Pottery Classes in London
Some experiences stay with you. The weight of clay in your hands, the quiet focus of shaping something from nothing, the satisfaction of holding a finished piece you made yourself — these are not things you forget.
At Doppiocotto, we run pottery classes and workshops from our studio in Waterloo, central London.
Whether you are picking up clay for the first time, looking for a creative evening out, planning an unforgettable hen party, or searching for a team-building experience that actually works, our pottery workshops are designed to be hands-on, genuinely fun, and led by a real ceramic artist from start to finish.
No experience is needed. No artistic background is required.
Just a willingness to get your hands dirty.
Why Choose Doppiocotto for Your Pottery Class?
We are not an event hire space or a pop-up ceramics night. Doppiocotto is a working ceramics studio — the same space where ceramic artist Bora Cetin makes the handmade stoneware cups and tableware you will find in our shop. When you join a class here, you are working in a live studio, with real tools, real materials, and an artist who has spent years working with clay.
Here is what makes our workshops different:
- Taught by a working ceramic artist. Bora leads every session personally. This is not a side project for us — ceramics is our full-time practice, and that expertise comes through in every class.
- A genuine studio environment. The Doppiocotto studio in Waterloo is where our entire collection is made. You are working in a real ceramics space, not a hired room with borrowed equipment.
- Small groups as standard. We keep sessions intimate so everyone gets hands-on attention and leaves with something they are proud of.
- You take your work home. Every piece you make is glazed and kiln-fired after the session. Your finished ceramic is yours to collect approximately two to three weeks later.
- Completely beginner-friendly. Every class assumes zero experience. We have taught complete beginners, nervous first-timers, and groups who arrived convinced they had "no artistic ability whatsoever" — they all left surprised.
Pottery Painting in London
Our pottery painting workshops are the most accessible way to experience ceramics — no making required, just decoration. You will be given a selection of bisque-fired pieces (unfired, unglazed ceramics ready to paint) and a full palette of ceramic paints and glazes to work with.
Choose from a range of forms — plates, mugs, bowls, and small decorative pieces — and spend two hours painting, layering, and experimenting with colour and pattern. Bora is on hand throughout to offer guidance, demonstrate techniques, and help you get the effect you are looking for.
Pottery painting is ideal if you:
- Want a relaxed, creative experience without the pressure of building from scratch
- Are joining as part of a larger group with mixed comfort levels
- Are celebrating a birthday, hen party, or special occasion
- Have children in the group (pottery painting is accessible for younger participants — ask us about family sessions)
All painted pieces are glazed and kiln-fired by Bora after the session. Finished pieces are ready to collect from the studio approximately two to three weeks later.
Pottery Painting in London
Our pottery painting workshops are the most accessible way to experience ceramics — no making required, just decoration. You will be given a selection of bisque-fired pieces (unfired, unglazed ceramics ready to paint) and a full palette of ceramic paints and glazes to work with.
Choose from a range of forms — plates, mugs, bowls, and small decorative pieces — and spend two hours painting, layering, and experimenting with colour and pattern. Bora is on hand throughout to offer guidance, demonstrate techniques, and help you get the effect you are looking for.
Pottery painting is ideal if you:
- Want a relaxed, creative experience without the pressure of building from scratch
- Are joining as part of a larger group with mixed comfort levels
- Are celebrating a birthday, hen party, or special occasion
- Have children in the group (pottery painting is accessible for younger participants — ask us about family sessions)
All painted pieces are glazed and kiln-fired by Bora after the session. Finished pieces are ready to collect from the studio approximately two to three weeks later.
Mug Making & Painting
If you want to go further than painting — to actually build something from clay — our mug making workshops are the place to start.
In this session, you will learn the fundamentals of hand-building: how to prepare clay, how to build walls, how to attach a handle, and how to refine a form. By the end of the session, you will have made your own stoneware mug from scratch. Then you will glaze it — choosing from Bora's palette of food-safe ceramic glazes — and it will be kiln-fired and ready to collect in two to three weeks.
There is something particular about drinking from a mug you made yourself. It feels different — heavier with meaning. Most of our mug making participants end up keeping theirs for years.
Mug making workshops are available as individual sessions, private group bookings, and as part of our hen party, date night, and team-building packages. The session runs for approximately two hours.
Team Building Pottery Workshops in London
The best team-building activities share one characteristic: they put people on equal footing. Clay does this effortlessly.
In a pottery workshop, the most senior person in the room has exactly the same blank canvas as the most junior. Everyone starts from zero. Everyone struggles with the same things. Everyone surprises themselves. That shared experience of making something with your hands — of genuine uncertainty, unexpected skill, and the occasional spectacular collapse — creates a connection that a facilitated workshop in a conference room rarely achieves.
Our corporate pottery workshops in London are designed for teams , run for two hours, and take place exclusively at our Waterloo studio. You can choose from pottery painting, mug making, or plate making depending on your group's preferences and the kind of experience you want.
Corporate sessions include:
- Private hire of the Doppiocotto studio
- All clay, tools, paints, glazes and materials
- Aprons and equipment for all participants
- Expert tuition and hands-on guidance from Bora throughout
- Welcome drinks on arrival
- Glazing and kiln firing of all finished pieces
- Finished ceramics ready to collect approximately two weeks after the session
For pricing and availability, email hello@doppiocotto.com or use the enquiry form below. We typically respond within one business day.
Pottery Hen Party in London
You have options for a hen party in London. But here is why pottery keeps coming up as the one people actually remember.
