COVID-19 | The Clay Studio

The Clay Studio

Statement Regarding COVID-19

Updated 16 December 2021

Please keep your distance from other visitors when moving around the Studio although you should remain seated as much as possible.

When collecting finished pottery or paint-at-home orders please ensure that just one person comes into the Studio.

Updated 16 July 2021

We return to 7-day opening from Wednesday 21 July until early October. We will be continuing to operate in much the same way that we have done over the past year. We recommend that all visitors (except where medically exempt) continue to wear a face covering in the Studio, except when seated, for your own safety and out of consideration for other visitors.

Updated 14 June 2021

Today's decision by the government to delay the easing of Coronavirus restrictions means that The Clay Studio will continue to operate as we have since reopening on 19 May. This is outlined in detail in the 11 May update.

Updated 11 May 2021

Following the relaxation of government restrictions The Clay Studio will be open to visitors from Wednesday 19 May. This will be following COVID guidelines. We are able to accept a maximum of six visitors per booking. All tables should be booked in advance on-line so you can be sure that there is a table for you. We allow one non-painter per table. Additional non-painters will be charged a cover charge of £10 per person. Wearing a face covering is compulsory when moving around in the Studio unless you have a medical exemption. All visitors must be checked in with contact details for Track & Trace. This can be done when booking, by scanning the NHS QR code on a smartphone or by providing written contact details on arrival.

In order to facilitate social distancing we can only allow one table at a time to visit the pottery selection area. You may find it easier to browse the Shop section of the Web site to see what is available and the prices to make choosing easier and quicker and not to delay other visitors.

The take-home option will be still be available for those who prefer to paint at home in their own time, for those where the Studio option is not appropriate or as a different option such as painting in the garden on warm days. Order your pottery and paints on-line and collect from the Studio (or we deliver to certain postcodes), paint in your own time and return to us for glazing and firing. Our whole range of pottery and paints is available for painting at home.

All previously-painted pottery is available for collection. We keep painted pottery for six months plus the duration of any lockdown. Please bring your yellow receipt slip to make collection much quicker.

Please note that we no longer have parking adjacent to The Clay Studio as the car park has been sold for redevelopment. Details of car parking options in Christchurch are available on the BCP Web site. Short-term free parking is also available in the High Street and this may be suitable for collections.

Please do not hesitate to contact us by e-mail or Web chat if you have any questions. We look forward to seeing everybody again soon.

Mary and Martin

Updated: 23 February 2021

After yesterday's announcement by the Prime Minister of easing of lockdown restrictions we are pleased that we are planning to reopen The Clay Studio to visitors on Wednesday 19 May 2021 with our normal opening hours. This will still be under COVID-19 guidelines until these are further relaxed. Any bookings should be no more than six visitors or a maximum of two households. All tables should be booked in advance via our on-line booking system. Please note that as we can only admit one non-painter per table.

One change since we were last open is that the owner has sold the car park for redevelopment so there is no longer complimentary parking adjacent to The Clay Studio. Details of car parking options in Christchurch are available on the BCP Web site. Short-term free parking is also available in the High Street and this may be suitable for collections.

You may still collect previously-painted pottery. We hold pottery for six months plus the length of any lockdown periods. You can also collect your pottery during our current limited opening times.

We are continuing with our paint-at-home Click & Collect service as this has been very popular, even when the Studio has been open. You may order pottery and paints on-line from our extensive range, collect from the Studio and return to us for glazing and firing. We currently have good stocks of pottery and we will be receiving some exciting new pieces that will be on the Web site in the next couple of days.

We are very excited about being able to open and see everybody again.

Updated 5 January 2021

Following yesterday’s announcement by the Prime Minister and the worrying levels of COVID-19 infection, we have given a lot of thought about if and how we are able to operate The Clay Studio. We remain closed to visitors until further notice. We are able to offer Click & Collect for pottery ordered on-line. In order to minimise contact we are restricting Click & Collect to one time period each week on Saturday 11am to 1pm when you may collect pre-ordered pottery, return items for firing or collect previously-painted pottery. Many customers have told us that the possibility to paint at home during lockdown has been a big help to them at this very difficult time.

