If you’ve ever visited Forrester’s Pottery, you’ll know we’re more than just a pottery painting studio – we’re a little community hub right here in Rainham. Over the years, we’ve welcomed thousands of families, friends, and creative souls through our doors, and we absolutely love what we do.
But running a small, independent studio isn’t always as simple as it looks from the outside! We thought it would be fun to pull back the curtain and share a bit about how we run things behind the scenes – because when you understand the ‘why’ behind what we do, we think you’ll appreciate the experience even more.
Why We Cap Our Sessions (Even Though We Have Room for More)
Here’s something most people don’t know: our studio actually has 28 seats. But we never book all 28. Our booking system is designed to accept a maximum of 22 people per session – that’s painters and non-painters combined.
Why would a small business deliberately leave seats empty? Because your comfort matters to us more than squeezing in a few extra bookings. Those spare seats mean there’s always breathing room, space to spread out, and a relaxed atmosphere for everyone to enjoy their creative time.
We’ll be honest – as a small business, of course we need to fill enough seats to keep the lights on and our wonderful team employed. But we’ve found a balance that works: enough people to create that lovely, buzzy community atmosphere our regulars love, whilst making sure nobody feels cramped.
The First Five Minutes (The ‘Settling In’ Phase!)
If you’ve been to a session, you might have noticed that the first few minutes can feel a little busier. That’s because everyone arrives around the same time, picks their pottery pieces, chooses their colours, and finds their spot. It’s a bit like the start of a school assembly – a flurry of activity before everyone settles!
But once everyone’s seated with their piece and paints in front of them? That’s when the magic happens. The studio calms down, the creative juices flow, and people start chatting, laughing, and losing themselves in their painting. It’s one of our favourite things to watch.
School Holidays – We Love the Buzz!
Let’s talk about school holidays. Yes, they’re busier – and we always flag this on our website so you can plan your visit accordingly. If you prefer a quieter session, a weekday during term time is your best bet!
But here’s the thing – many of our customers actually choose holiday sessions specifically because they love the energy. Families painting together, kids getting creative, that wonderful community buzz that makes Forrester’s feel so special. It’s not for everyone, and that’s absolutely fine, but for lots of our visitors it’s part of the charm.
The £2 Studio Fee – And Why It Exists
This is one we get asked about, so let’s address it openly. We charge a small £2 studio fee for non-painters. We know it might seem unusual to pay a fee when you’re not actually painting, so here’s the thinking behind it.
Every seat in our studio is valuable. When a non-painter takes a seat, that’s one less space available for a paying painter. The studio fee helps us manage this fairly. But there’s actually an even bigger reason: no-shows.
When we trialled free entry for non-painters, we found that some people simply didn’t turn up. And when you’re a small business that arranges staffing around bookings, empty seats that should have been filled are genuinely costly. The studio fee gives everyone a little ‘skin in the game’ – it’s a small commitment that tells us you’re definitely coming, which helps us plan properly and deliver the best possible experience for everyone.
Plus, the fee covers your use of the studio space, access to all our paints and brushes, and the warm, welcoming environment we work hard to maintain. We think that’s pretty fair for a couple of quid!
A Community Studio, Not a Factory
At the heart of everything we do is community. We’re not a big chain or a factory production line. We’re Christine and the team, right here in Rainham, pouring our hearts into creating a space where people of all ages can come together, be creative, and have a brilliant time.
Every decision we make – from capping our bookings to charging a studio fee – is about finding the balance between keeping the studio running as a sustainable business and giving you the best experience possible. We know we can’t please everyone all the time, but we hope that by sharing our thinking, you can see just how much thought and care goes into every single session.
We’d love to see you at Forrester’s – whether it’s a quiet weekday morning or a buzzy holiday session. There’s a seat with your name on it (just not all 28 of them!).