A Doppiocotto pottery hen party gives the whole group something to do together — something that requires focus, produces something tangible, and generates the kind of laughter that comes from unexpected outcomes with clay. The bride-to-be gets something special made in her honour. Everyone else leaves with a piece they made themselves. And the whole group shares an experience that is genuinely different from a cocktail class or a bottomless brunch.
Hen party sessions at Doppiocotto are private — the studio is exclusively yours for the duration. Groups run from 2-8 people. You choose the workshop type: pottery painting (lower pressure, great for mixed groups), mug making (more involved, more satisfying), or a combination of both.
What's included in every hen party session:
- Exclusive use of the Doppiocotto Waterloo studio
- Your choice of pottery painting, mug making, plate making, or a mix
- All materials, aprons, tools and equipment
- Personalised tuition from Bora throughout
- Glazing of all pieces and kiln firing
- Finished ceramics for every participant to collect
- Space for prosecco, decorations, and anything else that makes the occasion feel special (let us know in advance)
To check availability, email hello@doppiocotto.com.
Pottery Date Night in London
Ghost (1990) set unrealistic expectations. But a pottery date night at Doppiocotto is genuinely romantic — in the more honest sense of the word: creative, a little uncertain, entirely present.
Our date night pottery workshops are for couples who want a proper evening out that is not just dinner. You will spend two hours together in the studio, working with clay, making something side by side, and leaving with a piece each that marks the occasion. Bora guides the session throughout, so it is relaxed, unhurried, and never feels like a pottery lesson.
Date night sessions are available as pottery painting (lighter, playful) or mug making (more involved, more rewarding). Both run for approximately two hours and include all materials and the glazing and firing of your finished pieces.
Date nights can be booked as a private session for two, or as part of a small shared group session — depending on what you prefer. Check availability via the booking widget below or contact us directly.
Our Studio: Waterloo, London SE1
Doppiocotto is based in Waterloo, SE1 — one of the most easily accessible locations in central London.
Waterloo station is a two-minute walk from the studio, connecting directly to the Jubilee, Bakerloo, Northern and Waterloo & City Underground lines, National Rail services from across the South of England, and Eurostar. For groups travelling from different parts of London or arriving from out of town, there is no more convenient destination.
The studio itself is a working ceramics space .It is calm, tactile, and deliberately removed from the pace of the city outside. The clay, the tools, the kiln and the finished pieces are all here, in the same place. This is where Bora makes everything you see in the Doppiocotto shop, and it is where you will make yours.
The South Bank, Borough Market, Bermondsey Street, and a strong concentration of independent restaurants and bars are all within easy walking distance — making it straightforward to continue the evening after your session.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need any experience to join a pottery class at Doppiocotto?
None at all. Every class at Doppiocotto is designed for people who have never touched clay before. Bora tailors the session to the group's experience level, so whether you are a complete beginner or someone who dabbled in pottery years ago, you will be fully supported from start to finish. The only requirement is showing up.
What is the difference between pottery painting and mug making?
Pottery painting involves decorating pre-made bisque-fired pieces (ready-to-paint ceramics) using ceramic paints and glazes. It is accessible, relaxed, and great for groups with mixed comfort levels. Mug making takes you a step further: you build a mug from scratch using stoneware clay, attach a handle, and then glaze it yourself. Both sessions result in a kiln-fired piece to take home, but mug making involves more hands-on clay work from the beginning.
Where exactly is the Doppiocotto studio?
We are based in Waterloo, London SE1 — a short walk from Waterloo station (National Rail, Jubilee, Bakerloo, Northern and Waterloo & City lines). Exact address and directions are provided when you book. The studio is accessible from anywhere in central London and well-connected for groups travelling from further afield.
How long does a pottery class last?
Most sessions run for approximately two hours. Private group workshops — including hen parties, corporate events, and larger celebration bookings.
When will I get my finished piece?
After your session, all pieces are glazed and fired in our kiln. This process takes approximately two weeks. We will message you when your pieces are ready to collect from the studio. If collecting in person is not possible, please let us know and we can discuss posting options.
How many people can attend a private pottery session?
Private sessions are available for groups of two to 6 people. For groups larger than fsix please contact us in advance to ensure the studio is set up to give everyone sufficient space. Larger corporate events and hen parties are very welcome — we will work with you to make it work.
Can we bring food, drinks or decorations?
Yes. For hen parties, birthdays, and celebration events, you are welcome to bring prosecco, wine, soft drinks, a cake, balloons, or any decorations that make the occasion feel special.
What should I wear to a pottery class?
Wear clothes you would not mind getting a little clay on. We provide aprons for all participants, but clay has a habit of finding its way onto sleeves and the occasional trouser leg. Avoid long, dangling jewellery on your hands and wrists. Comfortable, closed-toe shoes are recommended.
Are the pottery workshops suitable for children?
Our standard public sessions and most private bookings are designed for adults and participants aged 16 and over. For family events, children's birthday parties, or sessions that include younger participants, please contact us directly. We are happy to arrange bespoke sessions for families on request.
How do I book a pottery class or private workshop?
Individual and public class bookings can be made via the booking widget on this page. For private group bookings — including hen parties, corporate events, date nights, and birthday celebrations — please email hello@doppiocotto.com or use the enquiry form below with your preferred date, group size, and the type of session you have in mind. We typically respond within 24 hours.
Book Your Pottery Class in London
Spaces fill quickly — especially for weekend sessions and private group bookings. For public classes, use the booking widget below. For private events, hen parties, team building, date nights, and birthday celebrations, get in touch directly and we will find the perfect session for your group.
Email: hello@doppiocotto.com
We look forward to seeing what you make.