We will not be admitting visitors to the Studio during this period and we will hand over and collect orders outside the front door. If you are collecting previously-painted pottery please send one person only to collect and please have your yellow receipt slip available so we can find your order quickly. (If you do not have your collection receipt we will need to know the date you painted and your name)

We believe this is the responsible action to take to protect ourselves as well as customers and their families while allow you to continue to enjoy relaxing with pottery painting.

Please note that from 20 January 2021 we no longer have access to complimentary parking adjacent to The Clay Studio.

We will post further updates as soon as we are able. In the meantime, please stay safe, follow the guidelines and look after yourselves. Please do not hesitate to contact us via e-mail or Web Chat if you have any questions.

Mary & Martin

Updated 30 December 2020

Following the new government guidelines and restrictions the Bournemouth Poole & Christchurch area has been moved into Tier 4. This means that The Clay Studio has to close to visitors until further notice. Unfortunately, we will be cancelling all bookings from tomorrow until we can reopen, initially until the end of January.

While The Clay Studio is not permitted to open for painting we will continue to operate our Paint-at-Home option. Our full range of pottery and paints is available on-line as well as some on-line only options. Simply order your pottery and paints on our Web site (www.theclaystudio.co.uk) and collect/return during our temporary opening times:

Thursdays 4pm-6pm (except closed 31 December)
Saturday 11am-1pm
Sunday 11am-1pm.

Previously painted pottery can also be collected during these times. All previously painted pottery will be available by the date you were given. All finished pottery is stored for six months plus the length of any lockdowns.

When collecting Paint-at-Home orders or previously painted pottery, please ensure that just one adult visits the Studio to enable safe and contactless collection.

We are also able to courier any completed items due for collection on payment of the courier and packing fee. Please phone to arrange during these opening hours.

The Clay Studio continues to monitor government guidelines on a daily basis and will be post any updates when we are able. We thank you all for the support we have received since we reopened in July and for your consideration and compliance to help us keep COVID safe. We look forward to reopening and please call, e-mail or Facebook us if you have any questions.

We hope everyone has a much better 2021.

Mary and Martin

Updated 23 December 2020

As a result of updated government restrictions and guidelines Dorset remains in Tier 2. Hampshire and the New Forest are in Tiers 4 and 3 respectively from Saturday 26 December. Sadly, we are unable to permit visitors to The Clay Studio if you are coming from Hampshire (including the New Forest) or any other Tier 3 or 4 areas from Saturday. This has been reflected in our booking Terms & Conditions. We are very grateful for the continued support from all our customers during this difficult time and the changing rules and hope we can welcome you all back to the Studio very soon. As we are in Tier 2 we will be operating our normal opening hours and we are operating our Paint at Home service.

Updated 26 November 2020

Following revised government regulations after the end of lockdown, Dorset is now in Tier Two. This means that while we are able to open The Clay Studio from Wednesday 2 December, we are not allowed to combine households as we are an indoor location. Our maximum table size is five but these must be from one household only.

Our booking Terms & Conditions will be altered to reflect these regulations. Our Click & Collect service for painting at home is available as usual.

We look forward to welcoming you to the studio during December - we have excellent stocks of Christmas-themed items as well us our usual large range of general pottery items. We will also be opening on Tuesdays from 10am to 9.30pm and longer on Sundays to give you extra opportunities to paint in time for Christmas. Please book your table online. Alternatively, order your paint-at-home items for collection/delivery.

Updated 31 October 2020

Following the new government guidelines and restrictions The Clay Studio will be closed from Thursday 5 November until the start of December 2020. Unfortunately, we will be cancelling all bookings from Thursday until we can reopen.

We will be open for our normal hours on Wednesday 4 November for pottery painting as well as an evening session. Please book online to reserve your space. We will also be open Tuesday 3 November from 12pm to 3pm for collection of all completed pottery that is due by 1 November as well as for collection and return of Paint-at-Home orders.

