Parties and Workshops
The Milndavie Pottery is ideal for groups of six people, although we can fit in up to ten and have ample parking as we have reinforced our grass so cars can park on the lawn. We have a small kitchen area (just kettle and microwave) and offer free tea and coffee for all - plus treats to buy (chocolate and crisps).
There are probably as many reasons for wanting to bring a group to our pottery as there are glazing techniques! We will be very happy to discuss your ideas. You are welcome to come to the studio to look around and think about what would work for you. Otherwise phone or email us to discuss your group's needs.
Click here to see our parties leaflet.
Taster Sessions for Groups
If you only want your group to come to the pottery once, please scroll down to our parties section. However, if your group is able to come to the pottery more than once, Taster sessions are great for a group and comprise two visits - once to make and once to glaze. The first session starts with five minutes tuition and then participants are encouraged to make whatever they want. This format works very well for groups of up to six people as everyone can fit round our big table and chat while creating. Similarly, glazing the pottery together three or four weeks later is a very sociable activity. We've found it is a great thing for family groups to do as everyone can join in at their own level. Similarly adult only groups (who might choose to bring a bottle of wine with them!) or children's groups will enjoy making pottery. It is the perfect activity for all age groups.
The pottery sitting room is just right for gathering before the session starts or for taking a break during or after. Tea and coffee is free of charge for all customers. We love seeing people enjoying themselves at the pottery - we've even had a group pop out to get a takeaway! Unless you're going to be in the building for hours and hours, and so long as you clear up and take your rubbish away, we won't charge you extra for time spent sitting around. Just make sure we understand your plans!
There is more information about taster sessions on our Taster Sessions Page but please note that the wheel combo taster is not available to groups as there wouldn't be time for everyone to have a go on the wheel during a group session.
The prices below get lower the more people you bring so if you are paying online make sure you put the right group number into your basket. The prices are per person.
Pay for group tasters when you come to the Studio or pay in advance by Card or PayPal
* Pay by PayPal by choosing from the options below and then clicking "add to cart".
* Or to pay by card, choose the appropriate button below and it will take you to the payment page.
Having fun together
Although coming to the pottery twice, to make and glaze, is a great thing for a group to do, often when planning a party you just want everyone to get together once. A one-off event at the pottery is a lovely way to celebrate and get people together. There are lots of options for parties. If you want to make things with clay your guests could return independently to do their glazing, or we could add a simple glaze finish to your pottery for you. Otherwise (scroll down) painting on ready-made pottery is a lovely option. Or maybe you'd enjoy one of our structured party events (see below).
Parties
We have devised a format for our parties which can be tweaked and personalised. We can plan activities on a theme if you have a particular interest ...Unicorns, Castles, Music... the list could go on and on. There are some examples at the bottom of this page. With enough notice most themes could be accommodated and planned in an age appropriate way.
Our suggested party format is...
- a simple craft activity (not clay) will be on the table when guests arrive so they can get on with something as soon as they sit down.
- once everyone is settled and ready to start, the first activity will be to paint a factory-made item.
- about half way through the party there will be a short break. You are welcome to bring cake.
- after the break everyone will make a little something from clay. We will guide you through the process and provide all materials.
- for anyone finishing their clay activities early, we will provide an additional (non clay, age appropriate) craft activity. Anyone who doesn’t get time to do it can take it home with them.
We charge £30 per person for a party. This price includes one of our lowest ready-made items for each guest to paint (usually everyone paints the same thing at our parties) but the price will rise if you choose something bigger to paint. The Welcome Activity for our £30pp parties might be something like origami papers available for adults to fiddle with when they arrive, or a poster to decorate for children. The purpose of the Welcome Activity is that guests, who may be travelling to the studio separately, can be occupied as soon as they arrive so that your guests will have something small (and nice) to do while waiting to start the ceramics activities. This will be discussed in advance and there will be no hidden costs! More expensive Welcome Activities, bigger, ready-made items to paint, more time etc can all be discussed and prices agreed in advance.
It is essential you don’t bring more people than you have booked for - even if you are willing to pay for them we must know in advance so we can make sure we have enough materials for everyone.
This party format takes 90 minutes and suits all ages 7 - 97. For older children, or adults, who give attention to detail (and chat!) the painting will take longer, so it might be better to put aside two hours, especially if a cake ceremony is part of the plan. Adults are welcome to stay to help children of any age but for younger or less able children please provide some extra adults to assist so that the activities don’t become frustrating.
Pay for Parties when you come to the Studio or pay in advance by Card or PayPal
* Pay by PayPal by choosing from the options below and then clicking "add to cart".
* Or to pay by card, choose the appropriate button below and it will take you to the payment page.
Painting on ready-made pottery
Painting on ready-made pottery is our most cost effective group activity. Believe it or not you can bring a group of six people to paint on ready-made items for a total price of less than £60 (really! no hidden costs). Bearing in mind that tea and coffee is free for all customers at the pottery and you can bring your own cake, so long as you paint on our lowest priced items, you can have a brilliant time for £9 per person. The painting usually takes around an hour and cake (if brought) will increase the time spent at the pottery. When planning please bear in mind that younger children tend to paint faster!
Painting parties can be arranged around a theme - let us know, with enough time, and we will see if we can source themed items for you to paint - they may be more expensive but we'll discuss before ordering them for you. Alternatively you could work together as a group on painting a set of something, or how about everyone choosing one of the ready-made items but then getting it painted by someone else! Or for an event that requires no more prep than remembering to invite everyone, your guests can choose what to paint when they get here!
Painting pottery is a very relaxing activity. Choose it for a special event or just as a lovely way to while away an afternoon with friends or family.
Pay with card or cash when you come to the Studio, or Click here to pay via our Activities Page.
Team Building
We are in such a lovely setting for a team-building day or half day. Activities can be designed to be personal to your group. We can facilitate clay activities alongside team building/personal development activities, or we can step aside for you to follow your own plans. If you are staying for the day we can provide a sandwich lunch (price depending on what you want). Phone or email us to discuss the options and agree a fee.
Meetings
Committee or business meetings are so much more enjoyable if they start or finish with an entertaining activity!
Working as a group on a project
The possibilities are endless - make a set of crockery together, decorate tiles, work on a family tree, make a present for someone else, paint on planters. If you've got an idea, we'd love to help you make it happen.
Whatever your idea is, just send an email or phone us to discuss it. With enough notice most things are possible!
Party Theme Gallery
A very few suggestions from the very many possibilities...
How about a Van Gogh or a Da Vinici party?
Or Monet?
We have pre-printed tiles for Picasso and Georgia O'Keefe as well as Van Gogh, Da Vinci and Monet. They can be decorated with any colours, why not go wild! For artist themed parties we also have blank tiles so you could forge, sorry, be inspired by, any of your favourites. We will help with related clay-make ideas.
Space
Star Wars
Star Trek
Aliens
Stars
Choose your theme and we'll help find ready-made things to paint. This starship was made with a cookie cutter - we have lots of other shapes!
Or how about a sport themed party?
Don't let these suggestions restrict you. Not everyone wants a themed party (although we'd love to see someone turn up with a Monet inspired cake!). You could just call it a "Pottery Party" and let everyone do their own thing. We're ready for you!
