Frequently asked questions

Each session day runs from 11am to 4pm. When you book you pick an arrival time (they run every half an hour, with the last entry at 2.30pm), and the table is yours for an hour and a half from the moment you arrive. That's plenty of time to choose a piece, paint it at your own pace and let us take care of the rest.

Painting happens on the day. After that we glaze everything and fire it at a local kiln studio nearby in Bristol, which usually takes about two weeks. Your finished piece is ready by the next fortnightly session.

After you paint, we email you a claim ticket with a link to follow your piece, then again when it's in the kiln, and once more when it's ready. The easiest way to collect is to come back to the next session and pick it up. If that date doesn't work, send us a message and we'll sort out another time to collect from Windmill Hill City Farm. Everything is wrapped and labelled with your name and claim number.

It's rare, but firing is never fully guaranteed, and now and then a piece cracks through no fault of your own. If that happens we'll let you know and invite you back to paint a replacement at no extra cost.

Our functional pieces, like the bowls and plates in our current range on the prices page, are finished with a food-safe clear glaze, so you can fill them, eat and drink from them and enjoy them every day. A gentle hand wash keeps the colours brightest. Tiles and decorative pieces are lovely for display rather than the dinner table.

Both are fine. Walk-ins are welcome all day and simply join at the next arrival time with space. Busy dates do fill up, so if you're bringing a group or a family it's worth booking ahead to be sure of seats at the time you'd like. Booking ahead guarantees you a piece to paint, and while we'll always do our best for walk-ins, favourite pieces can sell out on a busy day.

Yes. When you book you'll pick a piece for each painter, so we can have everything ready for you. It isn't set in stone though: you can swap to a different piece on the day and simply pay any difference then.

You pay for your pieces securely online when you book, and the amount is shown clearly before you confirm. There is no booking fee on top: the price of each piece covers the paints, the glazing and the firing. If you swap to a different piece when you arrive, you simply pay any difference on the day.

Yes. Use the manage link in your confirmation or reminder email to change your party size, switch to another date or arrival time or update your notes, right up to 7 days before your session. Inside that window, send us a message and we'll do our best to help.

You can cancel your own booking any time before the session with that same link. We refund you automatically, and how much comes back depends on the notice you give:

• 14 or more days before: a full refund
• 7 to 13 days before: 75% back
• 3 to 6 days before: 50% back
• 1 to 2 days before: 25% back
• On the day: no refund

Card refunds take 5 to 10 working days to reach your card. If you paid with a gift voucher, that share goes straight back onto the voucher to use again.

You can join the waitlist for a date that's full. The moment enough space frees up we email everyone waiting so you can come and book. Spaces are first come, first served, and we never book you in automatically, so the choice is yours. If a different arrival time that day still has room, you can simply book that instead. Walk-ins are welcome on the day too, subject to space.

Yes, families come to every session. Children are welcome to paint, and under-16s just need a grown-up with them. We've painted with toddlers and teenagers alike.

Yes. Parties, celebrations, school groups and private sessions are some of our favourite bookings. Tell us your group size and what you have in mind, and we'll put something together.

Enquire about a party

We're at Windmill Hill City Farm, which has step-free access, accessible toilets and plenty of room to move around. If you have specific access needs, add them to your booking notes or send us a message and we'll make sure you're comfortable.

Windmill Hill City Farm is in Bedminster, next to Victoria Park. It's a short walk or cycle from Bedminster and Southville, and several local bus routes stop nearby in BS3. Parking is limited, so walking, cycling or the bus is usually easiest. Bristol Temple Meads is a short bus or taxi ride away.