We are also able to courier any completed items due for collection on payment of the courier and packing fee. Please phone to arrange during these opening hours.

While The Clay Studio is not permitted to open for painting we will continue to operate our Paint-at-Home option. Simply order your pottery and paints on our Web site (www.theclaystudio.co.uk) and collect/return during our temporary opening times:

Thursdays 5-7pm
Saturday 12-2pm
Sunday 12-2pm.

Previously painted pottery can also be collected during these times.

The Clay Studio continues to monitor government guidelines on a daily basis and will be post any updates when we are able.

We know many of our customers love painting items for Christmas presents – once we are able to reopen we will be offering extra sessions in the evenings and more weekday opening in December. These sessions will be available for booking online by the end of this week i.e. 6 November.

All items painted by 21 December can be picked up by 24 December so there are a few weeks in December to get organised for your Christmas gifts.

We thank you all for the support we have received since we reopened in July and for your consideration and compliance to help us keep COVID safe. We look forward to reopening in December and please call, email or Facebook us if you have any questions.

Mary and Martin

Updated 25 September 2020

Following changes to government guidelines and regulations you must now wear a facecovering when arriving at The Clay Studio unless you have an exemption. You may remove your facecovering once seated but it must be worn if moving around the Studio.

We take your details as part of the booking procedure. You may also wish to register your details using the NHS Track & Trace app or using your camera phone by scanning the QR code at the Studio entrance.

Updated 14 September 2020

In line with government restrictions and guidelines you should not visit the Clay Studio in groups of more than six. Our largest table available for booking is five. We are unable to join tables or add chairs to tables in order to adhere to social distancing guidelines.

Updated 17 July 2020

In order to enable social distancing we will operate with a lower capacity and maximise our space. Admission will be through advance booking. We cannot guarantee tables for those not booking in advance. The paint-at-home option will still be available once we are open for the benefit of those who cannot visit the Studio or who would prefer to paint at home.

Due to social distancing guidelines relating to COVID-19 we have added the following Terms & Conditions that will remain in place until government restrictions have been removed. For the health & safety of all customers and staff we have reduced capacity and we need to minimise movement around the Studio.

Please do not visit The Clay Studio if you have any COVID-19 or cough & cold symptoms.
We are currently unable to accommodate any wheelchairs or baby buggies. Our baby changing area is temporarily closed. Baby car seats can be used.
Tables are available for 2, 3, 4 or 5 seats. We cannot combine tables or move chairs around.
Only one non-painter is allowed per table. Any additional visitors who are not painting for this period will be charged a £10 admission fee. Outside seating for drinks and snacks is available.
Our full drinks menu will be available as well as a Cakes & Snacks menu.
When you arrive please wait to be seated by our staff. Remember to provide your car registration on arrival if you are parked in one of our clearly marked bays. Do not park outside our marked bays unless directed by our staff.
Our staff will invite one table at a time to make your pottery selection. You may wish to save time by browsing the current selection in the Shop section of the Web site prior to your visit. Please move through and choose your pottery as quickly as possible to allow others to make their selections.
If you have children with you, please ensure that only one adult in your party handles the pottery when choosing.
Brushes and other painting equipment as well as the most popular paint colours will be available on the table. Please ask our staff if you require more brushes or additional paint colours not on the table.
In order to minimise movement around the Studio it is important to remain seated at all times unless you need to visit the toilets. Please do not queue for the toilets. Raise your hand if you need attention from our staff.
Your session finishes at the advertised time in order that our staff have sufficient time for deep cleaning your table area before the next session. If you wish to continue your piece during another session you can take it home with you and continue in a future session.
Our staff will take full details and you can pay at your table. Card payment is advised with contactless available up to £45.

We look forward to seeing you again soon.

Mary and Martin

Storing Pottery

Our standard terms are that we will hold completed pottery for six months from the completion date. This is now extended to ten months for items finished prior to lockdown.
We normally store works in progress for two months. This has now been extended to six months for items started prior to lockdown.