The Potthouse Collective CIC

The Potthouse Collective CIC is a not-for-profit pottery studio and artist space in Cheltenham, founded by Tanya McDonald and Zoe as successors to the original Potthouse studio in Woodmancote and the Nau Arts collective. Based at Unit 2 on Crooks Industrial Estate, the studio brings together professional teaching, independent studio access and resident artist studios under one roof. The team includes Lead Throwing Teacher Amy Mills and a community of resident potters and artists. The ethos is welcoming and inclusive, catering for everyone from complete beginners to semi-professional makers across wheel throwing, hand building, glazing and sculpture.

The studio offers one-off classes including a 2.5-hour Beginners Throwing class (£60) and a 3-hour Beginners Make a Mug hand-building class (£45), plus seasonal workshops such as the Spring Greenhouse class and one-day sculpture workshops. Multi-session courses include the 6-Week Beginners Throwing Course (£315), 6-Week Beginners Hand-Building Course (£280), 6-Week Level-Up Throwing Course (£315) and a weekend Throwing Foundation Intensive (£200). Masterclasses cater for more experienced potters wanting to develop specific techniques. Private lessons, adult and children's parties, and dedicated kids classes are also available alongside studio membership for independent practice.

Courses typically run on weekday evenings from 18:00 to 20:30, with the Beginners Throwing Course on Wednesdays, the Beginners Hand-Building Course on Mondays and the Level-Up Throwing Course on Mondays. Weekend intensives and one-day workshops run on Saturdays and Sundays, generally from 10:00 to 16:00. Independent potter sessions and member open-studio slots are scheduled across the week, with a published studio schedule shared with members. Bookings are made online and the studio recommends booking ahead as classes regularly sell out.

The Potthouse is fully equipped for throwing and hand-building, with professional pottery wheels, hand-building benches and a full range of ceramic tools and materials available. Bisque and stoneware glaze firings are handled in-studio, with published firing costs for independent potters. The site also houses dedicated artist studios for resident makers and a community space for parties and group bookings. There is no dedicated onsite car park, but street parking is typically available around Croft Street. The What3Words location is ///ranked.toast.chefs.

One-off classes start at £45 for hand-building sessions and £60 for beginners throwing. Six-week courses run from £280 to £315 and include firing and glazing of student work. The weekend Throwing Foundation Intensive is £200 for four sessions across two days. Adult pottery parties are priced from £45 to £65 per person depending on format, and children's parties start at £35 per child. Studio membership is £85 per month for 12 hours of flexible studio time, includes free firing up to 1kg per piece, and is limited to 8 members at a time. Gift cards are available for any class, course or membership.

The Potthouse caters for everyone from total beginners to semi-professional potters. Beginners can start with one-off taster classes or a six-week course to build foundational skills. Improvers and advanced students can progress through Level-Up courses, masterclasses and independent membership. Children aged 6 and up are catered for through dedicated parties and kids' workshops, and group bookings suit hen parties, team events and birthday celebrations. The community focus and not-for-profit structure make it a particularly good fit for anyone who wants to learn pottery in a supportive, locally rooted creative space in Gloucestershire.