whether you want to explore the quirkier side of Brighton’s pottery making word, such as boob-themed bowls or the combination of pints and pinot with pottery practice, or stick to traditional pottery classes under expert guidance, then Brighton has the perfect pottery class for you. Just remember, life is like a first-timer’s attempt at throwing pottery, you never know how it’s going to turn out!
